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Jessica watched from the upstairs window as the moving truck pulled up in front of her house, and two men hopped out. The driver appeared to be in his mid-twenties with a curly head of auburn hair, broad shoulders, and a tank top that clung to his toned chest and torso. His partner possessed a similar physique but stood taller, with darker skin and long, dark hair. His biceps flexed as he reached back and pulled the length into a ponytail. Jessica’s chest stung with a tightness, as though some part of her wanted to come out but strained under the weight of grief. She took a deep breath and descended the stairs. The expected knock came at her front door, and she reached for the doorknob.
You can do this, Jessica, she thought.
She dug deep for a smile to cover her heartache and pulled the door open. The driver beamed a smile, his blue eyes sparkling.
“Mrs. Stroker?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“You ready to move?”
Jessica winced but nodded.
“Yeah. When do we start?”
The tall, dark moving man stood at the end of the truck and unlatched a tailgate lock. He shoved the door up, and it clacked like a train on tracks as it rolled up into the ceiling, revealing a third man standing inside the cargo area. Jessica’s chest tingled a bit despite her sorrow. This cargo passenger’s legs flexed in his tight jeans as he stepped down from the truck and waved at her, flashing perfect white teeth with his smile.
“So, there are three of you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the driver said.
She clapped her hands together, hoping to snap herself into gear, and shoulders rose with her deep inhale.
“Ok, let’s get to it. Why don’t you boys come on in?”
Cargo boy smirked as he stepped up the stairs, and the skin on Jessica’s neck tingled as they each passed by her, entering the house. Closed cardboard boxes, sealed with packing tape and labeled “Kitchen,” “Den,” and “Bathroom,” stood in stacks around the walls.
“Looks like you’ve been busy, Mrs. Stroker. We could have done all this for you.”
“I know, but I needed something to do, and I’m kinda in a hurry to get out of here.”
“I understand.”
He bent over and picked up a box. The other two followed suit, and they began carrying her things out.
“I’m just gonna head upstairs and finish some packing up there.”
Cargo boy answered, grinning at her, and stepped across her door’s threshold with a large box in his arms.
“Yes, ma’am. We got this.”
Something about him stirred her, but she fought to press her primal urges back into their box.
It’s too soon, she thought.
Putting a foot on the stairs and a hand on the rail, she remembered Ron. How he followed her up them many times, lusting after her ass. The other sights and sounds around her faded. As she drifted into that memory, her fingers and toes went numb, and a thickness grew in her throat.
A female voice came from behind her, interrupting the reverie.
“I like your moving crew.”
Jessica turned, and her heart skipped a beat.
“Oh my god, Erika.”
Her eyes prickled, and her lip pursed as she tried to keep a lid on her tears. Erika stood in the entrance hall wearing electric blue leggings and a fitted t-shirt. Even in comfy clothes, she owned her surroundings with her gorgeous body and sensual power, but the energy coming off her felt warmer and softer than usual.
“Hey, Jessica.”
She held out her arms, and Jessica ran into her embrace.
“Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it, girl.”
She patted Jessica on the back and loosened her hold.
“Ok, what can I help with?”
Jessica stepped back and put a hand up in her hair, looking around.
“God, Erika, you’ve already done so much.”
Erika waved a dismissive hand in the air, smiling at Jessica.
“Maybe come upstairs with me and help me sort that out. I’ve been avoiding it.”
Erika gestured towards the stairs.
“After you.”
Jessica’s chest tightened with each step up the stairs. For the last few days, she slept on the couch downstairs, unable to stay in the bedroom for long. Reaching the doorway, she froze. Erika’s hand rested on her shoulder, and her torso relaxed. Jessica’s voice cracked as she spoke just louder than a whisper.
“I did it in here, ya know.”
“Hmmm?”
“Cheated on Ron. In that bed.”
Erika’s other hand took the other shoulder, and they massaged the muscles.
“You know, I’ve never married, but if I ever made that mistake, I’m sure I would do the same thing. Over and over.”
Jessica sighed.
“Do you think I’ll ever find someone who can love me like this?”
“I haven’t.”
Her hands slipped off Jessica’s shoulders.
“I accepted I’m not relationship material.”
Jessica’s eyes glazed over as she stared at the bed.
“Yeah, I don’t think I am, either.”
“Men. They’re only good for a few things. And you don’t have to buy the whole pig just to get a little sausage.”
Jessica turned to look at Erika, struggling to find a smile. Her well-meaning words failed to comfort, but her presence eased the pain of facing reality.
“You know, I recognize one of your moving crew.”
Jessica’s head tilted to the side.
“Oh, which one?”
Erika grinned.
“The one with the perfect teeth.”
Jessica’s lip curled up on one side.
“Oh, yes. He was riding in the cargo bay.”
“Makes sense.”
Erika slid past Jessica into the bedroom and flashed her a devilish smile.
“He likes a rough ride.”
Jessica’s mouth fell open.
“Oh my god, you?”
Erika nodded.
“And he’s bisexual.”
Jessica’s head rocked back on her shoulders.
“Really?”
Erika’s lips smacked as she responded.
“Yep.”
“Huh.”
Jessica stood pensive. Erika’s lifestyle gave her a haven. A place to feel less of a freak.
“You sure I can’t convince you to change your mind?”
Jessica shook her head.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“It’s a damn shame. I was just getting to know you, and I’m already really going to miss you. We could have done some shit together.”
“Well, maybe you can visit me.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Puerto Rico. Someplace I can disappear.”
Jessica turned and looked at the picture sitting on the bedside table. She picked it up and sighed. In it, Ron held her from behind and glowed with a boyish smile. Her teeth sunk into her trembling lip.
“Oh my god, you left that out? Are you trying to torture yourself?”
Erika swiped it out of her hands.
“Give me that! This is the first thing I’m going to pack. You know, you should let me take you out on the town. We could...”
Erika’s voice trailed off in a blur, and Jessica’s ears expanded to tune in to the sound of male voices outside the house. Her heart quickened. She interrupted Erika’s chatter, placing a hand on her.
“Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“It can’t be.”
Tears welled up in Jessica’s eyes, and she tore out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
