Enlightened (Red Flags) (21 page)

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"You're incredibly late!" Mila shouted, looking at the non-existent watch on her bare wrist.

"Sorry.  I got hung up at work.  Did you order?"

"No, I was waiting on you.  What do you want?"

"Jack and Coke.  Make it a double."

"Holy shit.  Sounds like someone had quite the day.  Tell me all about it."

Mila motioned for the waiter to come and take our orders.  I wasn't hungry, but she insisted on getting a small appetizer to soak up the alcohol that she said I was sure to consume.  I didn't put up a fight and after placing the order, dove right into my story.

After filling Mila in on Damian and his history with Jason, I was ready for another drink.  I told Mila all about my tortuous days having to work one on one with Damian, threats of me losing my job, and of course, the big bang that took place out in the parking lot of SDSM.  I might as well have been replaying a juicy soap opera for her because Mila went through every emotion possible while listening to this
too-good-to-be-true
story.

"So come Monday morning, you might be fired?"

"Yup.  Grand isn't it?  I just started this damn job."

"That sucks, but you work for a limp dick.  Doesn't sound like he's willing to go to bat for you."

"I know.  It's pretty damn awful.  Damian is getting away with so much and because William values this contract over his employees, there's nothing I can do."

Mila took a long sip of her Long Island Iced Tea. 

"It might be for the best.  Who in their right mind wants to work under conditions like these?"

"Until I find another way to make money and pay my bills, I do," I quickly responded. 

I sipped down the last of my Jack and Coke and summoned the waitress, to ask for another.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something that caught my attention, but when I blinked to take another look, it was gone.  Mila looked at me in confusion, probably wondering if the stress of everything that was going on in my life was starting to wear me down, and I quickly regained my focus and pulled out my cell phone.  I handed it to her and asked her to sift through the text messages that Damian had so proudly told Jason to look through.  As Mila went through them, her eyes grew larger and larger, but the smile on her face faded rather quickly.  I sat impatiently, waiting for her to fill me in on what she was reading.  When I could take the anticipation no longer, I softly kicked her under the table.

"Well?" I asked, now slightly bouncing in my chair.  I couldn't stand to watch her faces without knowing what was going on in my phone.

"This guy is a fucking devil incarnate.  Let's see… he starts with small talk, but then jumps into how much he can't stand Jason, and you agree to hating him just as much.  Damian then asks you why you are still trying to rekindle a relationship with him if you hate him so much, and you respond that you want payback.  Supposedly you want to make Jason feel all the hurt that he unleashed on you."

I sat disgusted.  How could someone as attractive as Damian be so hung up on one girl?  Mila stopped and looked up from the phone over at me.

"Do you want me to keep going?" she asked cautiously.

"Might as well."

"Alright.  So then this asshole asks you how you feel about Stacey's baby, to which you say that you have decided that she and Jason deserve each other and that you are ready to rid your mind of those thoughts."

"Oh. My. Gosh.  What a demented bastard."

"Oh you just wait, this shit gets better.  Then you ask if there is any way that you two can start something up, but keep it on the low, since you're worried about work.  He says absolutely, that he's wanted you since he first laid eyes on you, and you admit to the same." 

Mila threw her head back in wild laughter and I had to let go and laugh with her.  The absurdity of these text messages had me scratching my head a little.

"Oh no, Pinks.  It gets even better.  You go on to tell him just how much you want him and just how badly you need to quell this ache you feel for him.  He says you don't even have to ask, that he will take care of it all for you."  Mila laughs hard again, this time nearly spilling her drink.  "What the fuck kind of psycho are you working for?  I might have to quit your job for you."

I laughed again at the ludicrousness of it all.  I knew he was a scorned guy, but I never thought he would stoop to such lows in order to try and sabotage something for Jason that he really didn't even have.  I guess in his warped mind, damaging Jason was of the utmost importance, and since I had refused his advances, I was fair game.  I internally laughed at myself for once again falling prey to another man's personal vendetta against Jason.  First it was Jacob, now Damian.  The only good thing this time around is that I am able to see things with clarity, and I'm not caught off guard by any of the shenanigans.

