City Cowgirl

1 - My Summer Was Ruined Before It Even Started

It's currently 5pm and I'm absolutely exhausted . I'm a contract auditor and I have spent all day trying to get claims. This business internship has really made me juggle between expectations and reality. If I knew what I know now back in high school, then I would have joined the Excel club even if it was mainly boys who seemed allergic to deodorant.

Managers ain't doin' much either. Most think that you're not capable of handling something because you're a student, especially a freshman. I know it depends on the company but most of the time I feel like they think I'm incompetent.

On the up side, not only is it 5 pm, but it's also Friday night, meaning me and my two girlfriends are going to the club for men, drinks, and hot girl shit.

I sucked the last bit of Mango Dragon Fruit out of my Starbucks cup before dumping it in the trash as I walked out the building and drove to my Lennox apartment.

Inside, I flopped onto my couch and turned on my second-best friend, my TV. Now pardon me, but I wonder how life must have been before the TV. If I was lost on an island and I could take only one item along, it had to be either my Rose or my TV. As I settled in to rest for the long night ahead, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen to confirm who it was. It was Malik. My heart skipped a beat. I had been ignoring his messages all day, I guess he knew I would be off by now.

I really, really like this man, but I feel like I know nothing about him. He's too unreadable. First it was him still being with his ex when he showed interest in me. Then, it was him showing no interest in finding out if he had a child during the pregnancy scandal with that said ex (it wasn't his). Next, it was him ignoring me for weeks and then telling me he had a life outside of me when I complained. He started to become two different people. When we were in certain settings, he was very open, playful and flirty. But then he would switch to the other side that was very quiet, closed off and sometimes mean. No matter which guy he was, both dudes confused the HELL out of me.

I wanted nothing more than him to just be consistent.

"Hey Princess," he said in his deep svoice.

"Whatssup," I said nervously.

"You've been MIA all day."

"I know, sorry," I say. "Crazy busy."

"But you've been readin' my texts, right? You had breaks. You could've sent me a small message or sumin'. Anyways, your workday is over, right? Are you going out?

"No, I'm not going out, I have an exam tomorrow and I need to study and rest."

Bullshit.

"A'ight, I'll buy you dinner and come over."

"Thanks, but no, Malik. My friends are going to be here to help and you know how they feel about you. I don't want any problems this late."

He paused.

"So, your friends are cool but not me? Okay, I'll see you after your exam."

""I ain't sayin' that. Fine, I'll hit you up tomorrow.."

He hung up.

Quick thinking, quick lying. Now to rest and get ready for the night out, but Malik set off my nerves. I really don't want to spend time with him right know, but it still shouldn't be this stressful talk to the man I love.

***

At 9:45, I was ready to go. I was hot, oiled and clean shaven. I said a prayer for whatever sins I was going to commit tonight and stepped out of my apartment. I waved bye to the receptionist as I strutted out the lobby, he was a scrawny white guy whose face turned pink and eyes widened when he saw me. He timidly waved back.