My Deadly Escort

2

      "God damn, did you really say that?" Caity asks as she lights her second cigarette, we're sitting on the steps out the back of the building were all the smokers go. We'd been lucky to have the place to ourselves today.
   "Yep, I don't know why she has to be such a bitch for. She stole my man, not the other way around." I say, I take the pink lighter from her and light my own smoke; needing the nicotine hit more than ever. She shakes her head as she looks out over the packed car park.
   "You know she won't let me follow her on Instagram or add her on snap chat like, get over yourself and let me stalk." I break out in a smile as I lean back; I open my vanilla coke and take a swig. There was nothing better than a coke and smoke on a stressful day and no one can change my mind.
   "Ha. I blocked her off my social media's when she started seeing Blake. I couldn't handle it. I blocked them both." Although a small part of me wanted to stalk and make myself miserable and try and pin point why Blake had left me again and again for her; the entire thing was a shit show.
   "Well one of us has to be the crazy one, you know this." She looks pointedly at me. She was right; we'd both do the same for each other to keep tabs. I have no idea why we'd want to make ourselves miserable.
   "Are you bringing Mack tomorrow night?" I ask, changing the subject away from my past. I wanted to leave it there.
   "Yeah, we're sort of arguing at the moment but I know he'll still come. He loves the guys here and the free beer." She half laughs as she pulls out her phone, I lean over to see large texts being sent. She didn't like phone calls, just like me.
   "What about now?" I ask, I finish my smoke off and squash it into the black ashtray that's left on the stairs. She lights her third one, talk about stress.
   "Oh just stupid things, he went out on the weekend and ended up sleeping the night at one of his girl-friends place. I wouldn't have minded if he'd just told me straight away instead of lying, just makes me suss. You know?" She asks, looking over to me. I did know, all too well. I do not miss the lying and the hiding I had to go through in my last relationship.
   "That's a red flag to me." I say, sipping on my coke. A cool breeze runs along my bare arms and gives me goosebumps. I'd have to put my cardigan on once we got back inside.
   "Well lucky we love red flags, ehe." She pokes her tongue out at me and does a peace sign.
   "When he's a red flag but reds your favourite colour." I make the same face back to her and we both burst out laughing. That was a big red flag to me if he had nothing to hide why not tell her straight away? I liked the guy but god he did shady shit sometimes.
   "Oh well. I'll figure it out. Did you have a think about the escort?" She asks, directing the attention back to me. I feel myself begin to blush.
   "Yes I did...I called and he's picking me up at six thirty tomorrow." She squeal happily as she smiles at me. I roll my eyes but can't resist the smile tugging on my own lips, I'd grown over the embarrassment and now I was more nervous and excited.
   "I literally cannot wait to see this. What are you going to wear? Do we need to go shopping? Remember its fancy you can't just wear jeans and a jumper." She says, pointing a finger at me. I slap it away lightly and look out at the parking lot.
   "No I have a dress in mind but you'll see it tomorrow night, I can't believe I'm going with an escort. I feel so weird." I admit, half wanting to laugh and cry about it. I needed to put myself back out there, if this wasn't a wake-up call I don't know what was. Caity stands up and puts her smoke out, straightening her skirt. I stand and wrap my arms around my waist, holding my empty bottle in my hand. That's ten cents in my pocket.
   "Hmm okay, but send me snaps. I want to see it all before you arrive in case it's a disaster." We link arms as we head back around to the front of the towering building, cars honk busily along the main street as traffic begins to back up. Ah I loved the noise of chaos.
   We nod to the front receptionist, Sarah I think her name was. I couldn't keep track of them since we went through them quicker than milk goes through a lactose intolerant person. Which is quick.
   "I won't get lunch today so you'll have to go without me." I say as we step into the elevator, I press the button for the tenth floor. Elevator music drowns out the silence around us, as the doors opened we're greeted by cubicles. I lead us into the floors kitchen area and unlink, pouring us both a cup of water.
   "Look who it is." Mike says, sniffing stupidly. I roll my eyes as I pass Caity her water.
   "If I knew you were in here, trust me when I say I wouldn't have come in at all." I say, looking at him. He shrugs and continues watching some sort of show on his phone; his blonde hair falls over his face and obscures his view.
   "Get a haircut loser you look like a girl." Caity says, throwing her empty paper cup into the bin. I snicker as I watch him raise his eyes, he'd been here for nearly five years and we always went back and forth like this. We have since day one.
   "Yeah but I'm a better looking girl than you are." He points out; she huffs as she drags me out behind her. We break apart and I head back into my office, closing the door firmly behind me. I had to get these columns done. Even if it took me all night.

