🎼Habits
I woke up Sunday evening, stiff and sore from sleeping on the couch. Trevor wasn't on the couch with me anymore. I stood up and stretched, my head throbbing from all the crying I did. I headed to the downstairs bathroom and took 2 Ibuprofen pills from the medicine cabinet. I swallowed the pills dry. I could deal with the chalky, dry taste in my mouth if they would relieve my headache. I was already feeling confused, hurt, and lost. I didn't need a headache on top of all that. I just wanted to feel normal for once. Fuck, what did normal even mean anymore? I didn't know, but I was sick and tired of this.
I went into the kitchen, expecting to see Trevor. I was surprised to see Sammy.
"Good. You're awake. I was just about to wake you up. Dinner is served!" She announced. She had plates set with Boston Market's rotisserie chicken, red-skin roasted potatoes, cream spinach, and cornbread.
"Thanks Sammy." I said, grabbing a plate. She followed me into the living room. The coffee table was still covered in the junk food Trevor bought, but I ignored it and sat with my plate in my lap. Sammy grabbed a TV tray.
"No more junk food. Eating crap will just make you feel crappy. We're both going to eat and live healthier. I wanna tone up and if you're really done with him, you wanna be the winner of the breakup."
I wanted to burst her bubble about Boston Market being healthy. I didn't even wanna think about the calories in the creamed spinach, at least not while shoving spoonfuls in my mouth, but I was too intrigued by this winner of the breakup thing.
"What do you mean? Winner of the breakup?" I asked.
"Since you don't wanna blast him online, the next best way to come out on top is to show him how much better you're doing without him. Gaining weight is not gonna do that."
I shook my head. "I don't care about that, nor do I wanna do that."
I truly didn't. I loved Sammy, and she gave entertaining advice, but that didn't mean it was always right. Maybe I would care about showing how good I was doing if I didn't know how crushed he was. I kept seeing his face after I told him I couldn't be with him...
"...if you still wanna be with him. That's the best way to get him to come crawling back." Sammy continued when I tuned back into her.
I shook my head again. "I don't want that either. I don't know what I want. I think I'm gonna take some time to figure that out." I told Sammy, simply, hoping she would respect my choice.
She grinned at me. "I'm so glad you said that. Hurry up and eat so we can get ready to go out."
I groaned. "Sammy! It's Sunday. I don't wanna go out."
"Trevor said you're not eating and he found you, crying in your bed. He told me you shouldn't be alone so you can come out with me or I'll drop you off at Rocky's." Sammy threatened.
Fuck. I should have known I couldn't have fooled Trevor. "Since when do you listen to Trevor?" I asked.
"When it fits my agenda. Now, what's it gonna be?" She said, standing with her plate.
"I'll call Rocky." I lied to get her off my back.
"You're so full of shit. I know you're not talking to her." Sammy exclaimed. She walked to the kitchen to put away her plate. When she returned, I was still planted on the couch.
"C'mon. It's a party the Honey-Bs are working at a rooftop bar. I invited Patrick and Lamar so we won't have to worry about guys. Just free drinks, music, we can stay an hour, 2 tops." Sammy negotiated. "Didn't we have fun at that bar?..."
Urgh, why not? Maybe it will get my mind off of things. Crying alone definitely didn't help. I nodded, getting up to get changed.
"I'll let you borrow a dress!" Sammy called after me.
I rolled my eyes. I hadn't shaved my legs since the breakup and it was still chilly and windy so a dress on a rooftop wasn't happening.
I picked out a white slinky blouse and my black faux leather leggings.
With that settled, I took a long hot shower. I pulled my hair back into a neat ponytail because I didn't feel like doing more than that, so I didn't. Sammy offered to do my make-up so I let her. She was holding a black dress in her hands when she saw what I set out to wear.
"You're wearing this!"
"No. I'm wearing what I picked out." I informed her.
She sighed. "Alright. Don't be surprised if you feel outta place. I'm warning you it's fancy."
"We're only going to be there an hour right? 2 tops? I'll suck it up." I said, sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes but did my make-up. The results were flawless, as usual. I had on a full face, including dramatic lashes, contoured cheekbones, and red lips. I thanked her before finishing getting dressed. I pulled on my pair of red, slouchy, 3-inch knee-high boots. I splurged on them in California when Bianca picked them out. I was anticipating wearing them for the right occasion- A fancy rooftop party sounded good enough.
I went downstairs when the doorbell rang. I let Lamar and Patrick in. Lamar looked me up and down.
"Breaking up looks good on you." He said after I hugged him.
"Thanks." I said, moving to hug Patrick.
"You hunting for the next ex tonight?" Patrick grinned at me.
"No! Sammy said I'm dressed down so that's what I'm going for: low-class bitch." I grinned back at him.
"You look fine. Sammy doesn't understand subtlety." Lamar commented.
Sammy then emerged from the top of the stairs, proving his point in a little black dress with her cleavage and back on display.
They laughed as she flounced down the stairs, flipping her hair.
"What's so funny?" She demanded as she joined us.
"Nothing. Ready sexy?" Lamar asked.
"Born ready." She grinned.
We drove to a hotel in downtown Dallas. Once Sammy gave her name to the front desk, we were escorted up to the rooftop. It was swanky, to say the least. A DJ was playing top 40s music and the guests jammed out on the dance floor, lingered around the multiple martini bars, or lounged on couches. It was the 40th birthday of Sammy's boss's financial advisor Regina. All the bartenders were wearing yellow blouses and black pencil skirts.
After retrieving drinks, Sammy led us over to a section of couches. I saw that the couch was occupied by a couple, but Sammy still headed over. I saw why when we stood in front of Ron Jackson, the owner of the Honey Bs. He was seated and talking to a pretty blonde.
"Sammy, how good to see you. Please, have a seat." Mr. Jackson said.
Sammy sat beside him and I sat beside her. Lamar and Patrick sat across from us. Introductions were made as we settled in.
"So... is this a recruit? Why isn't she working?" Lisa, the blonde, asked Ron with a smile.
"She is, but she's a guest tonight." Ron answered.
"Are you an old recruit?" Sammy asked, emphasizing the 'old'.
I took a sip of my drink hiding my grin. Sammy was so crazy for no reason.
The blonde narrowed her eyes at Sammy. "No. I work with Regina. Ron and I go way back. Way before he started Honey Bimbo Bartenders." Lisa responded, giving Sammy a pointed look.
My eyes widen. What. The. Fuck.
"Bees Lisa." Ron glowered, shooting Lisa a scathing look.
"My apologies," Lisa responded, not sorry at all.
Sammy smiled sweetly. "No worries. I'd rather be a bimbo than a bitch."
"Lisa, will you excuse us? I want to take Sammy and her guests on a tour." Ron said, standing up before Lisa could reply.
Fuck a tour. I wanted to watch the catfight, but Sammy stood up and took the arm Ron offered, smirking at Lisa. I stood up to follow them and Patrick and Lamar did the same.
After the brief tour, Sammy left with Ron so he could introduce her to the event planner. Patrick, Lamar, and I found a spot to look at the view.
"What was that?" Patrick asked me.
