“He and I are just different people living in different worlds. Attraction or not, after spending ten minutes with him, I know what a jerk he is.”
“He probably just didn’t know what to say. If you haven’t noticed, you are a drop-dead gorgeous woman, Jennifer.”
I laughed. “Thanks, but that would mean a whole lot more if I didn’t know how you got when you were drunk.”
“Awe come on, even when I’m sober, I tell you how pretty you are. He’d be blind not to see it. I have an idea; let's ask these lads what they think. Hey boys!”
“Gwen!” I hissed.
She was waving her arms in the air, garnering the attention of four men that were standing around our table talking. My cheeks flushed a deep red as my eyes darted to Henry. He was watching with an amused smile. I cringed and lowered my eyes back down to the table, still trying futilely to get Gwen to settle down. There was no hope. She’d gotten an audience in the men and was fully animated as she lifted off my attributes.
“So what do you think of my friend, Jennifer? She doesn’t think she’s that cute and refuses to believe me because I’m a little drunk.”
“I’d take her out!” One man said. “She sure as hell is cute as a button.”
My cheeks flushed.
“Why would she waste her time with you when she could have a real man?” Another asked. “Come on, sweetheart.”
“Don’t listen to these idiots. You want a gentleman, not one of these cowpokes. Why don’t you let me take you out on a real date?” A third asked.
My eyes darted to Henry. “That’s really okay. She was just being annoying. I’m not really looking to date anyone right now. Thank you all so much, though.”
“Awe, you’re such a party pooper. Well, just because you don’t want to have any fun doesn’t mean I cant.”
“Don’t forget we have an early morning tomorrow,” I whispered.
She groaned. “Damn, I forgot. What would I do without you? You really are an amazing friend. I’m so happy you are back here.”
“I wouldn’t call it being back. I don’t think I ever really had a place I called home, but this town came close.”
“You never should have left.”
“I know, but we all make stupid mistakes. I was young and wanted to get out of here. I’d been here for almost two years. Longest I’d ever stayed in one place.”
“I don’t envy your childhood, that’s for damn sure. Alright, well, if you aren’t going to let me go home with a fella or two, we might as well get out of here.”
“I think that’s for the best,” I said.
Gwen nodded and climbed off her chair. She stumbled for a second but was quickly caught by a large man who smiled down at her. They seemed familiar with each other, but I wasn’t about to let her leave my side. Tugging on her arm, I pushed my way through the still roaring crowd and out the front door. Gwen was still deep in conversation with a dozen people in the room as I shoved her out the door. With one final look back, I saw Henry watching me and shuddered.
“You,” Gwen stammered. “You are an excellent friend, do you know that? It’s not fair what happened to you, not one bit.”
“Thanks, but I made my own mistakes. I take full responsibility for my past.”
“I don’t care. Mike should never have taken advantage of you like that, and what he did to your credit?” She gave a low whistle. “That sucks. You were going places.”
“I still am,” I assured her. “Just because I got off track a little bit doesn’t mean that I’m giving up. I’ll get back to school come hell or high water. I’m going to make something out of my life.”
“If anyone can do it, toots, I know it’s you. Until then, you can keep working with me as a maid.”
I rolled my eyes and helped her get into the car as she laughed at her own joke. I’d only had one beer and was perfectly sober, but that didn’t stop me from looking around before climbing into the driver's seat. I’d had a healthy distrust for the law my entire life; that wasn’t something that went away even after you went straight. Once I was sure no cops or thugs were waiting to jump me, I climbed into the car and headed back for our apartment.
The long day of hard manual labor was starting to take it’s toll on me as I drove through the night. The radio played a classic song from the sixties, and I let it carry me away to different moments in my life. To say I’d lived my life on the right side of the law would be a dogface lie. My juvenile record went back to when I was six. As a young adult, I hadn’t fared much better. It wasn’t until I started college that I got my life in order and started working on expunging my past from society's mind.
Then Mike had ruined it all. Mike and my own inability to see him for what he was. Thanks to him, I doubted my ability to ever trust a man again. When Henry flickered into my thoughts, the butterflies returned, and I started to question my resolve to be single all over again. There was something about that man that drove me wild.
The apartment buildings came into view, and I pulled in front of our door. Gwen was passed out in the seat next to me as I let out a deep sigh. Things had to get better. My body could be exhausted, and my mind could dance around depression all it wanted. I was determined to make the best of the situation and get my future back on track. My entire life had been spent fighting for survival. I wouldn’t give up now.
6
Henry
“Well, that makes a lot more sense now.”
“What?” I asked
“Why you’ve suddenly got this look like you’re about to do something idiotic,” James said.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I happened to know her. I was just being friendly.”
“Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. It sure looks like you won't need an ad in the paper to find a wife.”
“Jesus, are you still on that kick.”
“More now than ever, after seeing the way you and that lady just eye-fucked each other. That’s some crazy shit. I guess you’ve got your first applicant for the job.”
I laughed. “Nice try, but Jennifer isn’t the type of woman who would go for that.”
“You sure about that?” He asked
I shot James a glare. In earnest, I couldn’t be sure that Jennifer wouldn’t take me up on the idea. The money would do her some good, of that I was sure. She was stubborn, though, and arrogant given her place in life. Her hot temper would drive me insane. We’d spend our days arguing with each other and at each other's throats. At night though, I would get the chance to hold her.
“What do you mean?” I muttered.
“Just that I’ve been in this place a long time, and I know that friend of hers. If she’s hanging out with a woman like that, maybe she’d be open to something as outlandish as a fake marriage. Her friend sure has some freaky fantasies.”
“I don’t want to hear about that; Jennifer wouldn’t go for it. Plus, she’s kind of a mouthy woman. If I was going to consider something like that, you’d think I’d want someone a little more…”