Seven | Sloan

The Uber smelled of cheap beer mixed with vomit. Not even the open windows or the air conditioning on full blast on a cool day was helping. The driver had apologized as soon as I had entered, telling a wild tale about a poor guy getting abandoned on his twenty-first birthday, finding the 'love of his life' while waiting on the sidewalks of Chicago, ordered an Uber to take them back to his place, and then was puked on by the girl just before she fled. There was a lot of nodding with this story and many attempts to ignore the smell of sick. The throbbing in my head wouldn't let up. And it didn't even compare to the throbbing left between my legs.

I'd been raptured all right.

I was sore everywhere. From head to toe, my body ached from ruthless pleasure. Just as I found a spot where fresh air from the window could hit my face, and where my head was comfortable against the leather seat, the car finally came to its stop in front of TJ's consignment shop. I looked at my shoes, then to my sore feet, then back to the shoes.

Nope. Not happening. Barefoot it is.

The cement was cold, but it was nothing compared to the apartment I had just left. I rushed to the doors of the consignment shop, cursing under my breath when they took too long to open. Finally, the automatic doors parted for me to enter. TJ was nowhere in sight. According to the time on my phone, my shift started twenty minutes ago. I had seriously underestimated the morning commute from inner Chicago.

Thankfully, the store appeared empty. There was not a customer in sight, and it gave me time to rush to the lady's clothing section to grab a plain black tee and a pair of white shorts that normally, I would avoid. Today I wouldn't be picky. The shop had almost everything I would need for the day, except for essential undergarments. I was lacking a bra and was wearing last night's panties.

"You're late."

I jumped. Everything I was holding—including Hallie's heels, and a stolen condiment—fell from my hands. As if every other part of my body wasn't already telling me I was still alive, my heart now seemed to have leapt from my chest with the appearance of TJ.

His eyebrow raised. "Since when are you ever late for anything?"

It was a fair question. I liked to be the first one to any event on my schedule. This was the first time I had ever been late for a work shift in my life. I didn't even like to call in when ill, but that was more for the sake of needed income. I was the most reliable person I knew, making me likely the most reliable person who TJ knew.

"Sorry." I blushed.

Bending down to pick up the hangers and shoes, TJ quickly diverted his eyes to the lights in the ceiling, and then pretended he heard the door open and looked there. The dress was definitely revealing in many places and was anything but work appropriate. It was the type of dress for nights like the one that had occurred last night. This dress told TJ everything he needed to know.

"You can, uh, change after you clock in. The store is empty. If you want to just bring the stuff back tomorrow, you won't need to pay for them."

"Thank you." I gave the little black dress a tug down as much as I could to cover my ass without losing coverage of my breasts.

Before TJ could ask about last night, or judge me for it, I diverted to the shoe section to grab the only pair of shoes my poor feet could handle today—a pair of bright orange flip-flops that had bedazzled plastic straps. They were hideous, but they would not make me feel like I was dying every time I took a step either. After clocking in, I winced my way to the fitting rooms, shutting the flimsy door to have some peace for the first time today.

I dressed rapidly, not wanting to test the patience of TJ but mostly not wanting to face myself in the mirror. It was only a matter of time before the escapades of last night caught up to my psyche, and I was going to do everything in my power to avoid it. It was difficult to not think about it—last night I had fun. Fun, in my state, was a problem.

My skin was now a road map of pleasure. Want to know how to get me off? Follow the spots where Ollie had sucked my skin raw. I could only imagine the markings I had left on him. Hallie's shoes may have done a number on me, but I know they did one on him too. Perhaps I could have surveyed his exposed skin for damage, but I was trying to avoid the impressive tent he had pitched when my sheet fell.

I had almost escaped the fitting room before remembering I had literally rolled out of bed this morning and came straight here. My hair. Still not giving into the mirror, I clawed my fingers through the tangled mess, using them as a comb. I didn't leave the room until I had dug out all the crusted makeup from the corners of my eyes. It was as good as I was going to get.

My stomach was gurgling as soon as I reentered the sales floor. I had eaten nothing since dinner last night. The fries I had purchased remained on the bar, and nothing but mixed drinks had taken their place. With the dress, heels, and Worcestershire in hand, I headed towards the break room. Hopefully, it housed something to snack on. The room was fairly small with nothing but a few shelves, a dorm fridge, a coffeepot, and a microwave. I was one of six employees that shared the space. I tossed my things to the counter, added the condiment to the fridge for safekeeping, and began scrounging the shelves for food. Most of it was various flavors of coffee and creamers, but I found a box of granola bars labeled 'Nicole'.

"Sorry, Nicole," I whispered before tearing open the wrapper with my teeth.

