Painting

Chapter 21

I enter the store and Jammie, my employer is at the register eating a croissant.

-You want one?

-Oh my god! Yes! I'm so hungry! Like, I, literally ran this morning!

-Again? What happened?

-Yesterday, I went to see some new friends...

-New friends?

-Yeah, Tyler and Victor.

- They're boys?

-Yes...

-Your boyfriend allowed that?

-I'm not with him anymore.

-Something tells me that you're happy about that, am I wrong? I could be.

-No you're not, I mean that guy was...

-A nightmare? A horrifying jealous and possessive nightmare?

-Maybe not that much...

-June, I had to come and get you, when he locked you up in his apartment. I mean, he's a psychopath. Look there's a customer, we'll talk later, I want to know some details about those new friends!

-Sure!

I walk to the break room and my boss is working on his computer. He closes it and tells me to sit down.

-You need to tell me literally everything. About those new friends and Teddy.

-Well, Teddy broke up with me. Which is pretty weird, but good, because he wouldn't let me do it.

-I'm so happy for you. I mean that guy was bad news if you want my opinion.

-Yeah, so afterwards I went to a party.

-A party? That is so not you.

-I know! It was two hours away from here. In a cabin. So at one point I couldn't find my friends. Later I realized that they ditched me, to go back to the city. I was walking around and I also realized there was only two people left.

-Victor and Tyler?

-Yes! They were talking, but they had a lot to drink. We were siting there and at one point they said they were tired, because they organized the party. Jammie, they were the owners of the house.

-No!

-Yes! They were staggering, big time. So they couldn't walk on their own, I had to literally walk them to a room. I tucked them in.

-You tucked them in? That's so sweet!

-But then...

-Then what?

-They asked me to stay with them.

-To stay with them? Don't tell me you...

-So I stayed, I mean they needed someone to help them fall asleep, I'm always happy to be there for people. I was laying there between them. Then I realized, it's was so late. My friends left me, I couldn't just walk and there was no bus passing until the morning. So I told myself I would go sleep on the couch and leave the next morning.

-But... I can see you smile, what happened?

-Victor turned me over, so I was facing Tyler. He was holding me by my waist and Tyler was holding my hand. I couldn't move, so I stayed there.

-You slept there?

-Yes!

-Girl! You slept with two guys!

-Remember sleep!

-Nothing happened?

-No... But we did it again a few days later, this time in my bed.

-That is so exciting! I wish! You must have been so warm!

-I was.

-You're so lucky! I wish!

We spend the whole day joking and fooling around in the romance section. He shows me a copy of the Kama Sutra and says:

-You're going to need that if want you to stay with them!

I laugh a little bit. I take the book in my hands. I open the book. Nothing surprising. Characters who engage in diverse sexual practices. However, they don't display any emotions. If your partner doesn't show any emotions, that's rough. On a more serious note, it is rather beautiful. The letters of the title are carved in the book cover with golden ink. Flowers of different sizes are painted next to it. They look like they've been hand-made. What a beautiful work of art

Jammie is looking at me, smiling.

-If you want to take it, you can have it.

-Can I pay?

-No, it's on the house.

-Of course. I know exactly where I am going to put it in my library.

I follow Jammie to the register, he closes it and we head out. He locks the store.

-Be safe! You know who, could be anywhere. Take this break to relax. See you next week!

-I'll be sure to do that. Have a great vacation!

I walk toward the parking and there is only one car. The black truck. I walk toward it and I look through the windshield. Victor and Tyler are right there, smiling at me. Tyler opens his window.

-You don't always have to come pick me up after work, you know that right?

-Are you going to get in?

-I'm coming!

I get on the backseat. Victor starts the car and Tyler turns to look at me.

-Are you hungry?

-Yes!

-We thought about getting a take-out and then going back to our place, is that good for you?

-Can we go to my place?

-That works too. I am, even prepared for this eventuality, I got extra clothes in the trunk. Before you ask, Victor, I did put some for you too.

-Thanks!

We stop at the drive-thru and Victor opens his window. He orders a lot of things and he pays.

I take out some money from my wallet and try to give it to him.

-What are you doing?

-Paying you back.

-No, we're going to your place to eat, so you're not the one paying.

-No one lets me pay for anything.

-Fine! You'll pay for the next take-out, we get.

They look at each other and they smile. I roll my eyes. They won't let me.