*

It's six thirty by the time I close down my laptop and shut everything off for the day. Everyone had left at five, the only good thing about finishing late was the peacefulness of not being interrupted every five minutes or being tormented by my boss.
   I shut my office door and yawn as I head to the elevator; I pull my cardigan on and let my hair out. The cool air of the night hits me and bites at my legs and cheeks. I quickly flag down a taxi and get into the heated cab; I check my phone as we make the ten minute trip to my apartment complex. It would only be a two minute drive if it wasn't for traffic and I didn't feel safe walking at night time. I'd watch too many crime shows to know how lucky I would turn out.
   I do a quick search for Kayden on Facebook; I didn't have a last name so he could be any of the male faces that have popped up in the list. I don't know why I was bothering to check, I'd see him in twenty four hours. Spend three with him and that would be it.
   The cab pulls up to my building and I pass him the money, I thank him and get out. I walk up to the dark building; a few rooms have their lights on. My room is on the fifth floor, at the front. I spot Luna, my white ragdoll cat sitting on the window sill looking out.
   I pull open the door and head straight to the elevator, the bottom room didn't hold much. The mail box slots, a dusty chair and the elevator and a door to the stairs. As if anyone would take the stairs unless there's an emergency. The elevator groans as it takes me up, I was on the top floor; each level only had four residents and I was lucky to only have another one on my floor. An old lady who had been here her whole life, although she barely left the room.
   I walk down the dim hallway, my heels dig into the white carpet as I head to my door. I lived to the far right of the apartment while the lady lived at the left; I had all the privacy in the world. I hear the creak of a door open, I turn back to see Margie sticking her head out, her white curls were tight against her head.
   "Shay, did you want to come for a cup of tea?" She calls, I hear the television in the background.
   "Sorry Margie I have a butt load of work tonight, what about Monday night?" I call back, standing in front of my room.
   "Okay sweetie, just come over when you're ready." I smile as she shuts the door behind her, she had no family and no friends that I could recall. A part of me felt bad for blowing her off.
   My keys jingle as I push them into the lock, I step in and flick the light on.
   I lock the door behind me and place my handbag onto the side table and hang my keys up on the small key holder above the table. The wood varnish floors don't do anything to stop the cold, the short hallway opens up to my large living room. My grey couch is a three seater and sits closer to the TV on the wall; I have a white rug underneath it and a small coffee table under the TV. To my left there're two doors, the one on the left is for the toilet and bathroom and the one of the right is my bedroom. A small desk sits under the windowsill; it overflows with books and work I had to eventually get around too.
   I walk into the small, open kitchen to the right of the living room. I flick on the kitchen light and pull my Bacardi down from the top of the white fridge. I open it and pull out a bottle of coke, I needed a drink.
   I get myself a drink and put the cup in the fridge, I undo the buttons of my blouse as I head into the bathroom. Luna pads after me as she follows; happy to have me home.
   I pull open the glass shower door and crank the water to hot, I undress and shower quickly; other times I'd sit down and revel in what my life had become but tonight it was Friday and I was going to have the night to myself.
   Luna jumps onto the toilet lid and licks her paw, her black tail swishes back and forth as she grooms herself. I'd gotten her as a kitten when I still lived in Banff and I just couldn't part with her. She's my baby.
   I dry myself and walk naked into my bedroom, I turn on the light. My bed was still unmade from this morning; the black sheets half on the bed and floor. I turn back to my cupboard and push the mirror sliding door open. I pull on a large, baggy tee and throw on a pair of comfy undies. I slip on my black ugg-boots and turn the heater on, leaving my bedroom door open so it could heat up the living room.
   I turn on the TV and set up forensic files on Netflix, while it loads I grab a cat food sachet and empty it into Lunas bowl. I grab my drink and my pack of smokes I stash in the bread box on the grey marble counter.
   I walk to the window and push it open, I move my desk out of the way and sit on the large windowsill. I had a small ledge for my succulents; I light a smoke and sip my drink. I hear my phone ping from the bathroom, it was probably just Caity.
   I finish my smoke quickly and lock the window, drawing the white lace curtains. I make another drink, turn all the lights off and settle on the couch, I pull the red blanket down from the back and cover my legs. Luna jumps up and curls herself up behind my legs, she begins to purr loudly.
I press play and relax, tonight was about me. I could worry about my disaster of a life in the morning.