The Side Effects of You Read online

  I jumped. I hadn’t heard her approach. “Angelica. Aye, yai, yai. You scared me.”

  “I didn’t mean to. Why were you leaning on the counter like that?”

  “I thought I heard something,” I lied. “What do you need, my love?”

  “I’m done with my homework, and I can watch the desk for you if you want to take a little break.”

  My Angelica was so sweet, and I loved how she was still a great kid, not like her sister.

  “Yes, my sweet. Your mama just needs a little nap. Just an hour.”

  “Sure, Mama. Go rest.”

  I headed to my apartment to take a little nap. I decided to sit in the recliner, instead of going to the bed, because if I were to get too comfortable, I’d sleep longer than an hour. I grabbed my favorite blanket from the back of the sofa, and before I shut my eyes, I saw him on the monitor, approaching the desk again. I had two televisions in our living room—one was for watching TV, and the other, which got a feed from cameras, enabled me to keep an eye on things in the halls, the fitness center, the pool area, and around the entire exterior of the building.

  I jumped up from my chair and ran back out to the desk. Interrupting Angelica, I answered the question I had overheard him ask. “Well, we do have valet laundry. There is a ticket and a laundry bag in your room. Just have it down before seven on Monday morning.” It was Saturday, and no laundry went out on the weekends.

  “Okay. Thanks. I’ll bring it down before then.” He smiled and stared at me for a moment before he walked away.

  “Mama, what was that? I could have handled that guest.”

  “I know, baby.”

  “Mama, no way! Are you checking him out?”

  My smile must have given me away.

  “Ewww. Gross.” Angelica made a face.

  “Gross because you’re not into boys, Angelica, but he was definitely easy on the eyes.”

  I walked away, smiling to myself.

  I went back to my apartment, sat on the recliner, pulled the blanket up to my chin, and dozed off. By the time I woke up from my nap, it was after nine. I looked around and wondered why Angelica hadn’t awakened me.

  I found her sitting at the desk, reading a book. “Angelica, why didn’t you wake me?”

  “Because it was quiet, and you were sleeping so deeply. I just wanted you to get some rest.”

  “Thanks, kiddo, but I slept too long. Now I’m going to be wide awake, and my shift ends at ten.”

  “So why don’t you go over to Sammie’s? That guy came down and asked about you. He told me to tell you he was going to head over there. I think he wanted to invite you.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Well, he came down a couple of times, looked around, and then he finally asked for you. When I told him that you were resting, he said to let you know where he’d be. Only a person who was interested in company would say something like that.”

  “When did you become an expert on dating?”

  “I’m not. I could just tell.” She smiled at me.

  “Well, I’m not going to go. I mean, I’m not dressed.”

  “Ma, you’ve walked over to Sammie’s before in your uniform. He saw you in your uniform, so you should go while he’s still there.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yes, Mama. I’ll watch the desk until Lacey gets here. Nothing is going on.”

  “Okay.” I hurried to freshen up my face a little. I had on makeup from my shift, but I had to touch it up a little. I freshened my breath and headed over to the restaurant. When I walked in, I saw my guest sitting at the bar.

  I approached him nervously. “Is this seat taken?”

  He turned to me. “Hey, no. Have a seat. I am glad you came in. I was hoping you’d come.”

  “Well, my daughter told me you came down, looking for me. I was taking a much-needed nap.”

  “I heard that. What are you having?” he offered.

  “Umm, I’m not really a drinker, but I do like Zinfandel.”

  “So you are into those sweet wines? How about you try a Moscato?” he suggested with a smile. “It is sweet, but is a bit tastier than Zinfandel.”

  I smiled back. “Why don’t you order for me? I’m open to try it.” I didn’t know what had come over me. I was instantly attracted to him.

  He signaled to the barmaid, and it hit me that I didn’t know his name. He had checked in during another shift, so I didn’t know his name or his room number.

  “So what is your name?” I asked.