"Anyway.  I can't stay on Bozo all night.  I'll die of fucking laughter.  What is up with you and Jason anyway?"  Mila asked, sliding my cell phone back over to me.

"I don't really know.  We certainly aren't together."

"But you still feel for him?"

"Mila, I do still love him.  And everything he's doing to better himself is definitely making me see him the way I did before everything blew up in my face.  But I don't want to get burned again.  That shit was awful."

"Pinks, from what I know, everything is out in the open.  Jason is a broken little boy trapped in a grown man's body."  Her words took on a more conciliatory tone.  "When you wouldn't speak to him, he talked to me and Ryan. I'm sorry if that upsets you, but we believe in you guys."

"I don't care that you guys talked.  I've moved beyond that.  I miss Jason every day. I missed him, even when I was beyond pissed at him…"

"Ok, so then don't purposely put up walls.  Let your feelings and your heart guide you.  I know it's crazy as hell, considering the up and down relationship that you and Jason had, but I see something in you two, and it actually saddens me that you aren't together."

I looked into her eyes and for the first time in a long time, I saw sadness overtake them.  I was confused by it all.  On the one hand, there was Chelsea who despised Jason with every ounce of her being.  On the other hand, there was Mila who would give her right arm for Jason and me to be back together.  I was thrown into the middle of the debacle. 

I missed his charms, his protective nature, and of course, his smokin' hot body.  My heart was telling me to cut through the bullshit and just make it work with him.  But my brain, which had been left behind when I first started dating Jason, was telling me to tread lightly until we both had a chance to sort ourselves out.  I wasn't sure how long that would take, but I knew my heart was with him, and I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else.

"Trust me, Mila.  I can't see myself with anyone else right now.  Unfortunately, I can't see myself completely giving myself to Jason until he's sorted through all of his shit."

"I understand.  And believe me, he does, too."  She tucked her long, dark hair behind her ear.  "Relationships take work.  I know you two will eventually work all of this out."

"I'm glad you're so optimistic, because as badly as my body craves him, I don't know if we'll ever get back to that place."

Mila lightly frowned, but didn't say anything more.  My phone buzzed and I looked to find that Jason had left a text message, making me instantly perk up.

*Jason*

Hope you're out having a good time.  I only wish it were with me.  Enjoy your night, Gorgeous.  I love you.

My swift change in mood perked Mila up as well.  Just as she was starting to go on and on about her and Ryan's plans for a trip to Cancun, my phone buzzed again, only this time, it was Chase texting.

*Chase*

Not sure why I'm getting the silent treatment.  Please call me back.

I felt bad after reading Chase's text.  I had in no way meant to ignore him.  Before my phone was stolen away from me, I was going to call him since I hadn't had much free time to talk or spend with him, but things happened, and Chase was cast aside. 

"Who was that?"  Mila asked inquisitively.

"Chase," I responded, watching her face go sour.

"He's still in the damn picture?  I swear, Cara, you are going to have to lay down the gauntlet with that one."

"There's nothing to lie down.  Chase has been there for me.  I owe him for that."

"You don't owe him shit," Mila said scrunching her eyes at something behind me. 

"What are you looking at?" I asked.

"That blonde chick.  She keeps looking at you. Do you know her?" 

I turned around and caught the eye of a tall, thin blonde.  She was pretty, but I had no clue who she was.

"I have no idea.  Probably some spy of Damian's, here to crash our night out."  We both laughed and after tossing money on the table to cover our check, stood and turned to leave the restaurant.

After what had turned into a disastrous afternoon, my time out with Mila was exactly what I needed to cure the insanity floating around me. 

