Chapter Two

Valerie stood there staring at Damien Pressman, taking in his broad shoulders, powerful-looking chest, the shape of which she could see through his tight T-shirt. He smiled over at her, his smile sparkling almost as much as his eyes. Her pussy dripped as she smiled back at him, slowly pulling her hand from his, and she had to swallow the dryness in her throat before she could return his greeting. “I want to thank you for renting me the apartment,” she said. “I appreciate it.”

Damien waved off her statement, “Don’t mention it. Anything I can do to help out Jake and his baby sister. Besides, it was just sitting there empty. The last tenants moved out a couple of months ago. I’d rather see it go to someone who could use it.” He stepped back a little, closing the door behind them. “Come on into the kitchen, and I’ll introduce you to Holly.”

“Great,” Valerie said, the name of his girlfriend bringing a coolness between her thighs almost as fast as his appearance brought the heat. “I’d love to meet her.”

“Jake, ol’ boy, what have you been doing with yourself since you last donated to the Damien Pressman retirement fund?” He glanced over at Valerie, smirking. “Your brother doesn’t have the best poker face.” Damien led them through the living room as Jake talked about some of what was happening in his life since the last poker game. The spaciousness of the apartment surprised Valerie as she glanced around at everything as she followed the men to the kitchen. There was plenty of space for two recliners, a large sectional sofa, end tables, a coffee table, and some bookshelves along the east wall. There was also a wet bar on the south wall, and still plenty of room to walk around without running into any of the furniture. Of course, it also made her a little afraid of how she would fill her apartment. She didn’t have enough furniture to come anywhere close to matching the space she was looking at now. The outside of the apartment complex was definitely deceiving.

“Holly, they’re here,” Damien said as he slid through the kitchen doorway. “Jake you already know, so no big deal there. Besides, Valerie is the best of the siblings anyway, and our new neighbor to boot. This is my girlfriend, Holly Caraway.”

As she entered the kitchen, Valerie spotted a petite redhead standing by the kitchen sink, finishing up some dishes.

Holly wiped her hands on a towel, tossing it on the counter before crossing the floor to meet the others, her eyes lighting up at the sight of them. She hugged Jake first and then, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around Valerie and hugged her tightly, the words already spilling from her lips. “It’s so good to meet you finally. We’re going to have so much fun.”

Valerie hugged her back, laughing at the other woman’s excitement. “I’m sure we will. I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be nice having another woman to hang out with.”

“As soon as we get her moved in, that is,” Jake said, moving over to the kitchen table and sitting down. “Then, you guys can corrupt her all you want.”

“Corrupt me?” Valerie asked, her lips twisted together in a curious smile and her brows cocked. “Please, tell me more. I’ve never been corrupted before.”

Damien laughed as he motioned to the other chairs around the table. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Holly doesn’t already have a journal of ideas of things to drag you through.”

“Don’t be giving away my surprises,” Holly said, feigning shock as she slid into a seat beside Damien. “Besides, when I told the other girls we had a new victim… I mean, a new friend to corrupt, they jumped in with their own ideas.” She turned to Valerie, bouncing her brows. “You’re in for some adventure and fun.”

Damien hit the table with his palm. “And we should start tonight. Let’s have a party on the roof.” He turned to Holly, grinning. “What better way to introduce her to everyone than with music and alcohol?”

“That’s a great idea,” Holly said, reaching out and squeezing Valerie’s hand. “You’re going to love everyone. They’re a crazy bunch of people. A couple even work at Hampton University.”

“Sounds like fun,” Valerie said, shrugging. “It’s not like I have anything else to do besides unpack, and I can procrastinate from doing that forever.”

“Great,” Damien said, nodding. “I’ll call the gang and get them all here. Holly can make some snacks.”

“I’ll go out and grab some booze,” Jake said. “Maybe some mixers.”

“Sounds good,” Damien said, clapping his hands together. “We can meet on the roof say about eight.”

