Finding My Normal

Chapter 8

I woke up to the sound of my cell phone ringing. Arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, pressing me into a chest that didn't feel familiar. My body shot into a sitting position as the events of the night before came rushing back. Mr. T was still naked lying next to me. What the fuck did I do? My mind was racing with accusations. How the hell had this man gotten me into his bed like this? And how was I going to fix it? My eyes trailed over to my phone and I noticed my lockscreen full notifications. I snatched up my phone as my heart started racing.

Trevor: Where are you? It's getting late.

Trevor: Jah's going crazy. he thinks someone snatched you up. Your job said you left hours ago. Where you at Ki?

Trevor: Call me! As soon as you get this.

Trevor: I'm going to kill you.

Jahmil: Yo, where you at ma? I'm worried.

Jahmil: Don't make me come look for you.

Brent: I just hope you know, we all beatin yo' ass when you come home, youngin

Lee: Man, Ki. I hope you safe.

I unlocked my phone and saw that, along with the texts from the guys, I had 103 missed calls. My thumb moved to respond to Trevor's text when a picture of Jahmil's smiling face popped up on my screen letting me know he was calling. I was afraid to answer, but I knew if I didn't I would regret it when I finally got home. The phone was balanced between my shoulder and my cheek as I shuffled around the room frantically trying to put my clothes back on.

"Kianna, where are you?" Jahmil's voice sounded rushed and panicked.

"It's a long story. I'm on my way home." I was slipping my shirt back over my head when I noticed Mr. T watching me from his place on his bed. I gestured for him to keep quiet as I continued the conversation. Jahmil's concerned voice did nothing to ease my overpowering thoughts. My mind was racing, attempting to piece together the past 12 hours. I know I had come over to Mr. T's house to show him the tracks. Somehow his lips found their way to mine, but that didn't explain what had compelled me to sleep with him. He was a grown ass man and I was certain that this was breaking some unwritten employee-boss rule.

"Jah, I'll see you when I get home. I'll be back in 20." I rushed, hanging up before he could respond.

I was halfway out of the door when a hand on my wrist stopped me. I felt a wad of cash being placed into my palm. "Get yourself a plan B on your way home. We were safe, but you could never be too safe."

My mouth hung open as I stared at the man before me. There was no doubt he was a fine ass man. His chest was defined and it looked like he was chiseled by God himself. My insides churned slightly from the look he was giving me. The intensity of his gaze had my knees threatening to collapse. I ripped my eyes from his body and glanced at the pile of 20's in my hand. There was no way I even needed all of this for a damn Plan B. They were like $50 from the CVS down the block. I quickly unraveled $60 from the wad of cash and pushed the rest of the money back towards him.

"No, you keep it. Just a little something for the good time last night." He winked, heading towards his bathroom.

"Did he just-" I muttered before the situation registered in my mind. This man just threw money at me like I was some prostitute. "Derrick Thompson!" I screamed, following behind him.

"Yes, Kianna?" He responded with his toothbrush in his hand.

"Are you paying me for having sex with you? Sex you fucking initiated?" I seethed.

"Don't look at it like that. I'm just giving you a little something for your troubles. Think of it as a pay advance."
    "I don't need your money Mr. T. I don't even know how we ended up in your bed. I'm only 18 and you're almost 30." I rambled, waving my arms around wildly. "I could lose my job. What am I talking about? I can't work at the record company anymore. People will think I'm a slut. I'm not even like this. Mr. T-"