  “Jayden. Jayden Pierce,” he said. His chestnut-brown eyes danced, and the lighting made his face look like a Milky Way. I just wanted to lick him.

  “I’m Josephina, but everyone calls me Josie.”

  “I know your name. You’re still wearing your name tag.”

  I looked down at my blouse, and sure enough, there it was. We laughed. “I was in such a hurry to catch you, I guess I forgot.”

  “No worries,” he said.

  The barmaid finally made it over. Wiping her hands, she asked, “Another round?”

  “Yes, and a Moscato for the lady.”

  “Sure.” She moved quickly. I knew most of the staff and didn’t recognize her. She was a new face.

  “So, how long are you in town for?” I asked Jayden.

  “Forever. I took a new job here, at a law firm not too far from here. I had my sights on Houston, but the offer I got here was sweeter than the Houston offer, so I sucked it up and came back to Chicago. Decided I’d take the bad with the good, and I moved back. My parents live in a high-rise with a painful sofa bed, and at six feet three, I declined their offer to stay there. My best friend has a family and four kids, so that wouldn’t work. Since the firm is footing the bill, I’m going to be at the Hilton until I find a place.”

  “Wow. That is interesting. But what do you mean by the ‘bad with the good’? What could you possibly say is bad about the city of Chicago? It’s a wonderful city. I’d enjoy it more if I didn’t work so much.”

  “There is so much good that I can’t begin to name, but the bad is the brutal winters. I was focused on Houston because I was looking forward to warmer winters, but I guess it was meant for me to come back home—”

  “Here you go,” the barmaid interrupted, placing our drinks in front of us. “Can I get you a menu, ma’am?”

  “Yes. I need something to eat.” I realized I hadn’t seen Sam. “And is Samantha here?”

  “Yes. She’s in the kitchen. Do you have a complaint?”

  “Oh no. She is a friend of mine. Can you let her know that Josie is here?”

  “Sure, and I’ll be right back with that menu.” She smiled and was off.

  “So you know the owner?” Jayden asked me.

  “Yes. When I got promoted five years ago to GM at the hotel, she came over to bring menus for our attractions table, and we hit it off. She’s about the only one, besides my family, that I can call a friend.”

  “That’s cool.” He smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back. “You have a beautiful smile.”

  “You think so?” I blushed.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Thank you. I haven’t had much of a social life, and I haven’t gotten a compliment in . . . Shit.” I laughed. “I can’t even remember.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Well, it’s true.” I saw Sam approaching.

  “Josie, hey, girl.” She leaned in for a hug.

  “Hey, Sam.” I frowned. “You smell like onions.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. The prep cook went home with some stomach issues, and that is the job everyone despises, so I’m on it. It’s good to see you. I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Girl, working long hours.”

  “I can imagine,” she said.

  Jayden cleared his throat.

  “I’m sorry. Sam. This is Jayden. Jayden, this is my dear friend Samantha.”

  “Nice to meet you.” He flashed his gorgeous smile.
r />   “You too,” Samantha replied. They shook hands. “Listen, I’m going to go and delegate and get out of these kitchen clothes. I have someone I’ve been dying for you to meet,” she announced.

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “Please, you guys, don’t leave,” Samantha said. “It may be an hour before he arrives. Can you hang a bit?”

  I looked at Jayden. I knew I could stay, but I didn’t want him to feel obligated.

  “Sure. We are good,” he answered for us both. Instantly, I had a chill. I loved a man who took charge.

  “Great. Let me go to my office, and I’ll be back shortly,” Samantha said.

  We both nodded. I turned and grabbed the menu, even though I already knew I’d get the steak quesadillas.

  “So, tell me a little more about yourself,” Jayden said.

  I told him the short version of me coming to America, marrying young, and my ex-husband ending up in prison. Gave him the clean version of my troublemaker, Ana, and spent time praising my joy, Angelica.

  We talked until Sam returned. Shortly after, her friend Ethan arrived. He was cool, nice-looking, and I could tell he was into her just by the way he gazed at her. And since she had been single for as long as I’d known her, I hoped he was a qualified potential boyfriend.

