“We have a lot to talk about.” She lowers herself into the seat. “Goodnight, Jocko.”
She cranks it and waves sweetly to me as she pulls away. I tail her anyway. When she turns into her drive, I turn in too and kill the lights. Her brakes stay illuminated. I smirk, hoping she's trying to decide sleep or sex.
When she opens her car door, my fingers lace on the steering wheel, and I lean in for a better view. Her sneakers hit the ground, and she stands.
Sex. Sex. Come on, Babe. Choose sex. Sleep is overrated.
She spins around, puts a knee in the seat, and reaches across for something. Her beautiful, bodacious booty tempts the hell out of my self-discipline, and my hand moves to the door latch. Come on …. Let’s do this….
She backs out, swings a satchel over her shoulder, closes the car door, then turns away.
Dammit. I pop the steering wheel. Looks like I’ll be whacking off one more time.
She bounces up the porch steps two at a time. Her brick house body pulls a moan out of my mouth. She's had too much shock, but it’s all going to be awe from now on.
She unlocks her door, pushes it open, hits the interior lights, then turns to me and waves again as she closes the door.
“Goodnight, Juicy.”
Chapter Twelve
Jorja
Good morning. I would like to start your interview today.
Good morning. Are you an early bird?
Yes. I’m an early riser if that’s what you mean.
Good. Early birds get the worm, you know.
I laugh out loud.
If you are available, how about lunch?
Oh, I’m available, babe. I am so available.
I laugh again.
Can you meet me at Lulu’s Diner?
I would rather pick you up, take you to Greer Vineyard’s, and eat you in a private “tasting” room.
My clit awakens with that one.
I can’t commit to longer than half an hour without permission from Sidney. I’ll have to let you know.
I’m only a phone call away.
When I push open the door at Better Buzz, it feels like everyone turns to look, but I know it’s just my imagination. Everyone here knew I was the only person in Sunnyville that was in the damn dark.
Last night, lying in bed, I processed everything that had been said between Jocko and me from the beginning until now to the best of my memory. I came to the conclusion that it was simply a case of miscommunication. Thank goodness Jocko isn’t a quitter, and I didn’t run him off.
I check the time on my phone. Fifteen minutes before the official workday begins. The line moves, and I step closer to the counter. Margie looks up and sees me in line. She mouths. “Told you so!”
“Yes, you did.” I mouth back.
She swipes her current customer’s card, hands it back, and delivers her cheesy, cheeky, customer care quip. “Thank you for choosing to get a Better Buzz with us.”
The man drops a tip in her glass jar and leaves with his order.
I step up to the counter. A grin bigger than yesterday’s is on her face. “Your usual, boo?”
“Please.”
She shouts my order over her shoulder as the man makes his way to a table.
I slide my credit card to her.
“So, spill the beans. What happened?” Her eyes bore into mine.
I begin giving her the low down on the rescue, but she interrupts me as she swipes it.
“Girl! I’m talking about after the rescue.” She slides it back to me.
“Oh. Well, Betsy Malone ….”
“I want to know how the sex was.” She cuts her eyes behind her. “Hurry. Your order’s going to be here, and I’ll have to wait all day for the details.”
“You are unbelievable, you know that?” I pick my card up and drop it in my satchel.
“Oh. My. God. You didn’t!” She rolls her eyes. “You're the one that is unbelievable.”
She looks over her shoulder and sees Mario putting the top on my coffee. She leans in and whispers. “How do you not fuck a man like that brains out first chance you get?”
We stand glaring at each other as Mario walks up.
“Good morning, Jorja.”
“Morning, Mario.”
He pushes my order to me, and Margie puts her hand on his arm. “I got this, Mario. Your job is just to deliver the food to the counter.”
He nods, “Have a good day, Jorja.”
“You too.”
I reach for my coffee and cake, but Margie places her hand on mine and squeezes. “Listen, sweetie, you know I love you. You need to either choose Jocko or let him move on! He doesn’t deserve to be strung along anymore.”
I stare at her, dumbfounded. “I haven’t been stringing him along.”
“Not intentionally, but you have been.” She presses her lips together. “As your bestie, I’m telling you the truth. You need to fuck the poor man. Today!”
“What?”
“You're always overthinking and analyzing everything. But this time, you need to let your heart tell your head to shut the fuck up.” She looks over her shoulder again. No one is paying us any attention. “You're a grown woman. Go ahead. Get down and dirty with him. It will be crystal clear to you then.” She releases my hand. “Just fuck him and feel it, then you can stop lying to yourself and admit that you're his girl.”
I take my order and walk to the door. Right before I push it open, I glance back at her. She mouths. “Do him. Today.”
The door shuts behind me.
Sitting at my desk sipping my coffee and fingering my cake, Margie’s words echo around and around. I take a bite and a sip, then swirl them around in my mouth.
She is right. I need to let him know, and everyone else, for that matter, that I’m not confused anymore. I’m the one that fucked up. I’m the one that has been lying to myself. He’s been clear on how he feels the whole time, and for the past six years, believed he was coming home to a girl who was waiting for him.
I drain my cup and decide. I’m Jocko’s girl. Time to tell the world.
When Desiree and Britney come in, I give them a smile. “I saw Jocko yesterday.”
They make a beeline for my desk. “And …?”
“And … Woozier!”
Britney throws her head back while Desiree gives me a high-five. “You are so freaking lucky!”
Sidney walks in, so they continue to their desks.
“Good morning, Jorja.”
“Morning, Sidney.”
“I looked over your article on Daisy’s Flowers. Good work.”
Sidney is a perfectionist, so when she gives a compliment, it means something.
“Thank you.”
“When you finish your breakfast,” she glances at the clock. It’s 7:52. “Come into my office. We need to discuss your new assignment.
At 8:01, I tap lightly on Sidney’s office door, then push it open. She's on the phone, looking over some papers on her desk. She waves me in to take a seat.