That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

I knew I needed to stay away from her. Trouble would follow if I got involved.

Yet here I am, right smack bang in the middle of the shit again.

“You are a fucking idiot!” I yell at myself again over the top of the radio.

Not that anyone can hear me, or I can even share it with anyone, but I’ve just brought myself a whole heap of pressure that I don’t want.

Pulling into my driveway, I can’t stop thinking about what just happened. I need to get my shit together and quickly. Not even bothering to lock the truck, I just run upstairs, change, brush my teeth, and grab fruit on the way back out the door. Although today started off like a dream, I know it’s all about to turn to crap. Shaking it off, I jump in the truck.

Bring it on, universe.

I’ve faced worse shit before now, and I can do it again.

“Ricky, can you bring me that damn saw I asked for?” I yell from the spot where I’m trying to hold a piece of timber on my leg with one hand and juggle the nail gun in the other.

“What’s up your ass today, you grumpy jerk?” Ricky’s trying to be funny, but I’m not in the mood for it today.

“Nothing. Just do your fucking job quicker and we won’t have a problem.” I know I’m being an asshole, and Ricky is coping with it, but I can’t be fucked to do anything about it.

“What, your little date last night didn’t go well? She left you hanging, so you had to go home to Mrs. Palmer?” Oh, he did not just go there. This guy is living dangerously.

“You want to live past today, I suggest you just shut up now and get me the saw.” Glaring at him, I think he’s got the message.

Finishing off the part I was building, I take a deep breath and turn back to Ricky.

“Sorry, man, just a lot on my plate today.” I pat him on the shoulder as I walk past. My dad always told me everyone makes mistakes, but what defines a man is owning up to those mistakes and apologizing where needed.

“No shit.” Ricky just laughs, and we keep working the rest of the morning in silence. Me keeping my temper in check and him figuring out that not talking is the key to surviving today.

ASHA

“Shit, shit, shit,” I chant, running to my room to get changed quickly. “Come on, Coco, quick walk this morning. I have feeling we’ll be getting visitors today, and I doubt they will be very happy with us.”

Patting her head, I grab the lead at the back door. I’m not taking any chances this morning and secure it on her collar before I even open the back door.

“I know it’s a rare occasion, but can you just co-operate this morning, please? I don’t have my knight in his black wetsuit armor to save me this morning. So, behave!” If I could believe the wagging tail and Coco sitting nice and patiently by the back door, I’d think she understood me.

Then I open the door, and she takes off towards the gate at full speed. Yeah, so much for listening to me. This dog is batshit crazy, I’m convinced. No wonder she was in a rescue shelter.

I did tell her it would be a quick walk, which was obviously my mistake.

Well, I’ll get my exercise in ten minutes flat this morning.

I have so much to write today, yet I can’t seem to get into it. My thoughts are swinging from the incredible night I had with Kurt to the impending visit I know is coming.

I’ve lived life on my own for quite a while now and didn’t think I needed a man, but this morning that changed.

I’ve never felt more wanted than when Kurt stood between Scott and me and claimed me as his own. Protecting me against someone he saw as a threat.

Little does he know that Scott is no threat whatsoever. The complete opposite. He is covering me for Davina when she can’t be here. I hate that my life is like this, but I’m used to it by now.

I just never imagined the complication of a man in my life and what that means being in hiding. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I would need a story for who Davina and Scott are, and the one I made up on the spot just seemed stupid and made Kurt suspicious. Although I do have to agree, it’s weird Scott was at my house at six am. Shit, I hope there isn’t some sort of threat.

No, surely, they would have been in touch again by now to warn me, or they would have come for me.

Trying to focus again on the words in front of me isn’t doing me much good.

But if I wasn’t in danger, then why was he here?

My phone vibrating on the desk in front of me makes me jump. I’m almost reluctant to pick it up and check the message. My attitude changes when I see Kurt’s name on the screen.

Kurt: Are you still sitting on the counter waiting for me?

Smiling properly for the first time since he left, I jump up and run to the kitchen with my phone. I take a selfie of me on the counter, blowing a kiss, and send it off with a few laughing emojis attached.

Kurt: Glad to see you’re doing as you are told. Hope that there is underwear on under those clothes.

Asha: What if there’s not?

Kurt: Then I’m on my way right this minute to check it out.

Asha: Get back to work. You’ll just have to wait until tonight to find out.

Kurt: Is that an invitation?

Asha: Like you need one. You’ll just make up an excuse anyway.

Kurt: Me? Never!

Asha: Really?

Kurt: By the way, I’m pretty sure there is a pair of panties at my house that you might have to pick up tonight. I