  The four of us laughed a lot, drank a lot, and ate all we could. I was tipsy and felt high. I wished that Jayden and I were a couple, because I didn’t want our night to end. But I wasn’t supposed to be getting so personal with a guest.

  Ethan and Sam were sitting close to each other and whispering in each other’s ears, so Jayden and I shared our own little intimate conversation.

  “Are you ready to walk back?” he asked.

  “I am, but I’m not. I know it’s close to closing, but I don’t want the evening to end. I don’t usually have a connection with a guest. No fraternizing is rule number one.”

  “I see.” His facial expression became sad.

  “Listen, I’ve been professional with all my guests but you. I’ll admit you are the first guest that gave me . . . I don’t know. Let’s just say you are different. However, until you check out, we can’t do much.”

  “So, in the morning I’ll check out.”

  “Oh no. Don’t do that. I mean, I don’t want you to leave.”

  “I don’t want to leave, either, but I want to get to know you, and if a ‘no fraternizing with guests’ policy is going to keep me from getting to know you, I’ll find another hotel.”

  I took a deep breath. I didn’t know this man, and I didn’t know how serious things could get if I bent the rules. I mean, I was the GM. No one had to know. The owner didn’t even live in this state anymore.

  “Listen. I like you, Jayden, and I want to get to know you too. If we hang and do bad things, and you get mad and try to sabotage me, I will deny, deny, deny.” I laughed.

  He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “I’m too old to play games, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Okay.” I smiled. I was tipsy and was feeling good, and I wanted to be close to him. I had no intention of giving him my goods, but I knew I wanted to be close to his skin.

  We said our good-byes, and Jayden and I walked back to the hotel hand-in-hand. We went through the side door. I didn’t worry about the cameras, because I knew his door was too far down the hall to be caught on the monitor at the front desk.

  We quietly slipped into his room. I flopped down in the chair, and he went into the bathroom. I wished I had showered and changed before going over to the restaurant. I got up and tapped on the bathroom door.

  “I’m going to go and change, and I’ll be right back, okay?” I said through the closed door.

  “Okay,” he answered.

  I went to my apartment, stripped, and hopped into the shower. Ten minutes later I had dried off and gotten dressed. Before I could head back to Jayden’s room, Ana walked in. I was going to keep going, until I took a look at my baby’s face. I didn’t know what had happened, but I knew someone had whipped her ass. I couldn’t go back to Jayden’s room right now.

  Damn!

  Chapter Eight

  Samantha

  Relax, I told myself when he touched me. I didn’t want things to go too far. I was terrified that they would, so I backed away. “Ethan, baby, please. We gotta stop.”

  “Why, baby?” he whispered, his voice low. “I want to taste you.”

  I wanted him to taste me too, but I was terrified. I hadn’t had an outbreak, thank God, in over two years, but I knew I wasn’t cured.

  “I want you too, so bad, baby,” I panted. But I couldn’t risk it.

  “Just let me. I am into you, Sam. I want more than a fling,” he said, breathing heavily into my neck.

  I froze, then got up from my sofa and moved away from him as fast as I could. This was where we’d always end up after our dates, at my house on the sofa in my living room, making out.

  “What’s wrong, baby? Why are you holding back?”

  “It’s too soon.” That was all I could say.

  “Samantha, I’m all in. I’m not going to play you. I think about you every minute of the day, and I’m so into you. I want you.” He stood and walked over to me. “I’m not trying to move too fast, but I’m feeling you, Sam. I want to be with you, make love to you, and take this good thing to a more passionate level.”

  I lowered my head. “I know, Ethan, and, baby, trust me, it is not you.”

  He lifted my face by my chin. “Then, tell me, what is it? I mean, we’ve hung out every night since we got together. We are on the phone more than I have ever been on the phone with any woman. Why are you holding back, babe? Do I make you feel uncomfortable? Are you not feeling me too?” His expression was serious and sad.

