The Aftertaste

Chapter Eight

Morning comes before I know it and I'm dragging myself through the house. I'm grateful mom has already dropped the kids off at daycare because the noise would've killed me. My night feels foggy to my memory but I remember well enough. I met a man. A man that stayed on the phone with me all night.
"Well good morning, beautiful."
I drop my phone and a scream rips through me.
"Who's in here?"
I grab a knife and look around. There's no sounds.
"I wasn't trying to scare you, I'm still on the phone..didn't notice until I just woke up."
My phone lights up, revealing a call. So I've been getting ready while this man is asleep on my phone. My god. I'm embarrassing. I try to distract myself with making my coffee as I fumble around with what to say.
"Good Morning"
I'm such an idiot, how could I be so slow. I hear him chuckle and there's some slight shuffling around.
"I need to get some more rest but I hope you have a great day. I'll call you later, beautiful."
"Thank you, you too."
My heart skips a beat when he hangs up and I want to call back. We talked about so much last night, there was laughs and silence, pain and sorrow. He seems so different from what I'm used to and I can't help but miss his energy. My phone vibrates: several notifications and a low battery. I want to skip work and just lay in bed but apparently I'm needed. My wrists still feel sore and there's some bruising but I ignore it. Nothing a hot shower can't soothe.
"Well Good Morning to you."
Mom is smiling at me, brushing her fingers through her gray curls. She's beautiful, beyond beautiful. My dad definitely didn't think it through when he decided to leave.
"Good Morning, Mama. Was Grayson any trouble?"
"Very talkative, not much trouble. Did you have fun?"
"As fun as fun gets at this age. I'm going to start getting ready for work, you okay here alone?"
"Always. I'll pick the boys up for ice cream."
"Thanks, love you!"

•

The office has been busy all day and I'm beyond exhausted. Closing time is so far away but I need a break. I delegate jobs to all my photographers so I can use free time to brainstorm. Piper collected information for Aubrey and updated her on a location that still provides sun and luxury. She called at least 50 times to confirm the time, location, and date. She's beyond exhausting. I find myself drifting to Joe's social media. His recent post is right here in the city at a local bar. The bar I actually went to; there's a picture of Jack Daniel's on ice. I'm surprised to see him drinking again, especially after everything. The next post is him smiling at the airport: "Glad to drop in" is the caption. It's vague but his eyes say a million things. I remember his lips on my skin. The way he could hold me and love me the way no one else could. I search up Zach and he's already moved on. Someone younger and prettier than me. Good for him. I should've known we wouldn't work but the smallest parts of me needed it to. I close the screens and stare at the picture of me and Grayson. He's smiling and pulling a piece of my hair. He's beautiful. Those eyes could burn holes in you. I want him to have the world. My phone vibrates, a message from mom.
Lizzie is here. I have to pick up the boys, help.

Lizzie? Is everyone just crashing in while I'm planning a secret shoot? This is just my luck. I check my booking and there's no special requests. Thank God.
"Piper delegate appointments. I need to leave for the day" I page.
"Yes boss, enjoy the rest of your day."
My hands began to sweat. I never told her about Grayson and now I'm freaking out. What kind of friend am I? I never even thought of the day this would happen. I've done so good at ignoring everyone from my past and now they're all coming back around, one-by-one.
Lord, give me the strength.