Silent Attention [COMPLETED]

18. Maybe later

The rest of the day felt like things were normal, until Shelly brought up about my problem.

"What do you want to do?"

"I really don't know.  What is left to do?  I really don't want to spend a fortune moving and have him find me there too.  It's my place and I kinda want to stand my ground."

"You could get a guard dog."

"I hate dogs.  with a passion."

"You could get a man.  Nothing detours a man like another hot, hung man."

I laughed at Shelly and rolled my eyes.  I know she was talking about Aaron, but I really didn't want to bring anyone else into this. 

"As much fun as that would be, I don't want to have a guy glued to my side all the time to make me feel safe."

"Well, since you don't want to move, I guess you will have to get a security system."

"I don't think I can do that in my apartment..."

"They have wireless ones that you can control by an app on your phone.  It sends you a text when someone opens your doors or windows when you are not home."

"That sounds perfect, but it also sounds expensive."

"Your safety is worth more than any amount of money."  We had a silent stare down for all of ten seconds before we both burst out laughing.  We were sitting on her couch watching some sappy movie on lifetime eating popcorn and painting each other's toes.  Yeah it was a girl's night in to the fullest.  Popcorn fell onto the floor and Shelly got pink petal fingernail polish all over my toe.

I calmed down enough to get out, "Okay I'll call tomorrow."

Shelly wiped the tears from her eyes.  "I think they have a payment plan and if not, I can lend you some money."

Shelly started cleaning up the popcorn mess and I fixed my toe she coated.  I went ahead and finished the last two.  Our movie was over, not that we were really watching it, and it was getting late.

"I'm going to bed.  I'll see you there in a few when your toes dry?"

"Yeah, I'm going to look up the system too, see how much it really is and what all I want."

"Kay" Shelly tossed back over her shoulder.

I sat back on her couch and pulled out my phone.  I forgot Aaron had text me earlier.

"No hard feelings.  Just a hard dick, nothing I can't take care of myself."  He was kinda a jerk, but I've been there, sexual frustration isn't fun.  Not that I would ever help him out.  He would have ended up doing that by himself.  Then I started picturing him doing that, by himself.  I grin crept on my face and I had to shake the mental picture out. 

I started looking at different security systems, trying to find the one Shelly was talking about.  My phone buzzed in my hand startling me.

"Don't take all night, I might have to find someone else to share my bed with."

Shelly was such a jokester.  "In your dreams.  You're stuck with me tonight."

"In my dreams is correct.  Let's just hope for your sake it isn't a wet one."

I snickered as I typed a reply.  "The only wet dreams you have are the ones that include drooling on your pillow."

"If you saw what I dream about, you would be doing more than drooling."

I rolled my eyes at my phone and went back to my internet search.  I found the system she was talking about, and it wasn't too pricey.  They even had cameras that could link up to the app, so you could see what was going on with a ten second delay.  And they had a payment plan.  Half up front and the rest in monthly installments.  I was going to do a one year contract and could have the purchase and service rolled into one monthly payment.  I was feeling relieved.  I saved the page and was about to get up when my phone buzzed again, but it wasn't Shelly this time.

"Hey." -Aaron

"Hey."

"I wanted to make sure you were still cool with me." 

I smiled.  "Everything is fine.  Like you said, no hard feelings."

"Good.  I like talking to you." 

A little early are we?  "So talk to me."

"What's going on that you don't want to take an adventure with me?"

Adventure? I puffed out loud.  "It's some personal stuff.  I'm taking steps to ensure that my life continues how I want it."

"Where do you want it?"  "No sexual pun, in all seriousness."

I smiled and thought about his picture from earlier and felt my loins stir.  "Not like it is now, staying at a friend's house and sleeping in her bed."  "In all seriousness, nothing sexual."

"Trying to distract me from the issue isn't going to work."

Damn he must really like me.  "I'd rather not get into it."

"Fine, but I would love to get into you ;)"

Oh. my god.  Did he just?  After I told him?  "I thought I told you I couldn't do this right now?"

"That was earlier today.  Thought maybe you might change your mind."

"Well I haven't."

There was a long pause and then my phone buzzed.  "I missed you at the club last night.  We should go out Friday again.  Maybe I can meet your friend that ditched you."

I might be able to do that depending on how I feel.  Plus Shelly would be there and be my back up for once.  "Maybe.  Depends on how I feel.  Don't expect me to be there though."

"It would make for an excellent birthday present to yours truly."

"It's your birthday?"

"No, but it would be if you came."

How corny.  "I'll think about it."

"Is there anything I can do to get you to come?"

Plenty of things.  Oh my god, get your head out of the dirty gutter Gemma.  "Don't be a psycho and make me feel safe?"

"I might be able to do that.  Define psycho?"

"Lol very funny."

"What things make you feel safe, and safe from what?"

Wow this turned serious fast.  "Being a gentleman, like you were the other night minus the toothbrush incident."  I wasn't about to tell him about my stalker.  If Shelly was right, having a man around me would detour the psycho.

"I can bring my own toothbrush to the party. and deodorant."

What!  "What?  Did you use my deodorant?  That explains the little brown hair I found stuck to it."
"No, I was just playing, and the brown hair must be from another man you swooned."

"There aren't any men I share my deodorant with.  You were lucky I didn't catch you with my tooth brush."

"Good to know.  I take it your single then."

"Very.  But you already knew that when you took me home and didn't find anything.  What about you?"

"Women who would wear my deodorant aren't my type."
Smart ass.  "You single?"

"I thought you weren't ready for that kind of thing?"

"I'm not, but I don't want a girlfriend of yours pounding down on my door either."

"I take extremely good care of the girl I am with and would never do that.  No, I am not with anyone right now."

"Good to know.  It's getting late, I'm going to bed."

"Sweet dreams beautiful."

He was coming on kind of thick, but I had to admire his persistence.  He knew what he wanted and hadn't taken no.  I hadn't told him no either, just a maybe later.  I got up and went to bed, pushing Shelly over in the dark to make room for me.  Maybe is leading him on to think he has a chance.  Does he have a chance?  Am I ready to give another man a chance to be in my life? 

With this new security system, I would be rid of my guardian angel psycho stalker.  Would he leave me alone after this, or come back full force?  I guess I will find out.