Urges: Part Three (The Urges Series Book 3) (6 page)

Today, Gary is
helping me move into my apartment. Helping might be an
understatement. All I've had to do was stand and point at where I
want things to go. He's been handling all the heavy lifting. For
being such a skinny guy, he sure is strong.

“
Thankfully,
I didn't live with my mother long enough for her to want to donate
all of it. We were getting to that point. She's been trying to get me
to move back in with her almost since I first moved out of the
house.”

“
All
I have left is the TV.” He hunches over and takes a few deep
breaths.

“
Get
to it, Hercules. You can take a break afterward. I'll even have a
cold bottle of water waiting for you.” I smirk at him as I get
up off of my lazy ass to go to the kitchen.

By the time I
return, he's stepping over the threshold with my thirty-two-inch flat
screen. It's light by comparison to everything else he's had to bring
in. Hell, I could have carried it in myself.

“
You're
a doll.” I pat him on the shoulder and push a bottle of water
into his hand once he's placed the TV on the entertainment center.

“
I
still have to hook it up for you.” He sets the bottle of water
down and kneels to plug in the television.

“
That
can wait. Come sit.” I walk back to the couch, throw myself
onto it, and pat the spot next to me.

“
Do
you have the remote?” He stands and gestures to the television.

“
It's
in one of the boxes with my game system. Don't worry about it. I'll
get everything set up later. Come sit down. You've done enough.”
I pat the spot beside me more vigorously. The guy is a workhorse. His
new girlfriend sure is lucky.

“
I
just feel like I'm forgetting something.” He puts his hands on
his hips and looks around for a moment.

“
You
didn't.” My eyes widen in warning.

He smiles at me
warmly, grabs his bottle of water, twists the cap off, takes a big
gulp, and then finally seats himself beside me. Beads of perspiration
dot his brow, quickly gathering to cascade down his face. It is hot
in here. Due to my lack of funds, I'm trying desperately to conserve
on electricity.

“
It
would have taken me forever to move all of this stuff by myself.”
I glance around at the furniture.

“
It
didn't take that long.” He takes another long sip from the
bottle, staring off into the distance.

“
Well,
I really appreciate it. I just wish I could pay you.”

“
You
can pay me by helping me with girl stuff when I need it.” He
smirks.

Gary has been dating
the girl he told me he was pursuing for about a month now—officially
dating her. They got together shortly after we met, and I can tell
that she makes him incredibly happy. It's nice to see him so in love,
like I wish I was.

“
Trouble
in paradise already?” I tease.

“
Not
really. Things couldn't be better.” He reclines back on the
sofa. “Our one month anniversary is coming up. I'm wondering if
I should celebrate it by buying her something or if that would be too
high school.”

“
Girls
like presents.” Who doesn't? If you can think of an occasion to
give me something, I'll take it. “Besides, nothing is more
romantic than a man showing that he cares.”

“
That's
what I thought too.” He scratches his brow. “I was
thinking about getting her flowers, but I'm not sure what kind she
likes.”

“
You
can't go wrong with roses...unless she's allergic to them.” I
screw my face.

“
Maybe
I don't need your advice after all, because I was thinking the same
thing.” He smiles, pleased with himself.

“
Well,
aren't you just one of a kind? Twenty years old, and you've already
got women figured out.” I give him a sarcastic look. In truth,
he probably has us figured out more than most guys. Then again, he's
in a league of his own. If I hadn't been having such a stupid pity
part about Trent, maybe I would have been smart enough to pursue him
when we first met. It's too late for that now though. We're
definitely both in the friend zone for each other.

“
I
think some of that was just common sense,” he lets out a short
laugh. “But anyway, enough about my love life. How's work going
for you?”

“
It's
work.” I wrinkle my nose. While I don't hate my job, I
definitely don't love it either. The store is empty most of the time.
When it's not, Kevin makes me clean, which sucks. I mean, I was used
to cleaning at my other jobs at the beginning or end of my shift, but
it feels like I spend more time cleaning than I do behind the counter
at Hillenbrand Hardware. Not to mention the fact that my guaranteed
forty hours a week is far less than I expected. Most weeks, I clock
in thirty-five hours, and for the place being filled with older
employees, they never seem to get sick or need me to take over their
shifts. I'm making enough money to cover rent and bills, but there's
not much left for anything else.

“
If
they allowed family to work together, I'd say you should apply at the
restaurant.”

“
I'd
rather not.” The thought of working with my mother is
completely unappealing. Living with her was hard enough.

“
Yeah.
It's not the best job either. I suppose that none of them are. A job
is a job is a job,” he sighs.

“
You're
a chef though. You should go into San Antonio and find someplace
where they pay you better.” I quirk an eyebrow at him.

“
I
wish I could.” His shoulders slump. “I don't think my
truck could handle the commute though, and I can't really afford a
car payment right now. You know how it is.” He looks around the
apartment again, and I can completely understand what he's saying.
Life wasn't designed for young people to live alone. Rent and bills
are so expensive that it's near impossible to save up for anything.
If I had to pay a car payment right now, I'd be living right back
with my mother.

