I pull into my garage and head up the stairs into the kitchen. I’m stopped in my tracks when I see the most beautiful arrangement of red, pink, and white roses. OMG! They smell amazing and Chas is standing there grinning like an idiot.
“Are these for me,” I ask?
“Yes, and before you ask, I read the card. It was open and I couldn’t help it. Damn girlfriend, this Jackson guy is not playing! I mean, he only saw your fucking ankle, and you got his ass sending you roses.”
“Oh, shut up, Chas!” I swear this girl has no filter, but I have to admit, I’m curious. I open the card and I melt.
“Can’t wait to see you Friday.”
“I bet you want to throw that pussy at him, huh?”
I can’t help but laugh at this crazy girl. She always tells it like it is and to be honest, there is so much truth in her words. I roll my eyes at her and take out my phone. Pulling up his number, I send Jackson a text thanking him for the beautiful roses. My phone immediately pings with his response and once again, my insides are melting like hot wax.
Him: If I could see you before tomorrow, I would. I can’t stop thinking about you. I just want to kiss you.
Me: I can’t stop thinking about you either. I would say, you felt exactly what I felt when I crashed and burned at the gym. Am I right?
Him: Yes
One word, that one word made my mind spin and think about all the things that I wanted him to do to me. The need for him consumes me and Friday can’t get here soon enough. I close my eyes and I’m caught up in my fantasies when my phone pings again.
Him: Are you still there?
Me: Yes, sorry, I’m just feeling so much right now.
Him: Is it crazy that I’m feeling so much too?
Me: No, it’s perfect.
Him: Well, I’ll let you go, Crys. I can’t wait to see you.
Me: I can’t wait to see you too, goodnight.
He called me Crys, and he has no idea that he just owned me. It’s a term of endearment that those closest to me calls me. Tomorrow night needs to get here. I need to see where this goes. Something tells me that Jackson has the key to not only my heart but also to my soul. I head to bed with unspoken promises of what tomorrow will bring, and I can’t wait to see Jackson so that he can fulfill every one of them.
Alone in a room across town….. I lay in bed, plotting my revenge and making sure that Jackson feels my presence. The note on his car at the gym was perfect. I could tell when he realized it has to be me that left that note. I wanted to go to him then, but I think I’ll have a little fun first. If he thinks he can just walk away without consequences, he has another thing coming.The way he looked at her made me so angry that I wanted to cut her throat! Two can play this game. Unfortunately, she will be collateral damage because if he thinks he’s walking away from me, he’s sadly mistaken. He’s mine and if I can’t have him, no one will. I’ll forgive him for ruining my life, but I won’t make it easy.
Chapter 8
Crystal
I decided to close the office early so that the girls and I could take our time getting ready for tonight. That’s one of the perks of being the boss, I call the shots. Stephanie, Charlene, and I spend the day getting the layouts ready for next week’s meeting. Charlene has some really great ideas and bringing her on board has cut the workload in half.
“The landscaping at Justine’s house will be the perfect backdrop for her feature, I say. She wants this to be very personable, and she wants her fans to relate to who she is a person and not as a celebrity.”
“That’s one of the things I loved about her,” Stephanie says. “She was so easy to talk to and she was so open. This feature is going to be fabulous!”
We continue working when Charlene says,
“So, are you ladies dating anyone?” Stephanie answers first,
“I’m married, going on five years now.”
“What about you Crystal?”
I look at Charlene and say,
“I actually just got out of a relationship, but I just met a guy at the gym, and it seems promising. Now it’s your turn,”
“Well, it’s sort of complicated,” she says. “Quinn and I decided to take a break after dating for three years. I felt like our next step was marriage and he said he wasn’t ready to go there. I suggested a temporary separation, so that he could figure this out without having me as a distraction. We just hit a little bump in the road along the way.”
“Wow, I hope it works out for you. That’s very admirable for you to give him that option. Not many women are strong enough to do something like that, but it sounds like you really want this and you’re willing to go the distance. He’d be a fool to let you go.”
“Thanks, I just hope he feels the same way and we work this out soon. He called me today and he’s coming over for dinner on Saturday, so I feel confident that we’re on the right track.”
“I’m pretty sure he has come to his senses and realizes what he has in you,” I say confidently.
A few hours later, I look at my watch and realize we stayed longer than I wanted, but we managed to get more done than I thought we would.
“Okay, ladies, time to wrap this up and get going.”
We put the final touches on the feature for Justine Simone and after locking up we all head to the parking garage.
“I’ll see you both tonight at 9pm. Charlene, do you have the address?”
“Yes, I have the information and the VIP pass you gave me. I’m so excited to get out and have some fun for a change.”
“Great!”
We say our final goodbyes and head out. I make it home and find the girls already there waiting for me. Hugging and kissing them, I say,
“Let me change and then we can get going.”
“Okay,” they say in unison.
We’re going to the spa for a little pampering before tonight’s opening at Pure Sin. I have the perfect dress and I splurged on a pair of Jimmy Choos. Tonight, is going to be magical. I want this and if my feelings are right about Jackson, he’s just as eager.
We make it back home, head to our rooms and start getting ready. Now, when I say head to our rooms, I don’t mean we shut our doors. It’s always a party with us. Our doors are open, the music is blasting, the wine is flowing, and we’re helping each other with clothes, hair, and makeup. Showered and dressed, we go downstairs and have another drink while we wait for an Uber.
“Crys, you look gorgeous,” Chas says.
“Thanks, girlfriend, so do you. You both do. Thanks for coming to the opening with me. I really appreciate it.”
“Oh honey, we wouldn’t miss this for anything. You know we always have your back,” says April. “It sounds so exciting! I just hope there’s some cute guys there for Chas since you have Jackson meeting you there.”
“Maybe you’ll meet someone too,” I cautiously say. “I know you’ve sworn off men, but there could be a guy there that piques your interest.”
“I doubt it, but you never know, I guess.”
My mind goes back to thoughts of Jackson. I can’t wait to see him and get over this first hurdle of “getting to know you.” I’m a little nervous, but I’m also excited. The Uber is here and we’re ready to go. As we’re climbing into the car, my phone buzzes with a text.