Trapping His Monster

17. Sergeant Major Thomas Davis

"A love like that was a serious illness, an illness from which you never entirely recover."

― Charles Bukowski, The People Look Like Flowers at Last

I opened my eyes and sighed. I knew Derek didn't come home last night. I guess he really did think work was more important than our relationship. We should be handling what happened two nights ago together. And I thought we were really in love with each other. I guess that delusion is gone.

I ignored this and sat up. The room felt cold. It wasn't because of the temperature outside. I wouldn't consider that cold enough to cool down the entire mansion.

My phone buzzed with a new message. I looked at the nightstand, frowning in confusion. I don't usually receive any morning texts. Everyone's either just waking up or sleeping in.

Jordan
I'll pick you up around noon

Huh, what is he talking about? I don't remember making any plans with him. Maybe he accidentally sent that text to me. That's possible.

I decided to look back through our most recent messages. I barely remember what I did after I spoke with Mia and José.

Jordan
Plans for tmrw?

No

Jordan
I could pick you up
We could use my father's yacht

Aren't you a little too old to be borrowing 
anything from him

Jordan
Aren't you a little too old to be a pop star

Touché

Jordan
I wouldn't know what to do with a boat

I wouldn't either

Jordan
I'll be there by noon or a little after that
Sounds good?

Fine with me. I have nothing else better to do

Jordan
Great
I want to pick up a few things after that

SureYou do you

Jordan
Awesome
See you then

Now that I'm actually up, I don't think I want to go anywhere. I haven't spent any time with our kids since they've come back. School is starting pretty soon and they haven't seen much of me. Not counting when I returned. They left the next morning.

I actually needed to see Lexi and my husband
Meaning...I need to make a trip to Manhattan
Before we board any boat

Jordan
That's fine with me. I was supposed to go see
her anyway
Kill two birds with one stone
I'm down

Amazing
See you soon

"Mom!" Mina yelled. "I am going to strangle your son!"

"Tyler, what did you do?" I asked.

"Nothing. I ain't even left my room yet," he claimed.

"You texted me! You don't have to leave your room to annoy me."

Kids. You gotta love them.

I ignored them and focused on completing my morning routine. Since I didn't have to go to the studio or to the firm, I had a little more free time today. I had a good four hours before Jordan was due to pick me up. That's if noon for him actually means noon. Sometimes New Yorkers mean something completely different from what they promise.