getting my water, he gave me his number in case I need any more help. So you’ll have to excuse me for disagreeing.”
“I’d bet the only reason he’s helping you is because he wants in your pants.” She taps her foot the exact way Loraine used to do when she was unhappy about something.
“If that was true, he wouldn’t tell me I’m better off not knowing him.”
She shakes her head. “You’re hopeless.”
I slam the glass down splattering water all over the coffee table. I grab a dirty paper towel from the end table to wipe up the mess. “What does that mean?”
“That guy is bad news.”
I feel my pulse in my forehead. “That guy has a name.”
“What kind of name is Rooter, anyway?”
I throw my head back and sigh. “Leave it alone, Miranda. Please.”
“Fine. Do what you want. But mark my words,” she points toward Rooter’s house, “that guy, Rooter, is trouble. If you get involved with him, it’s going to lead to trouble.”
Miranda stalks out of the room. She means well with her concern, but she needs to chill the hell out. She’s my best friend. I like Rooter and I want to talk to her about him the way normal best friends would. I want to tell her how it felt in his arms when he carried me and describe to her the look in his eyes when he told me he knew about my past. I want her to share my excitement with me. It’s not like she hasn’t dated her fair share of bad guys. She’s being a total hypocrite.
Later than night, while lying in bed, I see the light come on in Rooter’s bedroom. I pick up my phone from my nightstand and contemplate texting him. I stare at the screen, ready to type, but can’t think of what to say. I’ve already said thank you, so I simply write: Good night, Rooter . My index finger hovers over the send button for a few seconds before pressing it. I peek out my window to his, waiting to see if he’ll reply. A few seconds later he does: Good night, Sophie. I stare at the screen and then clutch the phone to my chest.
This is just the beginning.
Chapter 6
Jealousy?
The next morning while sitting at the dining room table, I get a text from Rooter.
Rooter: I saw Miranda left. Will she be gone long?
Me: She went to work. She’ll be home after 5:00.
Rooter: U gonna be okay while she’s gone?
Me: I think so.
Rooter: Do u have everything u need?
Me: For now.
Rooter: If u need anything, text me.
Me: Okay. Thank you.
That he thought about me and checked on me makes me giddy. His concern for me gives me butterflies and I smile.
I wait to see if he’ll text back. After a couple minutes I assume the conversation is over, but continue to hold my phone, looking at the screen. My suspicion is confirmed when I hear his bike roar to life and he pulls out of his driveway. Another couple of minutes pass when my phone pings with another text. I know it’s Rooter by the sound because I’ve set his ringtone to a revving motorcycle engine.
Wait… He just left his house. How can he be texting me?
Rooter: Will u be alone with Mike all day?
Me: I’m not sure.
Rooter: If u have any trouble with him text me. I can be there in fifteen minutes.
My heart skips a beat and a goofy smile spreads across my face.
Me: And you call me a walking contradiction…
The guy told me he’s been stalking me for years and that he’s a bad guy I’m better off not knowing. Yet, he goes out of his way to protect me and take care of me? He’s giving me a severe case of whiplash.
A couple minutes pass and he doesn’t text again. I regret my choice of text, worrying it might make him over-think things. Not wanting the conversation to end on that note, I text him again.
Me: Thank you for everything, Rooter.
The morning passes and I don’t hear from Rooter again. Mike leaves around noon, and surprises me when he asks if I’ll be okay alone. I say yes, although to be honest, I’m not sure. My ankle hurts like hell. The only movements I’ve made are to the couch
“I’d bet the only reason he’s helping you is because he wants in your pants.” She taps her foot the exact way Loraine used to do when she was unhappy about something.
“If that was true, he wouldn’t tell me I’m better off not knowing him.”
She shakes her head. “You’re hopeless.”
I slam the glass down splattering water all over the coffee table. I grab a dirty paper towel from the end table to wipe up the mess. “What does that mean?”
“That guy is bad news.”
I feel my pulse in my forehead. “That guy has a name.”
“What kind of name is Rooter, anyway?”
I throw my head back and sigh. “Leave it alone, Miranda. Please.”
“Fine. Do what you want. But mark my words,” she points toward Rooter’s house, “that guy, Rooter, is trouble. If you get involved with him, it’s going to lead to trouble.”
Miranda stalks out of the room. She means well with her concern, but she needs to chill the hell out. She’s my best friend. I like Rooter and I want to talk to her about him the way normal best friends would. I want to tell her how it felt in his arms when he carried me and describe to her the look in his eyes when he told me he knew about my past. I want her to share my excitement with me. It’s not like she hasn’t dated her fair share of bad guys. She’s being a total hypocrite.
Later than night, while lying in bed, I see the light come on in Rooter’s bedroom. I pick up my phone from my nightstand and contemplate texting him. I stare at the screen, ready to type, but can’t think of what to say. I’ve already said thank you, so I simply write: Good night, Rooter . My index finger hovers over the send button for a few seconds before pressing it. I peek out my window to his, waiting to see if he’ll reply. A few seconds later he does: Good night, Sophie. I stare at the screen and then clutch the phone to my chest.
This is just the beginning.
Chapter 6
Jealousy?
The next morning while sitting at the dining room table, I get a text from Rooter.
Rooter: I saw Miranda left. Will she be gone long?
Me: She went to work. She’ll be home after 5:00.
Rooter: U gonna be okay while she’s gone?
Me: I think so.
Rooter: Do u have everything u need?
Me: For now.
Rooter: If u need anything, text me.
Me: Okay. Thank you.
That he thought about me and checked on me makes me giddy. His concern for me gives me butterflies and I smile.
I wait to see if he’ll text back. After a couple minutes I assume the conversation is over, but continue to hold my phone, looking at the screen. My suspicion is confirmed when I hear his bike roar to life and he pulls out of his driveway. Another couple of minutes pass when my phone pings with another text. I know it’s Rooter by the sound because I’ve set his ringtone to a revving motorcycle engine.
Wait… He just left his house. How can he be texting me?
Rooter: Will u be alone with Mike all day?
Me: I’m not sure.
Rooter: If u have any trouble with him text me. I can be there in fifteen minutes.
My heart skips a beat and a goofy smile spreads across my face.
Me: And you call me a walking contradiction…
The guy told me he’s been stalking me for years and that he’s a bad guy I’m better off not knowing. Yet, he goes out of his way to protect me and take care of me? He’s giving me a severe case of whiplash.
A couple minutes pass and he doesn’t text again. I regret my choice of text, worrying it might make him over-think things. Not wanting the conversation to end on that note, I text him again.
Me: Thank you for everything, Rooter.
The morning passes and I don’t hear from Rooter again. Mike leaves around noon, and surprises me when he asks if I’ll be okay alone. I say yes, although to be honest, I’m not sure. My ankle hurts like hell. The only movements I’ve made are to the couch
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