Feeling This Read Free

found
anything else. But he is adamant about me running the company. I’m not against
it completely, it’s close to my degree major. I just want to be independent of
my parents for a while, which is proving to be difficult. As I do look
elsewhere, I agreed to take a job in his marketing department for the time
being. It makes me feel like I’m doing something to pay the bills and not just
get a free ride to the top.
    Susan has other thoughts about it. She
thinks I should help run the company because it’s my birthright, her word, not
mine. Yet another thing I love about her, she has told me this only once. When
I told her how I felt, she claimed that she would always support me in what I
decide. Just thinking about her principles when she is here and aware,
motivates me even more to do what I can to help her.
    “Jordan, you still there? It’s your turn.”
    I step up, realizing I really need this
drink, ordering for my dad and myself. We walk back to the table and all three
women are looking at me expectantly. What the hell? I take my spot next to
Susan and lean in asking, “What was that all about?”
    She giggles and answers so softly that only
I can hear her, “This engagement thing with David and Bree has opened the flood
gates. They actually asked me if we are already engaged.”
    My eyes go wide but she grasps my cheek and
reassures, “Don’t worry babe, I didn’t give you up.”
    I lean in and kiss her beautiful mouth letting
my lips linger a moment longer than necessary. When we part, I look into those
eyes I never tire of peering at and know that she is totally here in this
moment. I’m thankful for that. Maybe we won’t have any more episodes tonight.
    The waitress comes to take our orders and I
look across the table at her dad to gauge his mood. I need to speak with him
tonight about his daughter. I can’t talk her into this alone. I’m going to need
their help.

 

Chapter Two
    Kimber
     
    I stare into the mirror in the bathroom and
splash cold water on my face. It’s obvious in the circles under my grey-blue
eyes that I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I rush to my room to change into
the uniform I wear most nights, cut off shorts and a black tank with green fluorescent
letters splayed across the front advertising The Ugly Duckling logo. I rest a
moment on the edge of my unmade bed and reach down to slip on my purple
converse. It would feel so good to just lay back and fall asleep.  
    My mom’s shrill voice echoes through the
house, “Hurry girl, you’re gonna be late and then where would we be?” My
sentiments exactly, where would she be if I weren’t working my ass off to pay
the bills that just keep piling up?
    My feet seem to move of their own accord,
taking me through the kitchen where I find my mom sitting at the table staring
off into space. I lean over to kiss her cheek and my eyes avert to the
cigarette burning awfully close to her fingers. I reach out and grab it putting
it out in the ashtray, almost overflowing with butts. I scurry to empty it
noting that one of these days, I’m going to come home and find nothing here but
a pile of ashes from her lack of attention.
    “Bye Momma, I love you. Don’t forget Mrs.
Bruin made you dinner, it’s in the fridge.” I turn to make my way out the door.
She doesn’t respond, she never does, why do I even bother?
    I make my way to the small, white Jetta
sitting in the drive way. It needs so much work not to mention four new tires,
maybe some time when there aren’t a million other things to pay for. I climb in
and caress the dashboard, silently praying that it gets me to and from work
tonight without any problems.
    That wasn’t the case last Saturday night. I
had to hitch a ride with Derek, another bartender that I closed the bar with.
It wouldn’t have been so bad except for the fact that he has been trying to get
into my pants for the past year. He can’t take a hint which is completely
annoying. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not