âNo buts. Are you scared I might take advantage of you? Donât forget, youâre on your period.â
It was an irrefutable factâhe wasnât lying.
Lost in thought, Fannie jumped when Bobbyâs hand gently rested on her abdomen. âDoes it hurt? Would a massage make it better?â
A chilling sense of dread swept over her. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, truly terrifying.
How was she any different from the other woman?
She rose abruptly, pointing at the door. âGet out! Now!â
In the dead of night, Judie and Bobby were kicked out by Fannie. In the elevator, Judie, barely awake and rubbing her eyes, mumbled, âBobby, youâre seriously useless, you know that? I drank myself into oblivion, and you still couldnât manage to get into Fannieâs room?â
Bobby let out a dry snort. âWhy donât you just disappear?â
The elevator chimed softly, and the doors slid open. Bobby stepped out first, followed by Judie, who was yawning. At the lobby entrance, Judie collided with a man wearing a hat and oversized sunglasses.
Sunglasses at nightâeither he was hiding something or just plain eccentric.
Startled, Judie let out a small shriek and darted behind Bobby. The man, clearly just as alarmed, threw up his hands. âIâm not a creep! Wait⦠Judie?â
Judie blinked in surprise, recognition dawning on her face. âMayer?â
Mayer had just come back from the gym, his odd disguise an attempt to avoid being followed. Bobby glanced him up and down, unimpressed.
Judie, on the other hand, perked up and began chatting. âWhat are you doing here?â
âI live here.â
âWhat a coincidence!â Judie exclaimed, her tone brightening. âFannie lives here too.â
Mayer rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks tinged pink. âYeah, I know Fannie lives here, but we donât run into each other that often.â
Judieâs eyebrows quirked playfully. âBe honestâdid you move here because of Fannie?â
âNo!â Mayer denied, his voice rising a little too quickly.
âOkay.â
After they went their separate ways, Bobby asked, âWho was that pretty boy?â
âYou seriously donât know Mayer? Heâs super popularâhardworking, can sing, dance, write songs. Total golden boy, a real goody-two-shoes.â
Bobby let out a dry laugh. âA golden boy, huh? Still green and already sniffing around for romance?â
âYou think Mayer likes Fannie?â
Bobby shot her a pointed look. âYou seriously canât tell?â
Judie blinked, genuinely puzzled. She didnât see Fannie through the same protective lens as Bobby. âNo way. Really?â
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