Chapter 3
I walk into work and see Kara standing at my desk waiting for me. "How was your night?" she asked. "I decided to take your advice. He's not Jason and I deserve to be happy." I tell her. "That's great babe." she says. "He did say that he'd like to take me out but I asked if we could wait until we know each other a little better and he was fine with that. We did learn a little more about each other." I tell her. "Good." she says. My phone lights up and she says "There's your man." I smile before picking up my phone. Seeing his name, I open the text.
J: Hey Sweetheart. How's work going?
R: Better now. How's your day?
J: Better. I changed your name in my phone.
R: Oh Lord. What to?
J: Curvy Goddess.
R: Lol. I have you as Juicy Goof.
J: Your Juicy Goof.
R: That makes me your Curvy Goddess?
J: All mine. I gotta head back. Call you tonight?
R: I'll be waiting.
I put my phone away and finish out my day. Heading home, I walk in and get my wine before taking my spot on the patio. I'm sitting there thinking about what he told me about my name in his phone and smile just as his name comes up on my phone screen. Answering the phone, I say, "Hey." I say. "Hey babe. How was your day?" he asked. "It was good. Really good." I say. "That good huh?" he asked. "Yeah well I got a text from this goofy guy that said something that made me feel really good." I say. "So, I get to kick someone's ass for flirting with my girl huh?" he asked playfully. "Your girl?" I asked. "Yeah. My girl. That okay?" he asked. "Yeah, Juice. It is. But don't you need to know my last name?" I asked. "Yeah." he says. "It's Hastings." I say. "Mine is Ortiz. Juan Carlos Ortiz." he says. "Well, guess I finally know my boyfriend's name." I say and kind of flinch, not knowing how he will respond. "Yeah babe. You know your boyfriend's name." he says and I relax. "So, how was your day?" I asked. "Good. Thought about you most of the day." he says. "Awe. You really are sweet." I tell him. "Only for you." he says and I start laughing. "Too corny?" he asked laughing. "A little." I say. "Well, babe, I better head to bed. I'll text you in the morning." he says. "Okay. Night Juan Carlos." I say. "Night Sweetheart." he says before we hang up and I stare at the fire with a smile on my face.
Waking up the next morning, I see my morning text from Juice.
J: Good morning Baby Girl. Hope you slept well. I know I did.
R: Morning My Goof. I slept really well. Hope you have a great day.
J: You too. I'll text you later. Later Sweetheart.
R: Later Goof.
Walking into work, I wave Kara over. "Well?" she asked. "We talked and he called me his girl." I say and her eyes go wide. "He hasn't even seen me but he called me his girl. We talked about some things and we are, I guess, officially together." I tell her. "Holy shit. Congrats babe." she says. "Thanks. I am so glad I listened to you." I say.
Sitting on my lunch break, my phone rings. "Hey babe." I say. "Hey sweetheart. How's work going?" he asked. "Good. Be glad when tonight gets here though. I'm getting used to talking to you while I'm sitting around the fire. I seem to sleep better after that." I tell him. "Glad I can help." he says. All of a sudden I hear a voice in the background asking "Who are you talking to Juicy?" in a thick Scottish accent. "My girl." he says simply. "I put you on speaker. Say hi to Chibs." he says. "Hey Chibs. How are you?" I ask. "Good Lass. How are you?" he asked. "Good. Thanks." I say. He takes me off of speakerphone and says "How much longer do you have on lunch?" he asked. "Unfortunately I gotta head back. Call me tonight?" I asked. "Of course." he says and I smile. "Talk to you tonight babe." he says before we end the call.
Work goes by fast and I am the last to leave like always. Walking to my car, I see Jason. "What do you want?" I asked. "I want you back." he says. "No Jason. We're not getting back together." I say. He slams me against my car and gets in my face while wrapping his hand around my throat. "You might want to rethink that answer." he says and I nod. "I'll be by soon. Your answer better be different." he says before letting me go. I get in my car and drive home as fast as I can.
Walking in my door. I walk out to the patio and just sit. My phone rings and I don't answer. It stops. It starts ringing again and I answer. "Hey. Can, uh, can I talk to you tomorrow?" I asked. "Hey. What's wrong?" he asked. "I-I'm just, uh, tired. I'll talk to you tomorrow." I say. "Rita. Hey. Baby, are you at home?" he asked and I don't answer. "Give me your address, baby, please." he says and I can tell he's worried. "I'm okay. I'm gonna head to bed." I say. "Sweetheart, please. If you don't, I'll just ping your phone." he says. I sit there a second before saying "384 Jacobs Street." I say. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes. I'll be on my bike." he says.