Out of Town: A Spot Conlon Story

XVIII

I have to say waking up in Spot's arm for the second day in a row is nice. However when the memories of the night previous comes back I am no longer as ecstatic to be there. That being said the warmth and protection is nice. It's conflicting, also what will Aunt Medda think if she sees me and Spot in the same bed. It isn't very Orthodox, but she also runs a burlesque show. But she will probably be mad because I had someone over without her knowing. And she still isn't completely over me sneaking out two nights ago. I really need to play by the rules now. Mom never would have cared if I was out late, she barely bat an eye when I would spend days over at Steven's house.

Steven and Spot are similar in a lot of ways. They both love control, and are scared to lose it. I would say Steven was more of a control freak though, he would often micromanage my schedule, and must know where I am at all times. Even when we first started seeing each other. Spot is definitely more paranoid though, and I didn't know that was possible. Spot and Steven are both physically strong and are aggressive. Steven would start fights in the street if someone looked at me for too long, and based on last night I think Spot would do the same. However when Spot fought Grant for me he made sure I was okay, and made sure I was safe. Steven only did it to maintain his Alpha complex over the Northside. Spot also has an Alpha complex but I think it is way less strong then Steven's. I feel like Spot has things that are more important than his position, like Race. But Steven would put his Alpha position over his own family. One time he got into a fight and if he lost he would have basically sold his sister. All for what! Thinking about Steven makes me upset, and I try to block my memories of him out. But because him and Spot are so similar, it brings Steven's memories back up. I shouldn't compare Spot and Steven, yeah they both like being dominant but that is about where the similarities end. Spot is sweet and has a soft side, you just need to wait for him to let his guard down. I learned that lesson the hard way. Steven is just an aggressive shell who only cares about himself. Spot is passionate and at the end of the caring, he takes care of the young kids at the lodge house. Spot isn't Steven, they might have some quirks that are the same, but they are different people. I just have a type, and all of my ex's fit those quirks, I just don't want to date another Steven.

I shake Spot awake knowing that he needs to get back to Brooklyn for work. He instantly whines at the disturbance in his sleep. He is squinting his eyes even though the sun has not risen yet. Must be hungover, but I cannot say I feel bad. I get out of bed to give him a goodbye when he pulls me into a hug. He whispers to me in a raspy Brooklyn accent, "I'se am sorry for how's I acted last night, ise shoulda watched hows much I drank" he takes a pause and breathes in for a second, "but did you'se mean what you said last night bout' likin' me and er'y thing" by the time he finishes he is a few inches from my face. It is kind of hot, but it is like 5 in the morning, and I cannot think about that at 5am.

"Yeah, did you?" I say give him my best puppy dog eyes hoping to make it harder for him to leave. I always feel like I need to trap them.

He looks down at me again and simply nods his head yes. I give a toothy grin before he kisses my forehead and heads towards the door. Who would have thought Spot Conlon a romantic, before you know it tomorrow he will bring me flowers.

"Oh, before you go you owe Race 15 cents" I say. Remembering the message Race told me to relay.

"Oh, I'se know, Ides knew I would lose before we's even made da bet" what I would do to know what the bet is as about, "I'se see you in the alleyway behind da theater so youse don't have to walk on your foot" he says point to my sore ankle, "you'dse been limpin' for a whiles now" and with that he was gone.

I'm going to go back to bed and explain myself to Aunt Medda in the morning and come clean to her about Thursday night. And I do exactly that, when I wake up for the second time, I get ready by putting on my off-white button up with my favorite plaid skirt. It's a little risque for daily use as it hits just below the knee, but I like it. Besides it was either that or I wouldn't have had enough material for the back. Throwing my hair into a low bun, I begin the walk upstairs where I see Claire asleep on a chair. She must've not made it home last night either. After I talk with Aunt Medda I will give her the letter Race gave me. Still moving I knock on the apartment door before walking in. This is where I see Aunt Medda making an omelet.

"I think we need to talk'' I say to her and she simply nods. "I obviously lied to you about my whereabouts on Thursday, and I want to tell you about everything that happened'' she is now paying full attention to me and not enough attention to the omelet. "I couldn't sleep because of the rowdy crowd so I set out for a walk, in my nightgown. My intention was to just walk around the block but I found myself by the harbor. And, you know Spot and I have gotten pretty close so I decided to spend the night there." At this point she raises an eyebrow to signal to me to clarify if we did anything. "Oh, no nothing happened. All we did was sleep, and cuddle a little bit. He is a good cuddler" why did I tell her that?

She remembers the now burnt omelet on the stove and begins to scrape it off. "Well dear, just be careful, and do not do anything without knowing that it isn't what you want". That is surprisingly receptive, although my Mom doesn't care where I am she is very traditional. If my Mom would have known half the things I did, I would be dead. That is what always confused me about my Mom, she wouldn't care where I was or enforce any rules. But if I broke an imaginary rule it was off with my head.

"You should also know he slept over last night. He was drunk and I didn't want him walking to Brooklyn like that." I want to fully come clean.

She gives a sigh, "youse care about him don't you" I just nod and blush a little bit, okay I blush a lot. Aunt Medda gives a little bit of a giggle, "just remember I adopted you not you and a baby" she says. I could not get pregnant.

I'm actually infertile after some "diet" Steven made me go on. But I am not going to tell her about that yet. He wouldn't let me eat after saying something along the lines of his best friend's girl was skinnier, so I had to be skinnier than her. That is a dark part of my life that I try to forget about as much as possible. But instead of over-sharing with Aunt Medda, I fake a laugh and simply say, "You will not have to worry about that anytime soon"

After that she makes me a non burnt omelet and I head back downstairs to find a now awake Claire.

"Claire I have to give you something come here" I say, leading her down to my room. I give her the folded up piece of paper. She immediately starts reading the note, to be honest I am surprised Racetrack knows how to write. After a while, she looks up and me and simply asks, "he does care, he's just an idiot and I'se don't forgive him but dis makes me happy" I'm happy that Claire is 'kinda' happy.

"What made you change your mind so quickly" I say acknowledging that she was against all Newsboys yesterday.

She just gives me a little smirk, "Sometimes you'se have to forgive people for da habits they can't change", she sighs, "but when he pays em off you bet I'se goin ta give him an earful bout' gambling anyway". It's not my business to know what is going on between them right now, but I really want to know. I'm not going to ask and I am just going to hope that she gushes about him some more. "He's also so sweet, and Ides did miss em' which makes it easier ta forgive someone if ya want ta forgive em"