With the night’s plans settled, they spent a few more minutes talking with Damien and Holly before Valerie said she was eager to see her apartment. They excused themselves, promising to meet the others later, and then Jake walked her down the flight of stairs to her new home.

As Valerie opened the door, she stood on the threshold for a moment and simply soaked it all in. This was her home now. Her first since she left her college dorm and married Brent. It was overwhelming if she thought about it too long.

The apartment wasn’t furnished as well as Damien’s, but it had its own sofa and a couple of chairs as well as a couple of bookshelves along the south wall. There was a television set off to the side, and a coffee table in front of the sofa. The walls were bare, but she was told she could hang any paintings or pictures she wanted. She had brought a few knickknacks she already saw places for, but otherwise, the place was bare, just waiting for her personal touch.

“Well, what do you think?” Jake asked as he stepped up behind her and peered in over her shoulder.

“It’s big,” she said. “Almost as big as the house I just left.”

She felt her brother put his hands on her shoulders. “You all right?”

She nodded, feeling that familiar twisting in the pit of her stomach. “I am. I just… I just wasn’t expecting life to take such a turn, you know. Five years we were together. Five years. I guess I just thought my life would be so different at this point.”

“I know,” he told her. “But, it is what it is, and you need to make the most of your new start. Hampton’s a great university. I know it’s small and just starting out, but it already has a great reputation. And the people of Live Oak are some of the best around, especially this group. Before you know it, you’ll be out on the town making your own friends and stirring up shit.”

She shook her head as she stepped into the apartment, his arms falling from her shoulders. “I’m not really here to stir up shit as you call it. I simply want to focus on my career and see what’s still around once the dust settles.”

“Have you heard from Brent?”

“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’m not really surprised, though. When he found out I would no longer cater to his every whim, he kind of lost more than just his cool. He lost interest as well.”

“Well, I can’t say I blame you for leaving him” Jake said. “You don’t need to be anyone’s slave, especially Brent’s. That’s not how relationships work.”

She just nodded. “Let’s get my things, shall we?”

“Sure,” he said, and by his tone, she could tell he wasn’t buying the sudden change of subject. She couldn’t blame him. She didn’t even sound convincing to herself, but there was nothing more she wanted to say on the topic.

An hour later, they had all the boxes in the car brought up and piled in the living room. Jake helped her carry the ones with her clothing to the back bedroom and plopped them down on the queen-size bed. Once the car was empty, he told her he would head to the liquor store to pick up the refreshments for tonight, making sure she didn’t need anything while he was out.

“No,” she said. “I still need some groceries, but I can get them tomorrow.” She didn’t really feel like going out right then or like making a grocery list, preferring to sit in the quietness for a while longer before life got busy once more.

“All right. I’ll call an Uber and have it take me to my place for my car first. Then we don’t need to worry about getting me home later. You sure you don’t want me to pick you up some of the basics, at least? Some milk, eggs, bread? There’s nothing here if you want to nibble on something. You should at least let me get you a bag of chips.”

“I’m fine, really,” she assured him. “I’m not that hungry these days. Thanks, anyway.”

He smiled at her, nodding as if he understood, but there was no way he could. He hadn’t been the one stuck with Brent for the past five years.

Once Jake left her alone, she went to her bedroom to at least put her clothes away. No sense allowing her outfits to get all wrinkly. Besides, she would need something fresh to wear to the gathering tonight. She had been in her clothes since she left Sebastian and felt icky. She needed a shower, too. Yes, a nice hot shower was just what the doctor ordered.

Rummaging through the boxes, she finally found the one with her toiletries. As she unpacked them, setting them about the master bathroom, she reached in and pulled out a can of shaving cream. She held it, staring at the familiar can as images of Brent standing at the bathroom sink and shaving the blond stubble from his cheeks filled her mind. She stood there, holding the Barbasol in her hand as a tear filled her eye. Swiping at the water just before it fell down her cheek, she tossed shaving cream into the trash can. Goodbye, Brent.