When we stepped outside into the parking lot, we hugged and said our goodbyes.  I'd promised her that I would let my guard down and just allow my feelings to dictate for me, instead of trying to manage and guide my heart into the opposite direction of where it was beating.  As I turned to go left for my car, I spotted the blonde girl again.  She was looking at me with deep curiosity firmly planted on her face.  I shook her off and proceeded to my car, only to look up and find that the blonde was not alone.  Stacey was standing about five feet away from my car, holding a small baby bump, a cunning smile spread wide across her face and a wicked gleam in her eye.  Looking at her caused my stomach to convulse violently.  She walked closer to me, never losing her contemptuously vile grin, and I could do nothing but stand frozen in place.

Chapter 16

A million and one thoughts have run through my head as to what I would do if this scenario ever presented itself.  Unfortunately, I stood frozen in place and couldn't fix myself to say or do anything.  Stacey stood in front of me, gently rubbing her hand over her protruding belly.  I had to take a double take, because I swear she wasn't showing when I had seen her in Heath, but now, there was a noticeable bump, and she was making sure to draw attention to it.

"Wow.  It's nice to see you, Cara," she said, smiling with a deceitful smile on her face.

I still couldn't fix myself to say anything.  I stood with my eyes fixated on her belly.  I felt like my worst nightmares were coming true right in front of me.  Mila came walking up behind me, and I was never more thankful for her presence.

"I'm Stacey.  And you are?"  Stacey asked Mila, extending her hand out to her.

Mila instantly figured out who she was and frowned, never extending her hand back to her, which visibly upset Stacey. 

"So you're the tramp that thinks it's okay to destroy people's lives with blatant lies?" 

Stacey's blonde friend gasped and looked over to Stacey, almost as if she was awaiting a complete blow up. 

"Wow.  You've got your attack dog here, huh Cara? Cute."  She looked from me, over to Mila, and then back to me.  "Love the new hair.  Kind of like Heather's after Jake found out about everything."

Flashes of Jacob in the guesthouse in Heath sprung to life and I subconsciously ran my fingers through my hair, much to Stacey's delight. 

"I'm sure it's easier to believe that I'm telling lies, but the proof is right here."  I watched her affectionately rub her hands over her belly again.

"Any Tom, Dick, or Jacob could have put that there," Mila spit out.  She was eyeing Stacey with an unbelievable amount of disgust.

"Stacey, what do you want?  Did you follow me here?"  I asked, hoping to get her to just turn around and leave.  "Jason and I are not together.  You got what you wanted, right?"

"I know you aren't together.  And please don't flatter yourself.  I happen to really enjoy this restaurant."

"Right.  And your little stalker here wasn't watching and waiting on me?"

I watched the blonde flash me a friendly smile.  She'd been caught. Stacey glared a murderous stare in her direction, and she quickly softened her face to an expressionless gaze.

"I don't have time for this.  This is a fabulous restaurant and, if you know anything about Jason and his eating habits,
his baby
is starving."

I felt my hands scrunch into two tight fists.  Malice pierced through my eyes directly at Stacey, and to my own shock, I found myself thinking of the bodily harm that I wanted to cause her, but her looming belly was staring me right back in the face, so I worked to contain my violent daydreams.  Stacey walked away with the blonde in tow, rubbing her belly and sneering at Mila and me. 

When Stacey was far enough away, Mila grabbed my hands and slowly unclenched them for me.  I hadn't even realized that I was still holding my hands in two tightly wad fists.  Hearing Stacey's name was like nails on a chalkboard.  Seeing her was like a knife to the back. 

"So that’s the spawn of Satan?"  Mila asked, looking disgusted at the thought of Stacey.

"Yup.  Isn't she lovely?"

"I wanted to deck her, Pinks.  Good thing she's pregnant."

"I know.  I felt the same way."

"I still don't think it's his baby.  But he'd better get a paternity test as soon as he can.  This bitch is out to make your life miserable."

Mila was absolutely right.  While I was more sure that Jason was not the father of Stacey's baby, the looming doubt still plagued me, and seeing the bitch only solidified the little doubt that was there.

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Saturday morning I woke with a pounding headache and a sore throat.  I got very little sleep and found myself thinking about my ever conflicted feelings.  Making a choice, one way or another, was the only way I would ever get back to a sense of normalcy.