“
Well,
perhaps Ashley will move in with you soon. With your combined income,
maybe you'll be able to do more.” The thought had crossed my
mind to ask Gary if he wanted to be roomies, but I didn't want to
mess up things with his girlfriend. Besides, we still don't know each
other very well.

“
It
will probably be a long time before that happens.” He brings
the water bottle up to his lips and chugs until it's all gone.

“
Well,
there's got to be something better out there for both of us.” I
smile softly at him.

“
One
would like to think so.” He glances at me, looking completely
exhausted. “I should probably take off. I told Ashley I'd go
over to her parents' place for dinner.”

“
Happy
fun times.” I stand to walk him out.

“
Her
parents are nice people. A little overbearing, but I suppose that's
natural.” He shrugs when we get to the door.

“
I
suppose it is.” I wouldn't know. My mother never cared about
who I dated, and my father died before I was born, so there wasn't a
paternal figure around to judge my potential love interests.

“
Have
fun in your new place.” Gary's eyes dance over all the
furniture in my living room and dining room a final time before he
steps out the front door and starts walking to his truck.

I stand in the
doorway until he's driven out of sight, figuring it's only the polite
thing to do after he helped me out. When he's gone, I come back
inside and sit on the sofa again, staring at the dead gray screen of
my television. It feels like the second phase of getting my life in
order is complete. I landed a job, albeit a shitty one. I've moved
out of my mother's house. Now what? Try to get a better job? That
seems like the most logical next step. I really don't want to think
about it right now though. I just want to lay back, perhaps take a
nice, long bath, and appreciate the fact that for once things are
going as planned.

CHAPTER FIVE

What is she doing
here, and who is that hunk on her arm?

If I could hide
behind the checkout counter, I would. But she's already spotted me,
so there's really no point.

Marcelene's face
brightens as she steps up to the counter to greet me. The man at her
side seems oblivious to who I am. That's only natural. I don't know
him. I wish I did though. He's at least six feet tall and broad with
muscle. His gorgeous olive skin compliments his dark-brown eyes. The
term tall, dark and handsome must have been made for this guy.

“
Fennel!”
She reaches out her hand to take mine as if we're long-time friends.
Nothing could be further from the truth. All she ever was to me was
the human resources lady at Chilly Creations, Inc.

“
Hey
Marcelene.” My eyes drift between her and the man at her side.

“
This
is my husband, Marco. Marco, this is Fennel. She used to work with me
at Chilly Creations,” Marcelene introduces us.

“
Nice
to meet you,” I say stiffly. Of course, he's her husband. She's
gorgeous. He's gorgeous. No wonder Trent never took any interest in
her. Marcelene was already spoken for.

“
Likewise.”
He gives my hand a firm shake before wandering off into the store.

“
I
was so surprised to hear that you quit.” Her eyes widen in
disbelief as if my leaving Chilly Creations, Inc. over a month ago is
news to her. It doesn't make sense, especially since I had to come
into her office to pick up my check. “Trent told me he was
going to try to get you back. I guess it didn't work.” She juts
her bottom lip out into a pout.

“
Nope.
It didn't,” I sigh, unable to mask my discomfort with the
topic.

“
Why
did you quit, if you don't mind me asking?” She leans over the
counter and starts playing with a display of miniature flashlights
near the register. “I couldn't ask you at work, because there
were too many ears around.”

“
One
of the guys was harassing me.” I stare straight at her,
wondering if she'll pick up on what I'm talking about.

She rolls her eyes,
though it doesn't seem directed at me. “It's hard working
there. I know. Those guys can be...well, they can be guys.”

She doesn't know.
She has no idea what I went through with Trent. That wasn't just him
being a guy. That was him being...I don't know what.

“
Well,
it's over now. No biggie.” I trace an indentation in the
counter with my fingernail.

“
You
should have spoken to Trent if someone was bothering you. He's really
good about getting that type of stuff sorted out. When I first
started working at Chilly Creations, there was this one particularly
aggressive gentleman. Trent gave him two warnings, and then he fired
the guy. Trent takes care of his own,” she chirps her praise of
the man she knows absolutely nothing about. All I can do is scowl,
though I try not to let her see it.

“
I've
already made my choice. I'm working here now.” My eyes flash
across the aisles of hardware. Even though I've been working at
Hillenbrand Hardware for a while, I still have no idea what half of
the stuff is.

She doesn't seem
impressed. “Do you really like working here?”

“
It's
not ideal, but it's okay.” That's the closest thing to an
honest answer I feel like I can give her.

“
I
think I remember you saying you wanted to work in an office.”

“
If
I make it to manager, I eventually will.” I force a smile.

“
Well.”
She taps her finger on top of the counter. “If you ever want to
work for Chilly Creations again, Trent says you're eligible for
rehire. It might not be the best job, but I'm sure it pays better
than this.” For the first time since we began talking, I can
hear the arrogance in her tone. She thinks she's better than me. She
always has. It only comes out in subtle hints though, like right now.
She's fake. Just like Trent. I'm glad I don't work with her anymore.