Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Hendrix sighs with the corner of his mouth turning up. “You’re right, baby girl. I wasn’t thinking. Come on and let’s get you home.”
He picks my bag up and holds his hand out, which I take as he leads me out of my apartment and down the stairs. We happen to pass Lucille on the way out, who’s standing in front of the mailboxes, pacing in a circle.
“Wait a minute, Hendrix,” I tell him, stopping in front of Lucille. “Hey, is everything alright?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know, Van. I think so. I just got a call that told me to stay awake in case there was an emergency tonight.”
That gets Hendrix’s attention. “Oh yeah? And what are you supposed to do when this emergency happens?”
“Call the number and then our plumber slash handyman comes out to save the day,” she sighs and looks up to the floors above.
“Well, I can tell you right now that it won’t be from my apartment. I don’t want anyone in there without me being home, Lucille.” I tell her again to be sure she hears me, “I mean it. No one goes inside my apartment, especially Roy.”
Lucille looks like she’s considering my words when Hendrix pulls me to the side. “I don’t think she can make that promise, baby girl. Come on. I have an idea.”
Hendrix walks me outside, opening the passenger side door of his truck for me to get in. He goes into the back seat, rummaging through more toolboxes and crates until he pulls something out. He has a handful of what looks like black golf balls. There are six of them in his hand and he pulls out a small case where there are nearly a dozen others.
“Let me have your keys, baby girl. I’m going to put in these cameras so we can see if Roy goes back inside your apartment. Don’t tell your landlady, either. It’s only going to take me a minute.”
Hendrix takes my keys and dashes back inside the building. It takes him about ten minutes before he returns with a smile on his face. Inside the truck, we take off into the night.
“You hungry? We can grab something on the way,” Hendrix asks.
With the way this night is going, late-night food seems like a good way to let Hendrix relax and release his anger toward Roy. There’s a great barbecue place not too far from where we are, and it’s usually quick service.
When Hendrix parks in front of the restaurant, there are a few people milling around the entrance. We walk inside to place our order when I notice my phone isn’t in any of my pockets. I wonder if it’s in the truck when Hendrix hands me the keys for me to go check.
Thankfully, it’s sitting on the seat when I get there because going back to my apartment building with the possibility of running into Roy isn’t how this night needs to end. I begin to make my way toward the entrance when a group of guys exits. They force me to take a few steps back, and I give them plenty of space, but one turns to me with an eerie grin on his face.
“Hey fellas, hold on a sec,” he says, and then eyes me while licking his lips. “Why don’t you come party with us, sugar?”
“I’m already here with someone, but thanks.” Always mindful to be polite around the drunk guys, even when they’re sober because boys will be … no, some people are just assholes.
“Come on, sugar. You are far too sweet not to come hang with us. Just a beer or two. Let’s see where the night takes us,” he continues his attempt to persuade me into going with them.
Confusion washes over me as I tip my head to the side. “I see exactly where a night with you guys will take me, and I promise it’s nowhere I want to go.”
“Oh, don’t be like that,” he says and reaches to grab my arm. I pull back immediately, snatching myself away from him, but I can’t get inside to Hendrix unless this guy moves out of the way.
“Don’t touch me,” I grit out and close my eyes to breathe deeply, knowing all too well how these situations can go from fun and annoying to outright dangerous.
Thankfully, I’m not in danger as Hendrix pushes through the group and circles around to find me between the restaurant’s wall, the door, and the guy who isn’t taking no for an answer.
Hendrix holds the bag with our food in one hand and uses his arm to insert himself between me and the insistent stranger. Hendrix tells him. “Hey man, my lady doesn’t want to be bothered and she don’t like being touched by strangers.”
“Well, why don’t you let me pay you a few bucks to look the other way, and then me and my guys can show her how much she likes being touched by strangers?”