It wasn't until half the bar was in my mouth that I realized I should have looked at the expiration date. That's what I deserved for this being my second theft of the day, and it wasn't even noon yet. It tasted like cardboard with a hint of stale chocolate and dried strawberries. I tossed the rest of the treat into the trash bin on my way back out to the sales floor. I could only hope this would give me enough energy to last the next seven-plus hours on my feet with little sleep.

The store was still dead quiet. TJ appeared to have given himself the project of rearranging the furniture which occupied the front half of the store. I organized the area behind the counter to stay as far away from him as I could. We were both very aware of what happened last night, and this was going to open the box of questions I knew TJ was dying to ask. I was already trying not to ask myself those very questions by keeping my mind on stacking register paper and making sure all the cash was facing the same direction in the register drawer. This was the worst possible day for the store to be this slow.

It was a full hour before the door chimed with an alert of a customer entering, accompanied with the sound of automatic doors parting. Hoping TJ would greet the customer first so I could avoid people, I selected a tote of consigned goods and leaned my hip into the counter to begin price-tagging. It wasn't rocket science; TJ was organized and had a binder of prices for just about anything. Antiques and collectibles were searched on eBay for appropriate pricing before being placed on the floor—many times going to a locked cabinet. Working here was easy, but I couldn't wait to begin school, which was something I needed to discuss with TJ, eventually. I was going to have to switch from full-time to part-time. He would be happy for me, but I didn't want to press my luck with him today after being late.

"Hallie!"

TJ's voice boomed throughout the store, causing me to look up from a used blender. Hallie—dressed in scrubs and looking just as much of a hot mess as I did—was storming towards me with one finger held out behind her to stop her ex from giving her the time of day. I couldn't remember the last time these two had been in the same room, and I knew this wasn't the way she wanted to begin her day.

TJ followed anyway. "Hal!"

"Do not even get me started with you!" Hallie responded, devotedly holding her grudge. "I'm not here to talk to you!"

"Shit," I muttered. I took a deep breath and placed the ticketing gun on the counter. I was already biting my cheek as Hallie arrived on the opposite side of the checkout.

Continuing the ignoring of her ex, Hallie remained focused on me, offering a faint smile I knew was her way of treading lightly. "Hey."

"Hi." I shifted on sore feet and gripped my shaky elbow. "I should have called you so you didn't panic. I'm sorry if you were worried, Hal."

"That's okay, honey. How, uh, how was your night?" Hallie took one careful step forward and pressed her palms onto the counter. TJ stood behind her, keeping his distance from the both of us while trying to comprehend why Hallie was here. "I talked to toothpick guy, but you had already left."

Releasing my cheek from the grip of my teeth, I gave Hallie a guilty smile and quickly bit it. Where could I even begin about last night? It was some of the best sex I had ever experienced. That was where I needed to keep my mind at right now. If I wanted to stay composed, I needed to focus on the fact I had some good, adult fun last night. Nothing else.

"Hal, the sex I had last night," I forced myself to giggle, still feeling the side effects of my hangover, "it was intense and fucking hot. At one point, I was upside down and held against the wall of his hallway by my hips while I sucked him off and he went down on me."

TJ's eyes widened. "Jesus."

"Shut up, Jones," Hallie said, again holding a hand out to hush him. Her focus remained on me. "And today? How are you this morning? Doing okay?"

My chest felt tight, like it was going to expand to a point where it broke every single one of my ribs. I was holding down an imminent sob. My head shook no, keeping my burning eyes locked with Hallie's. The question was useless. We both knew I needed my best friend right now. I was not doing okay, even though I had tried so hard to pretend all morning.

"Okay." Hallie nodded, carefully taking two more steps to move around the counter. She continued holding up the same hand to me that had stopped TJ, attempting to keep me calm. "I'm sure TJ will give you the day off. Right, Jones?"

I broke into a cold sweat. My breathing became rapid, tuning out whatever response TJ had just given to Hallie's question. My eyes hurt, needing the release I was refusing them. I was all too familiar with this, but it had been so long since it had happened in public. My stomach was in knots, making me want to be sick. I felt embarrassed this was going to happen here. As soon as Hallie took one more step forward, I lost the fight with myself and broke.

I dropped to the floor before Hallie could reach me, covering my head with my arms. I began hyperventilating and releasing uncontrollable, violent sobs. Hallie chased me to the ground, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and pulling my face to her neck where I wailed.

"It's okay, Sloan." Hallie comforted me by running her hands through my tangled hair. "I've got you. I'm here."

There was no way to stop whatever this was until I was home, in my empty bed of pillows. I knew it; Hallie knew it; TJ was about to learn. I couldn't count the number of times we had been through this same scenario before. I just wanted to go home to my bed.

"I w-w-ant t-to go," I stammered into Hallie's neck, clinging to her for dear life.

Hallie, left with no other option, was finally forced to look up to her ex, who looked utterly terrified by what he was witnessing. His mouth was covered by his hand, eyes locked to the sobbing mess on his floor. He didn't even notice that he now had Hallie's attention.

