Just a Number (Thirst Trap #2)

14. Alex

Chapter fourteen

Alex

I t’s a wrench when Mel moves away from me. I know we are short on time but I enjoy her laying on top of me, our bodies plastered together as we recovered from the most satisfying sexual experience I’ve ever had.

What a fucking night. It surpassed any fantasies I conjured in my mind beforehand. Mel is a goddess. I wasn’t wrong there; she deserves to be worshipped.

Every time I pushed her, she let me in. When she took control, it blew my mind, and it all culminated in an entire night of pleasure. We came together in so many different ways. Not as in types of sex or even positions, but in the mood each time. It was like some kind of spiritual experience, peeling away layers of ourselves to reach intimacy.

I sigh, sensing her withdrawal mentally as well as physically. She pulls her robe back up over her shoulders, wrapping it around her body tightly as she sucks in a breath and meets my gaze.

“You need to go.”

I quirk a brow at her, in awe of the chill she’s suddenly giving off when just a few moments before, she’d been coming all over me. “Alex.” She pauses so she can sigh. “That was fucking incredible. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am that you spent the night with me. But that’s it. No more.”

“I don’t want your fucking gratitude, Mel. I wasn’t doing you as a favour.” I pull myself up to sitting, as a wave of frustration builds.

“That’s not what I meant. But you have to go. I need to have a shower and be dressed for Zack coming home.”

That’s fair enough, I guess. I know she doesn’t want Zack to know about this, but it still blows that I’m getting kicked out of her bed minutes after I was buried inside her. I’m still wearing the condom, for fuck’s sake.

“This can’t happen again, Alex. I know we both enjoyed it, but it was a one-off.” Her smile is frosty and doesn’t meet her eyes at all. It’s like her personality switched in the blink of an eye. “Anyway, hopefully you’ll be able to move into your new place today, yes?”

“Message received. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can,” I tell her, unable to hide the hurt from my voice. She nods, picking my clothes off the floor and tossing them towards me.

How have I gone from feeling like I was on top of the world to being the crap this woman has on the bottom of her shoe, that she’s desperately trying to rid herself of?

I grab my shirt and haul it over my head before stepping out of the bed and tugging my boxers on. There’s no point fighting with my jeans.

“Is it okay if I have a shower before I pack up and leave?”

“Of course, the main bathroom is all yours.”

I grab up the rest of my belongings and head out, unsure what else I can do right now. I think about turning to say something, but my mind is blank, and before I can find the words, she shuts the door firmly, but quietly, behind me.

“So you work at The Arts Centre?” Si asks me.

“Yeah, I’m doing a pottery apprenticeship there. I also work at the Thirst Trap bar and do some other casual waitering and labouring.” I’m at his flat, near The Arts Centre in town. It’s the one that Laura put me in touch with. One of the guys from the tattoo shop knows him and he’s really not what I was expecting. He’s dressed in a three-piece suit and was barking down his phone at someone when he met me at the front door a while ago. The place is impressive: a penthouse apartment in a fancy block overlooking the river. And I’m struggling to work out why this guy needs a flatmate. He looks like he’s raking it in.

“Got a girlfriend or a significant other? Anyone that will be spending time here with you?”

“Err, no, I’m single.” I get a weird vibe from him as he looks me up and down.

“So, what do you think?”

“It’s great. I wasn’t expecting anything like this when Laura mentioned it. If you don’t mind me asking—why are you looking for someone to room with?”

“I’m out of town a lot for business. I don’t want to leave it empty.”

“Ah, okay, and how much are you looking for?” My eyebrows shoot almost as high as the ceiling when he reels off an amount three times as much as my upper budget. I wince. “I can’t afford that, mate. I’m so sorry to waste your time.”

He steps closer, uncomfortably close, and lays a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “We could always come to some other arrangement?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“You could work it off in other ways?”

“What, like cleaning and stuff?” I get the sense that I know what he’s hinting at, but I want the douche to come right out and say it.

“Sure and other things.” He gives me a wink, and I can barely hold back my repulsed shiver.

“No thanks, mate. I’m not interested.” I take a step back, noticing a look of disappointment cross his face. “I’ll see myself out.” I decide there’s no point calling him out on his creepy behaviour. Jeez, is this the kind of bullshit that men are putting on women? Because, fuck that.

I let myself out the front door of the apartment and head over to the lift, where I press the call button before I run a hand over my face.

What the fuck am I going to do now? This was my only lead. Mel has essentially kicked me out. Mum is still on my stepdad's side and doesn’t want me at home. I check the time on my phone and curse. I need to pop to The Arts Centre to stack the kiln for firing before my shift at The Thirst Trap this afternoon. I have no spare time to find somewhere to live.

I shoot a text off to Laura:

Me:

Hey, flat is a no go - too expensive. I’m out of options. Gonna have to sleep on your couch tonight and try again tomorrow.

She doesn’t respond, but with it being a Saturday, she’ll probably be fully booked at the tattoo studio today. Hopefully, I’ll get some acknowledgement before the end of my shift late tonight so I can head to hers and get let in.

I manage to get to The Thirst Trap half an hour before my shift starts.

The pottery workshop was busy, and everyone wanted to stop and chat. I really need to put some hours in there next week. As I got the kiln all prepped and stacked ready for a firing, it crossed my mind I could crash there tonight and put the kiln on. It has to be fired under supervision and staying there would kill two birds with one stone. The firing would get done earlier and I wouldn’t need somewhere else to stay. But, there’s no couch or anywhere comfortable to lay. I’d just be on the floor. At least the heat from the kiln would keep me toasty. I shelve the idea for now, unsure how easy it would be to get in after a late shift at the pub. There’s a whole alarm system and I would need to contact my supervisor to see if I could get the codes. And I know that would raise alarm bells.

So I just have to keep hoping that Laura comes through and is willing to let me crash with her tonight.

I head to the staffroom to cram my overstuffed rucksack into a locker. It has everything in it, given I’d packed up the small amount of clothes I had at Mel and Zack’s place as well as my laptop. I end up having to take up two lockers to get my bike helmet put away, too.

As I’m closing up the second locker, Abby comes in.

“Hey Alex, how are you doing?”

“Yeah, alright.” I hesitate. I don’t want to share my current living situation with all and sundry, but Abby may know someone looking for a flatmate. “I’m actually looking for a place to live at the moment. You don’t know anyone looking for a lodger or anything, do you? Nothing too fancy,” I add, trying to save myself from another place that’s well out of my budget.

“I can ask around. When would you be looking for?”

“As soon as possible. Tonight’s probably too soon, but anytime from tomorrow.”

“You need somewhere to stay tonight?” She cocks her head to the side, assessing me.

“Err, yeah, I’ve been staying with a friend, but I didn’t want to outstay my welcome and a flat I thought was gonna work fell through.”

“Oh shit, that’s rubbish. Let me send some texts and see if I can help.” She gives me a reassuring smile.

“Thanks, Abby. I appreciate it.”

“Weren’t you staying with Mel?”

“Yeah, but like I said, I don’t want to overstay my welcome. It’s best I find somewhere else.”

She looks at me thoughtfully. I can’t spill the beans and tell her I made the mistake of sleeping with Mel and now she chucked me out. That would not go down well with Mel.

“What was wrong with the place you were looking at?”

“Well, for one, it was triple my budget. And when I told the guy that, he insinuated that I could work it off in other ways.” I grimace, still repulsed that the guy expected sexual favours in lieu of rent.

“No fucking way. That’s disgusting.”