My phone buzzed once more, resting on the bathroom counter as I applied my makeup. Sliding the answer icon to the left, I picked up the call, putting it on speaker. With one hand on the phone, I grabbed my mascara, swiftly applying it to my eyelids with the brush.
"Good girl..." He paused. "Now swallow," a voice spoke from the other end.
I frowned, glancing down to check the name on the screen.
"Ray?" I called out.
"Yeah.. Hmm." He groaned.
Was he doing what I think he's doing?
"RAYMOND!." I yelled, feeling disgusted.
I can't believe he's calling me, while getting his dick sucked.
Eww.
"What?" He groaned.
"You know, some of us have better things to do in the morning," I remarked, picking up the red lipstick to apply to my chapped lips.
"Yeah, everyone but me," he sighed. "Feeding a toddler is like the hardest job I've ever done."
"Oh, so that's what you're doing?" I mumbled.
Laughter erupted from the speaker, filling my ears. "What did you think I was doing?" he said afterward.
I could almost picture the smirk on his lips.
Ray and I have been best friends since high school. He's the epitome of every girl's dream, with his blonde hair, grey eyes, perfect arched lips, and a lanky body that's sure to make anyone drool.
After moving in with grandma, Vincent and I started at a new school. Being the smallest in the class, I often found myself targeted by the bullies.
One afternoon, after class, I ran into the meanest girl in class, Sasha, and accidentally spilled my soda on her. Enraged, she and her gang of bullies attacked me in the hallway, beating me mercilessly. It was then that Melissa and Ray stepped in to defend me. From that moment on, we became the best of friends.
Melissa has always been the most daring among us three, while Raymond excelled in intelligence. I tended to be the least physically strong among us.
"Nothing," I mumbled.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Val," he said, teasingly. "Though I wouldn't mind what you were thinking."
"Shut up," I chuckled. "Whose kid is that?" I asked, giving myself a final glance in the mirror before exiting the bathroom.
"Sarah's," he said, accompanied by the soft sound of a little giggle. "She caught the flu," he explained.
Sarah is Raymond's younger sister. She had married her high school crush, Charles, after dating for four years. They tied the knot two years ago, and earlier this year they became a trio when they welcomed a beautiful baby girl.
"Ah, so you're babysitting?" I asked, slipping on my black skirt.
"It seems that way," he sighed.
"So, why the early morning call?" I asked, grabbing my blouse from the bed.
"Do you remember Shaun? My cousin, the one you had a crush on?" he stated.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I do."
"He's getting married next weekend," he said.
"And why are you telling me this?" I asked, buttoning up my blouse.
"It's a plus one kind of wedding."
"And you want me to go with you," I stated
"Yes, please," he pleaded.
"Why me?" I questioned.
"Lisa has a boyfriend, and Kat's mom is sick," he responded. "Plus, Nana hates seeing strangers at family gatherings, and she likes having you around."
"So what's in it for me?" I sighed, realizing I was his only option left.
"Valerie!"
I chuckled. "Fine, I'll go with you... Just so you know, you owe me."
"You're a lifesaver, Val... I love you."
"I know."
" How is Lisa? " He asked.
" Crazy as always."
He laughed. "That's my girl."
In the quiet of the room, I heard a shuffle. "Rose, say hi," he urged gently. Soon, the sweet sound of gibberish filled the air, bringing a smile to my lips. "Hey... No, stop it... It's meant for talking, not sucking," he chuckled softly, his voice filled with affection and amusement.
"Aww, that's adorable," I couldn't help but coo.
"It's not adorable... There's nothing endearing about having your phone soaked in baby drool," he grunted with frustration. "Now, I'd like to have my phone back, Rose."
I sensed he retrieved his phone from her, as the next sound I heard was Rose's cries echoing in the room.
"Hey... Shh... Stop crying... Please," he pleaded, his voice filled with a mix of urgency and tenderness as he tried to soothe her distress.
I burst into laughter, envisioning his likely frustration. "I'm gonna be late for work. Kisses to Rose, and give her back the phone, Ray."
"No way," he growled, clearly resisting.
"Raymond!" I scolded, shaking my head at his stubbornness.
"Okay, fine... Take it and suck on it," he groaned before abruptly ending the call.
Hurrying to the living room, I found Mel's sleeping figure sprawled on the couch. It was evident she had passed out after a wild night of drinking and clubbing.
I sighed, trudging to the kitchen in search of breakfast.
"Great, just great," I muttered under my breath. The kitchen held little promise, offering only a few loaves of bread, a carton of milk, some cereal, eggs, and fruit.
My grocery supplies and bank account were dwindling. The meager pay from my café job barely covered the rent for my humble apartment—a one-bedroom, one-bathroom space with a kitchen adjoining the living room. Though far from luxurious, it provided shelter, a sanctuary from the streets.
"Ahh... Damien?" Mel groaned from the couch, clearly nursing a hangover.
"Hangover?" I quipped, a mix of teasing and concern in my tone.
Every morning after her late nights out, she'd wake up with the lingering scent of alcohol clinging to her, often mistaking me for her boyfriend.
"Oh... it's you," she muttered, still half-asleep, causing me to roll my eyes.
"Yes, Mel... it's just me," I replied, resigned to the routine. I fetched her a glass of water to ease her hangover, a silent reminder of her nocturnal escapades.
"Shh... Not so loud," she hushed me, sitting up on the couch, hands pressed against her throbbing head.
I suppressed an eye roll. My voice was barely above a whisper.
"Why bother drinking if you can't hold your liquor?" I asked, walking to the kitchen to prepare some cereal and milk. Her morning routine was becoming all too familiar.
"Why bother flirting with guys when you know you won't fuck them?" she shot back, her tone defensive.
"Very funny," I forced a laugh, though her comment stung more than I cared to admit.
She snickered before cursing under her breath, her grip on her head tightening as the hangover continued to torment her.
"Ray called," I mentioned between spoonful of cereal.
"What does that pussy want?" she groaned, clearly unimpressed
I chuckled. "A plus one for Shaun's wedding."
Her eyes widened like saucers. "Hot Shaun? Your crush is tying the knot?"
"He's not my crush," I sighed, trying to brush off her teasing.
"Yeah, right," she scoffed, her skepticism evident in her eye roll.
Glancing at my wristwatch, panic surged through me. I had only ten minutes to reach the bus station, or I'd miss my ride. With a sudden burst of energy, I leaped up from the kitchen stool, abandoning my half-finished cereal in the sink.
"Get your ass off my couch and out of my apartment," I commanded, snatching up my bag and dashing out the door, determined to make it to the bus on time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Here are your doughnut puff and one espresso," I said with a smile, handing Trish the final order of the day.
With the day's work behind me, I untied my apron and headed towards the staff room to change out of my uniform.
As I reached for my locker, Mel's voice caught me off guard. "You're still coming to the party, right?" she asked, her tone hopeful.
"Melissa!" I yelped, my heart racing from the surprise. "Can you stop sneaking up on me?"
She chuckled, seemingly unfazed by my reaction. "Of course... I'm going to see you at the party, right?" she asked, raising a brow in anticipation.
"Mel," I groaned, feeling a bit cornered by her insistence.
"Don't you dare say you won't come," she fretted, her tone imploring.
"I—" I started, but she cut me off with a gentle reminder, using my full name. "Valerie," she said, her expression pleading for my agreement.
"I was just kidding," I said, flashing her a reassuring smile. "I'll be there."
"Great!" she exclaimed with a gleam in her eyes. "I'll send you the address, and you better not be late, princess."
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest as I watched her leave the room, her excitement lingering in the air.