Chapter 4 I don't sleep with a shirt

• FOUR
• I was duped and lost a lot of money and she helped me cover them.
• I still hadn't found a new job and she was willing to help me start afresh again.
• She had a themed five star cafe she had inherited from her deceased uncle here in San Diego and was also planning to buy a beach resort and run it as well. Hence, the move.
• She was a face model and also engaged in advertising. But she was going to lay low for a while and set that life aside as she had been into that for years and was getting tired.
• I used to be a real estate agent and I was going to start up again here. But this time around, I was gonna be my own boss and choose my working hours.
• We both wanted something new. New jobs change of scenery and somehow she chose San Diego. And I had said, why not? It was a great place.
• She was finishing up her last jobs in Paris at the moment and she was to relocate here in about a week. We planned to move into a new house together. Being in a new city and not knowing how anything worked there , I decided to stay with Joey for the time being.
• Just until Mandy got back from the city of France.
• "Are you sure she's gonna wait that long?" Joey asked me.
• "I don't even wanna think about that, " I answered. "We already got a good thing going on. I hope she doesn't get desperate. By the way, how's your work going for you?"
• "Its my dream job so even though it gets pretty hectic, I don't really mind."
• I nodded. "Hey, I'd need a tour. I really wanna see this new city."
• "Sure thing bro. Only that I'm afraid I won't be able to help with that unless you wanna wait till the weekend."
• "Nah. Its Monday, man. Too fucking far" I shook my head.
• "Okay then, Kara would take you if you don't mind. I'll speak to her about it.I guess I'd have to sacrifice my car again tomorrow. I'm only doing this because I haven't seen you in three years," he pushed my shoulder a little.
• I gave a lopsided grin. "Nah, its because you love me too much."
• "Yuck. Fuck you, man" he said giving me the finger and we both laughed.
• *****
• KARA'S POV
• I was applying some facial cream after my bath while I stood in front of the mirror when Joey hugged me from behind.
• "Hmm, you smell so good, I wanna eat you up" he said sniffing into my neck.
• I laughed softly and turned to him. "Eat me up then,"
• "Don't tempt me," he gave a small smile and let me go. "I'm actually very tired right now and wanna sleep for a hundred years."
• I watched him collapsing on his side of the bed and I went to lie beside him.
• "Yeah you need lots of sleep," I said in a low voice.
• "Babe?" He called as he turned to me. "You can help Joey with a tour around town tomorrow can't you?"
• "What? Why does it have to be me?"
• "I would have loved to but you know my busy schedule. I'll leave my car again so you can help take him, please?"
• As if I also didn't get busy. All because I worked from home 80% of the time. But, even so. So I was gonna get trapped with that Julian in a car for God knows how long. I was definitely not allowing him play his loud stupid music.
• "I will, don't worry about it," I replied touching his cheek briefly. "By the way, how long is he gonna stay?"
• "A week I guess. Just until his fiancèe arrives and they move into a new house."
• Wait. He had a fiancèe? Wow. He looked like a flirt. The type that had five girlfriends at a time.
• I nodded silently and watched Joey drift to sleep. I fell into a deep sleep not too long after as well.
• The next morning was just like every other morning. I had to get up by 5:45am to prepare some breakfast. Thankfully, he ate it this time before leaving hurriedly for work.
• I went back to bed after he had left and woke up two hours later to start my morning routines.
• While I was vacuuming the floor, I saw Julian stroll in from his room. Wait, was he.. Shirtless?
• I just stood there, gaping at him. His toned muscles and abs. Christ.
• He had a little tattoo on his chest that made him look sexier. I forced my eyes forward to his face and found my voice, clearing my throat a little at first.
• His bed head was so cute and I watched him stifle a yawn.
• "Why are you half naked?" I asked him.
• "Half naked?" He arched a brow. "Is this your definition of half nakedness? I'm fucking wearing pajama pants now, aren't I?"
• "Where's your shirt?"
• "I don't sleep with a shirt," he shrugged.
• "You can't walk around the house without a shirt." I said, patiently. "This isn't your house,"
• "Its my brother's house." He replied almost immediately and went ahead to grab an apple from the fruit basket on the table.
• Kara, calm your nerves, I told myself.
• "What's for breakfast? I'm kinda hungry please"
• I wanted to punch him in the face but I was able to restrain myself.
• "You can help yourself with some food in the kitchen. I'm sorta busy right now." I told him. He didn't reply and headed straight for the kitchen.
• Later in the day, we got dressed and hit the road.
• "Your music won't work in this car today," I said to him firmly.
• "How about we listen to yours now and then mine on our way back?" He suggested and I grunted a response.
• We drove by entertainment venues, trendy shops, art galleries, and restaurants serving every kind of cuisine any one could imagine, from Persian food to pizza.
• Julian however insisted on us going to try some food.
• "I hope you're gonna pay," I told him as I unbuckled my seat belt.
• "Of course, what do you take me for?"
• And before I knew it, we were seated facing each other, trying some great food. I hadn't even tried that type of food in that part of the city before.
• "I think I'm having foodgasm right now," he said and rolled his eyes and licked his lips and I bit my lip to hide my amused smile. He was being overly dramatic right now.
• It was a great place to catch some live jazz and we enjoyed every bit of it.
• He also insisted that we go watch a comedy performance.He had this charm that was persuasive and would want you to do what he had in mind.
• He wasn't being a jerk today, thank God.
• I laughed till my belly hurt while we were at the comedy show. I saw him laughing too. His smile beamed like sun rays, illuminating the dark room.
• His smile was identical with Joey's. Both had sparkling white perfect dentition.
• I nudged him, "So you have teeth in there,"
• He faced me and smirked. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
• After we finished from there, we went to see one of the beaches.
• "This is perfect!" He spread out his arms.
• "There's lots even way better than this to visit," I told him. His eyes lit up.
• "But not today, I need to go home now. I still got work to do." I quickly added.
• "What a buzz kill. Come on, let's go home then"
• I had a good time alright and did not even mind as his stupid song blasted the speakers on our way home. I couldn't remember the last time Joey and I spent time outdoors like that. He was always so busy and it was sad.
• >>>>>
• Few days passed with Julian being a pain in my butt. He was lazying about at home giving me a headache and I wanted to kick him in the throat.
• Why did I have to be left alone with him?
• It was day two of my period and I was still crankier than usual.
• On that particular day, I could not get any writing done and it irritated me all the more.
• I wanted to break my laptop screen. I hated when my memory was blank and I wondered where my brains went to.
• What's more, Julian wouldn't stop hovering around me and pestering me.
• "Just give me your laptop and let me take a look. Maybe I could help you out," he said and I scoffed.
• "Help me? What do you even know about writing?You think its football?"
• "I know a lot about writing actually. Swallow your pride and let me help you,"
• I stared at him with my face set in a deep scowl.
• "Okay, Mr know it all. Help me" I handed the laptop over to him. I watched him draw out a journal and pen down some stuffs.
• In about ten minutes, he was done and he handed the journal to me as well as my laptop.
• "You're welcome," he said and then he was gone.
• I looked at what he had written.
• First, nice penmanship.
• Second, wait all he had written actually made sense. Wait, a lot of sense.