Chapter 3
Eliza’s POV
I get a phone call from Tammy’s mother. Fired. I’ve never been fired before. I’m sure it has to do with my rejecting Derek yesterday but what else was I supposed to do?
Dejected, I decided to treat myself to some ice cream and mystery crime shows. What am I supposed to do now? I can’t afford this place anymore. That means I’ll have to move back home with dad.
ring, ring, ring
“Hello?” A male voice answers.
“Hey daddy.”
“Hey sweetheart, how are you?” He asked me.
“Not too good. Can I move back in with you?” I asked him.
“Sure pumpkin. Let me know if you need help moving,”
We chat a while longer before finally hanging up. I’ll have to cut ties here and try to find someone to take over my half of the lease with my roommate.
Well I better get to work planning the move. First things first, I need to call up the strip club and quit. I don’t have much in the way of belongings so I’ll be able to move easily this weekend.
The next morning I received a bouquet of roses from Tanner. How did he get my address? Well it doesn’t matter because I’m moving anyway. I can’t pursue anything romantic right now. I sighed and shot him a text.
Me: thank you for the roses
Tanner: you’re so welcome babe
Me: pls don’t send anymore, I have to move this weekend
ring, ring, ring
Great now he’s calling me. I send the call to voicemail and turn it off. I need to pack and get ready for the move.
I think about how life was before I moved here. I lived in a small town and I wasn’t looking forward to seeing anyone that I may know. School wasn’t the greatest, though others did have it worse than I did. The only think I missed besides my dad was my best friend. I wonder how he’s doing? Does he still live in town?
I sighed and threw myself back on my bed. There’s nothing else for me to do now besides stare at the ceiling depressingly until it’s time to move. I already quit stripping, already working things out with Stephanie. I’m pretty much packed. There’s nothing left for me here. How….sad….I guess.
I think about Tanner again. I can’t deny there was a spark between us but there’s nothing I can do about that now. I’m not moving very far but I’m not looking for anything long distance.
“Get off your butt and let’s go dancing!” Stephanie declared that evening. I covered my head with my pillow and grumbled.
“Don’t give me that nonsense, stop feeling sorry for yourself and make yourself hot.” She commanded. I huffed and sat up before finally showering and getting dressed in my best little black dress.
Soon, we arrived at a new nightclub the next town over. La Vida.
The bouncer ushers us in ahead of the long line and we head straight for the bar.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I hear a deep voice say into my ear. I look up and see a handsome face. He had black hair, green eyes and a lip piercing. He was extremely sexy.
“Sure, if you don’t mind not getting lucky.” I retorted. He chuckled and waved over the bartender and ordered for us. I got a royal fuck and he got a whiskey and coke.
“What’s your name sweetheart?” He asked.
“For tonight, just call me Cherry.” I winked at him. His eyes widened before he smiled. “Okay, in that case, call me Romeo.”
He ordered us a few more drinks before taking me out on the dance floor.
“You look sad, sweetheart.” He whispered in my ear as we were swaying together.
“I have to move and my life is shit.” I chuckled humorlessly.
He looked thoughtful before saying, “let’s forget about that tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” I looked into his eyes and saw him look down at my lips before he pressed his cools lips against mine. Our kiss soon became heated and I felt him squeeze my hips as if he were trying to restrain himself. I felt him move to my neck, kissing and sucking on it. That will surely leave a few hickeys but I didn’t care.
“Oh Romeo.” I moaned.
“Oh Cherry.” He groaned.
We looked into each other’s eyes again before we continued kissing. Pretty much the whole evening was spent making out with this perfect stranger. At some point I realized I lost Stephanie. I looked at my phone and saw a missed text from her, apparently she met up with an old friend and was hanging by the bar with them. When I approached her I saw her making out with a man. Some things never change. I whirled around to give them privacy when I ran into a familiar figure.
“Tanner? What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I’m here with my brother. Why are you here? I thought you were moving.” He said.
“I am moving this weekend, I just needed to release steam since you’re best friend got me fired. Now if you’ll excuse me, I was just leaving.” I tell him.
I hurry past him and hear him calling after me but I keep pushing through the crowd until I almost make it out.
“Hey sweetheart, where you running off to?” Romeo asked me.
“I’m about to get a taxi to head home,” I told him.
“You can borrow my limo?” He said.
I shook my head, sorry but I don’t know you that well buddy.
“It’s fine, I’ll take a taxi. Thank you for a wonderful night.” I whisper before reaching up to give him a kiss on the cheek. He grabs my jaw and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. He tenderly brings his lips to mine, taking my breath away with his kissing.
“Wow.”
“Wow.”
We both say in unison.
He cracked a grin before giving me one last peck.
“Sorry, your lips agree too addictive.” He laughed.
“I agree.”
“Will you tell me your real name?” He asked.
“If we meet again, I will.” I tease him. He smiles at me and waves goodbye as I get into a taxi. I give the driver my address and head home for the evening, making sure to shoot Stephanie a text that I left. When i get home i undressed and removed my makeup before putting on a nightgown. I let out a long sigh, not looking forward to uprooting my life here. Where did things go wrong? I originally started stripping to make more money to pay for college but between that job and watching Tammy, I never continued school. I only attended my freshman and sophomore year before dropping out. How pathetic. Maybe this time I can do things right. I close my eyes and dreamed I was Juliet and my Romeo had black hair, green eyes and was pale. How would it feel to have a love like that? Doomed from the start?
Eventually the dream faded away into nothingness and the new day slowly crept in.