"TJ, I need help to get her home. I don't have my car."

His head bobbed a few times. He agreed but made no movements, likely fearful of setting me off any more than I already was. I was a ticking time bomb, and so far, he was only seeing a lit fuse.

"TJ!" Hallie bellowed in a familiar tone that had TJ snapping his attention to her. "Help me get her home. Please."

With one glance around the store to verify no customers had snuck in, he pulled the store keys from his pocket and handed them off to Hallie. He kneeled down and scooped the mess that was me into his arms to carry to his truck. The ride was a blur.

>>

By the time we had gotten home, my crying had stopped. I was on to the next phase of the night, which was becoming a zombie, as Hallie liked to refer to it. My body would become numb, both mentally and physically. It felt like I was in the room, but watching from the outside. I could walk myself inside and not remember how I got up the stairs. Hallie had gotten me to take a much-needed shower where I was pretty sure I didn't wash at all, but just stood in there with my face in a stream of warm water. Hallie then got me dressed while TJ prepared food.

"Hands up," Hallie instructed with a frown caving in the corners of her otherwise gorgeous face.

I did as told, lifting my hands above my head and allowing my friend to slide the familiar, oversized sweatshirt over my head. The only other piece of clothing I donned was underwear, and I didn't care if TJ saw them, or my sex-bruised skin, at this point. I curled myself around a pillow.

"Do you need anything?" Hallie slid her thumb over my cheek, catching a rogue tear that ran down the side of my nose.

I shook my head no. They had done enough, and there was nothing anyone could do to make me feel better. It was a fact I was learning to live with. I would never be the same. It was probably for the best that TJ had witnessed it. No more pretending; I was damaged goods.

"Sloan," she sighed heavily, "maybe you could go talk to Steve? Maybe it would be therapeutic for you? You haven't since..."

I flipped my body to face the wall. "It won't change anything."

It wasn't the first time Hallie had suggested that nonsense, and it wouldn't be the last. Giving up, Hallie stood from the bed and turned off the light of the small bedroom. She pulled the door as close to being shut as she could without actually shutting it, knowing she might have to return in the night if I broke down again.

"Christ, Hal," I overheard TJ attempting to whisper on the opposite side of the door. "She told me Steve fucked her up, but this..."

"This was the first guy she slept with since Steve. She'll be okay. It had to happen eventually. Honestly, it went better than I thought it would."

"She's a disaster."

Ouch.

I knew Hallie agreed, but hearing someone say it out loud hurt. I knew I was a mess.

"Yeah, well, this is nothing compared to a few months ago. Guess you lucked out by abandoning us. You missed the hell we all went through. You're witnessing one bad day out of hundreds."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't you dare apologize now. It's way too late. I can't believe she even went to you for that job. Let's just... eat. If she comes out, we can try to get her to eat something, but she probably won't. If you haven't noticed, she's practically bones."

"I, um, I can't stay."

I knew by the tone of his voice he was about to admit something Hallie would not like. He was hesitating, and we knew our old friend well enough to know he was about to make a confession. It was one I had heard and hoped my best friend wouldn't.

"Your little girlfriend can't have dinner alone for one night after one of your oldest friends had a nervous breakdown in your store?"

TJ exhaled loudly. "My engagement party is tonight."

I turned to face the partially shut door, seeing only a flash of light beneath it as someone walked fast past it.

"Hal..." TJ followed. It was too late. Hallie's bedroom door slammed so loud the neighbors were sure to have heard. If I were to guess, it was slammed right in his face.

It had been just a few short years since their relationship had ended, but it had to have hurt. Hallie and TJ—just as Steve and I had been—were best friends. It wasn't always Hallie and me against the world. It was two sets of friends in a mutual group of abandoned kids. Two sets of friends who became two couples at very different times. TJ destroyed Hallie with his cheating. They had dated since they were fifteen, and the next step for them in Hallie's mind was marriage. She lost her boyfriend and her best friend. Hearing he was now engaged to the girl he cheated with likely tore open Hallie's biggest wound.

It took a few silent minutes, but eventually I heard TJ leave the hall, put the leftovers away in the kitchen, and then let himself out. Once the sound of his truck faded, I got to my feet and opened the door to the hallway. Hallie's door remained shut, but I slowly opened it to reveal a darkened room—out of the norm for the girl who always used a nightlight. The curtains were drawn shut. I could vaguely make out Hallie's frame in the bed, her arms wrapped around herself in the fetal position. Knowing that my friend needed me tonight, I pushed all thoughts of Steve aside and pulled back the covers to take the place of big-spoon. As soon as I wrapped my arms around Hallie, I felt her entire body quake with tears. And just as Hallie had done for me so many times, I held her as tight as I could for the entire night.