High Fidelity

8. baby got backyard

Sydney Bay Janes

"What the Hell?" I woke up.

8:09 AM

The sounds of men laughing and construction didn't make it easy to sleep in.

After another loud noise, I got up to ask Delaney if she could keep it down.

In my grey two piece fuzzy pajama shorts set, I slipped into a pair of slides by the bed I had unpacked already, and picked the crust from my eyes.

It was warm already and I didn't see or hear Delaney anywhere. I popped in her bedroom first and then the kitchen.

Seeing there was no breakfast, I grew nosey and watched through the kitchen window.

They were just the landscapers, the ones from the business card on the fridge, I assume.

I thought it was nice Delaney acted on my advice so fast.

She suddenly walked through the sliding glass door and came in from outside.

"Oh, hey beauty. Didn't know you were up," she talked,

I scratched my elbow. "Uh, yeah, the noise."

"Shit, sorry. I'll tell them to come back later if you want," she offered.

"No, no. I'm up now. Breakfast?"

"Since you're offering," a random man joined the conversation.

I curled my face at his audacity then relaxed it when I saw him kiss the top of my aunt's head.

"This is Tom?" I questioned.

"You must be Sydney," he said. "Nice to meet you. I'd say Laney's told me so much about you, but she hasn't."

My aunt elbowed him.

"Same," I shot back.

He started to laugh. "So, is this temporary or?"

"Um, she can stay as long as she wants," Delaney said, adjusting her crystal necklace.

"Don't worry, I won't be in anyone's way for too long," I made clear.

"No worry," my aunt assured me. "Tom just likes to walk around naked."

"Okay. I'm gonna shower," I said, walking stiffly down the hall.

***

During my shower, my aunt yelled to me how she was heading into town to visit the craft store and that Tom was off to work.

I didn't like Tom, that wasn't the best first impression.

"--Shut up, she said he walks around naked? Get the fuck outta here," Chy snarled.

I put on my socks and had her on speaker.

"Right. Like, the thought of that made a pit in my stomach. I think I really hate men," I talked.

Nevada's May got up to eighty degrees, there was no way I was wearing anything but bikinis and dresses.

Once clad in a pink, v-neck one piece collared bodycon dress and white Steve Madden 'movement' sneakers, I put my hair back with a toothed brown headband.

My plans for the day included finding work. I needed to network especially since I no longer had my team handy.

I let Chyna know to take over and just keep me in the loop with events. We agreed I'd try to make some back in LA once I was ready. Meanwhile, Lana, Rielle, and Amber were on vacation in Tulum.