Sheltered(8)

Fritz: That’s great, sweetheart.

I stare at the message, willing him to say more. I don’t want to come off needy, but maybe we’ve become used to not seeing each other. Things are supposed to be changing between us, but they are more stagnant than ever. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. I know we both want to focus on making something of ourselves, but it feels like there should be something else between the two of us.

I sit up and cross my legs. I hit the call button and the phone rings and rings and rings before it goes to voicemail. I toss the phone on the bed before getting up and slipping out of my dress. I search for something to wear tomorrow along with something I can bring to change into. I hope I get to spend most of my day in the back. While checking the inventory I took down as many artist names as I could so I could Google them tonight and learn as much about them as I could.

I decide on what to wear, then I set the pile of clothes aside on a chair. Once I’m finished with that, I go into the bathroom and begin my nightly routine.

When I hear my phone ring I drop my brush and rush over to answer it before it goes to voicemail.

“Fritz,” I say happily. I don’t want sound tired from my day at work.

“Hey, sweetheart. Sorry I’ve been so busy.”

I fall back onto the bed. Bear gets up and lies on my chest. “That’s okay. I know you have a lot going on,” I respond. I’m just thankful he could at least find the time. That maybe he does care.

“I stopped by the studio hoping I’d catch you.”

“Oh. If you would have told me you were coming I could have waited.” I try not to sound snippy. I know he’s busy, but is it that hard to send a quick text?

“No worries. We’ll plan for dinner sometime this week.”

“Okay, when?” I question.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to look over my schedule,” he says, sounding distracted. I hear a feminine laugh in the background.

“What are you up to?”

“I told you. I’m at the studio.” This time Fritz’s voice is a little sterner with me. It’s the one he uses when he thinks I’m acting childish.

“Of course. Sorry.” I pet Bear as I try to ignore the sting of his words. But I feel like I’ve just been scolded. Maybe I am being childish. What do I know about being in the business world, or even having to multitask that with a relationship?

“Sweetheart, I really have to run. I promise I’ll try and come by again tomorrow when you’re here. I haven’t see you in days.”

“Okay.” I let out a deep breath.

Fritz pauses for a moment, and for a second I think he’s hung up. “Lilith told me you did a good job today. I’m proud of you.” At that, I smile, feeling a little bit better. “Gotta go, I’ll text you later,” he finishes before hanging up.

I drop the phone back down onto the bed next to me. It’s then I realize I forgot to ask him about what Roxy said.

“Guess it’s just you and me tonight, Bear.” I pull the cat close as I reassure myself that this is what I wanted.



My hands are shaking as I take the steps to her apartment. When I get to the door, I don’t bother to knock as I burst through the door and see Roxy on the sofa.

“Hey, who the fuck—” he starts to say, but I cut him off when my fist connects with his face. He had it coming and I don’t feel any guilt about it.

He goes down hard in the middle of the room, and I let my anger and frustration guide me as I pick him up off the floor by his shirt. I hold him a few inches off the floor so we’re face to face.

“I heard you’re giving my girl a hard time,” I say, getting in his face.

“Who?” he asks, confusion clear in his eyes.

“Blair,” I say through my teeth. I have to remind myself that I can’t kill him. “She’s been complaining about you, and I don’t like it.”

“I didn’t touch her,” he says, holding his hands up. It’s then I see real fear from him as he tries to explain. “It was just a joke that one time. She’s so uptight.”

I backhand him across the mouth for daring to speak anything negative about her. “Listen, you little punk bitch. You so much as look at her sideways and I’ll take your eyes out.” He tries to push away from me, but I hold him tight. “Do you understand?”

“Yeah, yeah, man. We’re cool,” he says, and there’s no fight in him.

I release him and take a step back as he tries to stand on his own feet. “No, we’re far from cool. But you’ve been warned.” He nods, coughing as he rubs his neck. I take a business card out of my pocket and hold it out to him. “If anything strange happens with her, or that guy Fritz shows up, you call me.”

He takes the card and nods, glancing up at me then away.

I don’t say anything else as I turn away from him and walk out the door. I’m too on edge and too worked up. I would have never done anything like this before Blair, and I don’t know how much more of this shit I can take.





Chapter 4





Blair





When I wake up the next morning, Bear is sitting on my chest. He grunts like some kind of wild animal instead of the adorable cat I know he can be. He’s hungry. I smile and scratch behind his ear because I can’t even be mad at him. I know what it’s like to have that hollow feeling in your belly. It’s probably the reason he’s so robust. I wouldn’t ever call him chubby, but he’s definitely on the upper end of his weight requirements.