chapter 5

I couldn't remember the last time my head hurt so much but it felt like a balloon that had been filled to the point of exploding.

                               

Somehow I managed to make my way to the kitchen and found that Nigella had made orange juice for me and that was one of the many reasons why she was my best friend.

                               

After a couple of large glasses, I made my way back to my bathroom for a shower but before getting in, I called Constance.

                               

"Amethyst Langston's office" she said professionally. "C, I'm not coming in today" I told her.

                               

"Oh my God, Am. Are you okay?" She asked, concerned. "I will be" I sniffled. "Can you please reschedule my appointments for today? I just can't really deal with anyone today."

                               

I loved her so much because she understood me and didn't question anything I told her but I explained that I would tell her everything later.

                               

After my shower, I dressed in white leggings and an off-the-shoulder pink sweater, my hair up in a messy bun, I was about to plop down on the couch, when my buzzer rang.

                               

I wasn't expecting anyone and so imagine my shock when I looked at the monitor next to the front door and saw Dr. Webster.

                               

Nigella must have called him and as much as I didn't want to see him, I knew I needed to for my peace of mind.

                               

I could see the concern on the older man's face when I opened the door and let him in.

                               

"Amethyst, good morning my dear. I won't stay long, I just wanted to come by and check on you as I'm sure you know Nigella called."

                               

We talked, in my kitchen as I fixed us coffee and a pan of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

                               

I confided in him and told him everything that happened at Yvonne's, my breakdown, Declan's email and Nigella coming to check on me.

                               

"What do you know about this man?" Dr. Webster asked me.

                               

"Nothing actually. Nigella works for him and has been his friend for a while. She set us up on a blind date and last night was the first time we'd met."

                               

Webster suggested that perhaps there was something deeper going on with Declan but that in no way gave him the right to treat me the way he did.

                               

After spending an hour and a half with me, Dr. Webster left and with the parting words of calling him if I needed him again, any time, day or night.

                               

After the good doctor left, I ordered a sh*t load of Chinese food and ate on it all day long until I stopped feeling sorry for myself, picked up the phone and called Nigella.

                               

"Amethyst oh my God!" Nigella exclaimed.  "Are you okay?" She asked, knowing very good and well that I wasn't.

                               

"Will you meet me at Mickey's tonight?  I need to beat the f*ck outta something and since I don't want to go to jail for assault, Mick's is the next best thing."

                               

"Yes darling.  I will meet you and I have some things I need to talk to you about, okay?"

                               

"Okay Nig, I'll see you there" I told her, hanging up.  I went and flossed, brushed my teeth and swished mouthwash.

                                             

                                                       

Once done with my teeth, I brushed my hair until it was straight and shined like the sun, then put it in a high ponytail.

                               

I changed into a bright tangerine colored sports bra and short spandex workout shorts, no-show socks and tennis shoes.

                                

I loved looking sexy when I worked out.  I was a little vain on that prospect in that I loved showing off my ink and belly button piercing.

                               

I grabbed my water bottle, keys, phone and wallet and headed out.

                               

"Hello baby" I cooed, patting my car as I got in.  Blasting The Best of Whitesnake, I headed to the gym to meet Nigella and kick some serious a$$.

                               

Twenty minutes later I arrived at Mickey's but Nig wasn't there yet so I walked in and greeted the owner and to warm up.

                               

"Amethyst, darlin!" Mickey the owner greeted me.  I hugged the man tightly, saying how much I'd missed him.

                               

"Mickey, I am in need of a good workout.  Nigella is supposed to meet me here but until she does, can you help me glove up?"

                               

I saw several long-time clients and we chatted a bit, then I followed Mick to the bag and he gloved me up.

                               

I started out slow until I could pick up the pace and within about fifteen minutes I had a great rhythm going.

                               

Jab, jab, kick...jab, jab, kick...I kept seeing what happened in my head last night at Yvonne's and I would hit harder.

                               

The further into my workout I got, the less I was aware of the people around me until I stopped to take a break and then I heard Nigella's voice.

                               

"Damn, I'm glad that's not me you're wailing on" she smirked.  "Seriously though Amethyst, I'm so sorry about what happened last night."

                               

I turned to her, gave her a sad smile and said "Nig I don't blame you.  He was the one with an issue and anyway he sent me an email apologizing and now I'm done with him."

                               

I hugged her and asked for her help taking off my gloves and then I went and grabbed a jump rope and started jumping to a set pattern, my heart rate steadily increasing.

                               

When I finally finished that, I went and joined Nigella on the treadmill, neither of us would say anything for the next few minutes until I looked up at the door and I almost died when I saw who walked in.

                               

Declan St. James!

                               

"Oh Jesus can I not catch a break!" I whisper-yelled at Nigella.  I stopped the machine cold turkey and told my friend that I was leaving.

                               

But before I could make my escape into the coed locker room, Declan blocked my way.

                               

Even with me being six feet tall he was still a good six inches taller than me and so I would have had to crane my neck to look at him.

                               

I couldn't though, I was still too hurt over last night.  But before I could say a word, he started talking first.

                               

"Amethyst, please.  Just give me a minute" he pleaded.  I just scoffed and shook my head.

                               

"Why?" I whispered.  "There is nothing you can say that I'm remotely interested in hearing."  I knew I sounded like a b*tch but I couldn't help it.

                               

I watched his eyes, I'd hurt him and justified it by saying that he'd hurt me first.

                               

"I-I'm sorry but I just can't do this right now" I told him. 

                               

"Would you at least consider maybe meeting me for coffee sometime and let me explain what happened last night?" He sounded so genuine, it made me feel like I had to say yes.

                               

"I have your email.  I will contact you when I feel like I can handle this.  Please, I need to get by" I said as I watched him step to the side.

                               

As I walked by him, I caught his scent and I couldn't help but be drawn in by it and him, much to my dismay, the last thing I wanted was to be vulnerable again.

                               

I waited for Nig to come into the locker room and then told her what he'd said.

                               

She listened patiently and then told me what she wanted to tell me would wait until I had spoken with Declan.

                               

The rest of the night would be interesting as I kept thinking about Declan, what he said and how he smelled.

                               

Loading up my vaporizer, I sat out on my balcony and knew I was about to get involved with Declan and wondered if I would survive this one.