Hey everyone :) Thank you so so much for all the kind reviews! Extremely grateful to all of you. Here is the anticipated next chapter, hope you guys like it. Please leave me some more reviews, tell me if you like how the story is going. I love you all, enjoy 3
Two days later, George finally contacted Norma.
She was cleaning one of the motel rooms when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
"Hello?" she asked, her eyes flew down to see a sticky orange fluid all over her maid uniform.
"Norma, it's me" George said, his voice soft as ever.
"George?" she asked, sighing, slapping her hand on her thigh and plopping onto the bed.
"Yeah. Look, I'm so, so sorry, baby. I didn't mean to hurt you. My parents can be real assholes, and I'm sorry they made you feel insecure" he apologized, sounding sincere.
"I was a real asshole the other night too, I shouldn't have left you guys like that, I'm sorry too" she said, smiling a bit at the sweetness in his voice.
"Are we okay?" he asked, a sense of hopefulness in his voice.
She took a minute to think about it. She knew he could provide things for her that other men couldn't, a good lifestyle, nice income, an actual normal, happy family. She smiled at his words and advances.
"Yes. We are okay" she smiled into the other end of the phone.
"Can I come see you?" he asked happily.
"Of course" she said, wheeling her maid cart out of the motel room and returning it to the back office.
They set up details to meet around 9 pm that night. She took off the maid jacket and tossed it on the cart, a spring in her step.
Around 8:40 pm, Norma waited in the office for George. She updated the motel website while picking at a danish she had sitting on the desk. She snapped the laptop shut when she heard a car door shut outside. George entered the office and pranced behind the desk, entwining her in his arms. He held her head in his hands and planted a long, slow kiss on her lips.
"I love you" he said, looking into her eyes.
"I love you, too" she said, giving him one more quick hug.
"Mmm...you smell like raspberries" he said, pulling away from her.
She motioned to the half eaten danish sitting on the desk.
"Oh Norma, you shouldn't be eating that" he said, taking the plate and tossing the contents in the garbage can.
"I was just hungry" she said rolling her eyes at the dessert in the trash.
"Next time, go for some fruit or yogurt. It will keep you energized and skinny" he said, kissing her neck.
She thought for a moment, was she getting fat? She had confidence, but her body image was always a struggle. She was never happy with her figure.
"You think I'm fat?" she asked, big, sad eyes piercing up at him.
"Honey, your a only little chunky, not fat. I'm just saying eating shit like that will make you pack on the pounds" he chuckled, kissing her forehead.
"Oh, thanks" she forced a smile through the lump of sadness in her throat.
"Yeah, no problem. So...how about we go into one of those empty motel rooms and really make up for the other night?" he said, pressing himself up against her suggestively.
The thought of a flabby stomach, jiggling thighs, and underarm fat popped into her head. She didn't want to get naked in front of a man who thought she was "chunky".
"C'mon, your so pretty" he said, kissing her neck again.
She took his hand and led him into cabin 1, closest to the office. She figured the faster she agreed and they did it, the quicker she could put her clothes back on to cover all of her gross flesh.
Alex Romero stayed at his office late that night. He and Norma's fight had really stuck with him, it hurt. The way she spoke to him, the sad look on her face, and the bruises, those haunted him specifically. To think someone could hurt her like that, made him ache.
Suddenly, Deputy Lynn walked into his office.
"Sheriff, you going home?" she asked, packed up and ready to end her shift.
"I'm going to stay for a little while longer. Have a good night deputy" he nodded her way and gave a minimal smile.
"Night, Sheriff" she said, strolling out of his office.
He got up then and looked around outside, when he saw no one, he returned to his office, shutting the door behind him.
He logged onto his computer and pulled up the public records and criminal database.
Alex didn't like using the system for personal reasons or investigating someone without a reason. He had a very high risk job, playing it safe was the best thing he could do. In that moment, he lost all of his inhibitions and morals as he typed George Heldens into the search engine.
George lie in bed his arms behind his head, leaning against the headboard. Norma sit on the edge of the bed, re-zipping her skirt. He leaned over and twirled his fingers in her hair.
"You should cut your hair short again" he suggested.
"I don't know, I took me a while to grow it out, plus I wasn't crazy about the color I dyed it" she explained, buttoning up her blouse.
"Short hair is sexy hair" he stated, getting up from the bed and re-dressing.
"You don't think I'm sexy?" she asked, looking in the mirror now, she didn't find herself very attractive either.
"I'm not saying that, your plenty sexy, it's just...the long hair is unflattering" he admitted, putting his blazer back on.
She rolled her eyes at the comment, not only was she chunky in his eyes, but unflattering? Sam may have beat the shit out of her but he never made a negative remark about her appearance.
"I'm going to head home" he said, taking her hips and kissing her cheek.
"Goodnight, George" she said, clearly keeping a distance in her tone of voice.
"I love you" he declared, placing his forehead on hers.
"Love you too" she exclaimed, holding onto his hand and walking him to his car.
He got inside and started the engine. She leaned in and kissed his mouth, with no words she returned to the motel porch and watched him leave.
As soon as he pulled away, Alex pulled into his now vacant spot. Norma rolled her eyes in distaste and walked back towards the office. She thought she was unnoticeable until she heard Alex call her name from behind. She cursed internally and turned around, an angry pout hung from her lips. He took a minute to look at her, she looked amazing as always, her hair slightly tussled, her cheeks giving a glow despite the repugnance on her face.
"What do you want, Alex?" she sighed, already checked out of the conversation.
"Can I speak to you inside, please?" he asked, keeping the encounter professional, though it was anything but.
She rolled her eyes and opened the door to the front office, he followed her behind like a lost puppy.
He closed the door tightly behind them.
"Now, what is this about?" she asked, her elbow resting on the desk.
He took a deep breathe and pulled a file out of his jacket pocket.
"What the hell is that?" she asked, already sounding miffed.
"Norma, I need you to listen to me" he said, his eyes filled with the utmost seriousness and consternation.
"What do you think I'm doing right now?" she asked impertinently.
He sighed and moved over closer to her, looking at her from across the motel desk.
"Look, I did some research on George and-"
"Here we go!" she hollered, scoffing at him.
"Norma" he warned.
"Alex, I don't know what you have against him. I swear this is ridiculous, can't I have a normal relationship with a man without people prying in and ruining it? George is a good guy!" she claimed defensively.
She truthfully thought he was a good person but he did have some flaws, just like everyone else. She can't say she was angry that Alex would want to do research on him...she hadn't done any herself. Why would Alex pull up George's personal file anyway? Her relationship was none of his business. Unless he really did care about her...no, there's no way in hell he did. He liked to watch her suffer and get upset. Right?
"Good guy? Norma, he put his hands on you! I know he's the one who gave you those bruises on your back" he yelled, looking at her like she was crazy.
"So what if he did? I made him angry. Why do you even care, anyway?" she asked sharply, her voice annoyed and malicious.
He shook his head slowly.
"You know what? Just...forget it" he said, walking out of the motel office.
She thought for a minute. She had never seen Alex like that before, his eyes were filled with pain, his voice was weak, he appeared almost...heartbroken.
He was heartbroken at her words. She felt bad, but it served him right for pushing himself into her and George's union. He never cared before, why was he starting now? Suddenly, her eyes popped open, her body turned into a powerhouse, shock and surprise was written all over her face.
Alex Romero had feelings for her.
