Fated(26)
My cell phone rang, causing me to jump and tear my eyes away from the mirror. I sprinted down the hallway to unplug my cell phone from the charger, not bothering to look at the phone. I knew it was Georgia calling to berate me for not calling her.
“Hello, Georgia.”
“You know, you were supposed to call me. I'm sure you were too busy with Hunky McHunkerson to remember little old me.” I could hear almost hear Georgia's pout over the phone.
“I know, I know. Time got away from me. We're talking now, so what's up?”
“'What's up!? I'll tell you what's up,” Georgia mocked, her voice incredulous. “I just talked to Anna. Obviously you and Mr. Hunky are serious since you were mooning all over each other at dinner last night. What the hell is going on? And now is not the time to feed me a line of bullshit either, Josie.”
“He has a name, Georgia. It's Stefan. And yes, it's serious. I think.” I busied myself filling up a kettle with water, placing it on the burner to boil water for coffee. I scooped coffee into my French press and waited for Georgia to continue.
“You think it's serious? I don't like to get in your business but…”
“Really? I would have never known by this conversation. You've been all about being in my business for two days,” I retorted sharply. “I like him. A lot. I don't know where this is going but I'm not going to push him away.”
I was being a coward again by saying I liked him. I loved him. I loved how he made my stomach flip like an infatuated school girl when I saw him. I loved how he made me want to pull my hair out and then jump him. And I even loved his aggravating smirk and swagger...yeah, I especially loved his swagger. Yum.
Georgia sighed into the phone. “Whatever, Josie. This isn't like you, honey. I'm running into town. Wanna join me?” The water boiled, and I poured the hot water over the coffee in the press.
“Give me twenty minutes. I do need to grab some groceries.”
“See ya, chick.”
I hit ‘end’ on my phone and shook my head, closing my eyes in exasperation. Georgia took twenty minutes to mean fifteen. I ran back down the hallway to start the shower.
I was walking up the hallway after my quick shower and brief primping session to find Georgia and Anna both sitting in the living room, pointedly looking at my clothes that still littered the living room floor. It was obvious this was going to a double interrogation, a surreal version of bad cop, bad cop, neither taking my side since they both wanted the dirt. I immediately decided to feign ignorance since it didn't take psychic abilities to know what was going to happen.
“Coffee?” I asked as I darted around the kitchen, getting cups and sugar out of the cupboards.
Georgia and Anna's heels clacked over the wood floor as they made their way into the kitchen. I was nervously waiting for the questions to begin.
“Sure,” Georgia said, pulling out a chair and sitting down at the table in the kitchen. Anna nodded and sat down across from Georgia. “It looks like you had an eventful night, honey.”
Pouring coffee into three cups, I passed cups to both of them. I took my time spooning sugar into my mug, stirring my coffee with my spoon and placing it on the napkin I'd pulled from the basket. I focused on my coffee, shrugging nonchalantly.
“I have to admit you look gorgeous,” Anna said, her eyes taking in my hair and skin. “You look like you've been properly fucked. It looks good on you.”
“Anna,” I warned, my eyes narrowing. I took a deep drink of coffee and fought off an exasperated sigh.
“Ok, ok. Don't tell me!” Anna waved her hands in surrender, rolling her eyes in exasperation. I thought she'd given up when she leaned in over her coffee cup. “Just tell me one thing, Josie. Please tell me he's packing. Someone that is that huge has to be packing. And I can tell by the way he moves that he knows how to use it.”
“Anna!” I groaned, dropping my face into my hands. “I'm going to say this once. Once! And I will never admit I told you anything.” I set my gaze on Anna. “Yes, he’s ‘packing.’ And yes, he knows how to use it. Multiple times.”
Georgia and Anna looked at each other and squealed in delight. Georgia clapped her hands together like she just found out she had the winning lottery ticket.
“I knew it!” Anna said smugly, smoothing her curls with her hand. She finished her coffee and stood up. “Let's go. We have places to go.”
Draining my coffee cup, I pushed away from the table. Where was Stefan when you needed him?
We piled into Georgia's sedan and made the short trip into town. There was a small market that sold fresh produce and farther in was a small row of shops. We split up, each doing our respective shopping. I made sure my shields were in place and enjoyed the first alone moments that I'd had for the last few days. I was deep in thought and contemplating buying a dark purple silk dress with a halter style neckline when Anna rejoined me.