Little Rooms

Chapter 10

There's nothing like a satisfied guy. Not in the sexual sense, although that would probably appeal to someone like Joe Martin. He loved getting his way and feeling satisfied with his conquests. So when I called Joe at midnight and told him I'd go to the formal, it was one for his record book.

Although he didn't mention Isaiah, the knowledge was there for Joe to use should I ever run amok. I wasn't planning on it.

"Wear red. It looks good on you," he said, clucking over the phone. I stuck out my tongue, trying not to think about having a picture taken with him, his hand on my satin-covered butt while saying "cheese."

"Uh, yeah. Come by at 6:30 tonight." I searched my mind for a comeback to his red comment. Having known Joe forever, I knew he had a hole in his lip and could drop food and drink down his front quicker than a toddler.

"And wear white because it really contrasts with your good looks."

"Not gonna happen. Nice try."

"You know me. I always try," I said through my teeth.

Because my mother was having vacation withdrawals, she decided to spend the day at Gregories — The Spa At Willowbrook. At least that's what they called it, grammar be damned. Hot rocks, mud showers and two-hour massages from Franco would help her relax and keep her out of my hair. I knew she was tense because my father was coming home on Sunday, but even more because of the big Joe dinner she'd planned.

We were having Thui's Cuisine delivered and served on the china only brought out for fancy dinner parties and soon-to-be dead relatives with high expectations.

"Two-hundred dollars a setting, Nicole. Boys like Joe know how to eat off of fine china." I laughed when thought of a similar-sounding word to china, betting that Joe only wished he could eat off something so fine.

I kissed her cheek before she went off to start her day with a Vichy shower. "I'm sure he'll enjoy everything, mama."

Two minutes later, Cassie was out the door. Her v-neck t-shirt exposed an eye-popping groove, enhanced even more by the leather jeans painted on her hips.

"Brad's?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Shopping."

Cassie's idea of shopping included purchasing custom ink at Brighton Tattoo and new jewelry for her pierced parts. I couldn't get her out of the house quick enough.

Two weeks was a long time to have my entire family in the same house, trampling my territory and forcing me to have dinner with boys I wouldn't boink if they were the last ones on earth. Well, maybe I'd do Joe if I had to... as long as he didn't know that.

I was on the move through the house, looking to give my angst an outlet. Trent followed, dropping to the floor every few steps, hoping I'd stay put. The craving for more blanketed my thoughts. More Isaiah. More chances. More of the things my parents thought I'd never do.

I went to my parents' room and peeked in my mother's jewelry box. The pendant was still missing. I'd read somewhere that certain people take mementos from their lovers. Reminders of a good time. However, if Isaiah had taken the pendant it wouldn't be for that reason, even though I hoped he had good thoughts about our time together. No, he would have taken the pendant because it was worth a lot of money and easy to grab in the middle of the night between sex acts.

As I headed toward the closet, Trent growled and moved to the door. My heart thumped in a slow-fast motion, sliding further into my shoulder blades as I thought about whether to hide in the closet or under the bed. I dove into the racks of clothes and held my breath.