  “Of course I’m feeling you, Ethan. Trust me, baby, I’m feeling you, and the time we’ve spent and the long talks and all mean so much to me, but I’m not ready for the physical part yet, okay? Can you understand that, please? Let’s just move a little slower.” I tried to sound cautious, not callous.

  “Yeah, I understand.” He backed away and put his shirt back on.

  “Baby, please don’t be mad.”

  “Sam, I’m not mad at you. I’m not. But I really like you, and I would like to have more of you, all of you. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my distance from you, babe.”

  “And I really like you, but I don’t wanna rush into the physical. It makes things more complicated.”

  “I disagree with that theory, but I respect you, Sam, and I’m good. It’s okay, baby.”

  “Are you sure? Because I don’t want you to cut me off.”

  “Baby, no. I am going to be right here, waiting. I can’t stop thinking of you, so you can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  “Even though I’m keeping my legs closed?”

  “Even though your legs are closed. I’m looking for a partner, a future with someone as beautiful, sweet, and successful as you. I’m not a ‘hit it and quit it’ type of guy. I wanted to have something with my ex, but it just didn’t work out.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize for her and our failed relationship. That was bound to happen, because we were too different. You just focus on us. You are gorgeous and smart and beautiful and a damn good cook, so I’ll wait.”

  I smiled. “Thank you, Ethan. I haven’t had a relationship, boyfriend, or date, for that matter, since my divorce. I’m not weird. I just want the man I’m with my next time to be the last man I give myself to. I don’t want dive into a pool of hot sex before I get to know that person well.” I stressed the last word. “I don’t want to share my body with a man unless I feel that we are down for one another. The harsh reality is we have pasts, ways, and personalities that everyone can’t deal with or accept. I really want to get close enough where I can tell you everything about me and you won’t run. Just understand, I need a man in my life who will love me regardless of what I’ve done, where I’ve been, or the mi
stakes I’ve made. I am flawed, Ethan, and I’ve got to have someone to love me past my imperfections.”

  He nodded. “I understand more than you know.”

  I looked him in the eyes. “Do you really?”

  “Yes, baby, I do. Come here.” He pulled me close, and I rested my head on his chest while he held me tight. His embrace felt better than that of any man who had ever held me. I felt safe, but not safe enough to tell him the truth.

  I knew in my heart that I was pulling a bait and switch, but I liked him so much. I didn’t want to send my first shot at romance since my divorce in the opposite direction.

  I wasn’t prepared to get weird stares or for him to tell someone else my personal condition. I was pissed and wanted to cry in his arms. It was a hidden scar in my life, one that I never wanted anyone to see. I wished it away, I prayed for it to go away, but I was still cursed with that awful incurable virus. I wanted to load my gun, get in my car, and go and shoot every last bullet into my ex-husband’s dick and nut sack. I was mortified by my diagnosis, and there wasn’t shit I could do about it.

  “So do you want to go out for a while, for a drink?” he asked.

  “Yes, that would be cool.” I smiled.

  Heavyhearted, I pretended I was fine, but I wasn’t. I hated my secret. I hated that I couldn’t tell him. I felt closer to him than I had to my ex-husband. He was kind and gentle, and I knew I had to dump him. He deserved someone who wasn’t tainted, and I wasn’t the one.

  “Good. We can ride downtown, maybe hit a jazz or blues spot, or go to Dana’s. That hotel has one of the most exquisite lounges.” He smiled.

  I enjoyed his smile. I enjoyed his presence. And as hot as I was, I knew I couldn’t spread my legs, but I wanted to give him something to assure him that I was into him.

  Naughty thoughts racing through my mind, because he looked so delicious, I said, “That sounds nice, but can I give you something before we go?”

  He smiled. “You have something for me? Like what?”

  I stepped out of his embrace. “I just want to give you something to let you know that I’m feeling you, and even though I want to slow things down, I definitely don’t want them to stop. We can do other things.”

  He looked puzzled. “What did you have in mind?”