Sleep over

SHELDON 

Thunderstorms clapped outside and I got tired of observing it from the window. It's evening time and the skies are dark. It has been raining for the past thirty minutes and Denzel wasn't home yet. He hasn't answered any of my calls or messages. I was curious about how it went with his dad. 

At that moment, I heard the doorbell ring. I glanced at my cat who was curled up at a corner of the living room. I hope Denzel's ready to behold his cuteness.

It took him long enough. 

But why would he ring the doorbell when this is his place?

I left to open the door. I was expecting to see his gloomy self-standing on the other side but to my surprise, more than two pair of eyes were looking back at me — three men dressed in formal outfits. Their suits spoke volumes just like Denzel's style of dressing. This fact was the reason I didn't slam the door and ran for my life. 

I instantly recognized them as the dashing friends in his file. I had to know in case his family brought it up during the dinner.

"Hey, pretty. Where's Denzel?" Soren, the one in the middle asked holding a bottle of wine in his hand. 

"He's not..." I was still speaking when they started moving into the house. I had to stand aside or I'd jam shoulders with them. That will make a horrible impression.

"Do you see this rain? I'm going to use Denzel's dryer to get rid of it from my hair, every single drop of it. I can't with these waves." Soren complained before plunking on the high furniture.

I slowly shut the door after them and waited.

"If only I could, I would sue the rain for ruining my date night." Justin chipped in with his eyes on me. 

I was irritated seeing the little mud marks their shoes left on the tiles. Well, what could I do? 

Who knew their little trip from their car to the front door would gather even the slightest mud?

"What are you still standing there for? Clean up the mess." Justin said wearing the rudest smug ever. 

"New help these days always like being told what to do before doing their job." Gil dramatically added. 

"Mine always wants me in bed with her before she behaves."

"That's naughty, men. You could get her pregnant." 

"I'm not that careless, dummy. I just don't reject meals on a platter..."

Their nonsense conversation continued as I went inside the cleaning closet to grab a mop. 

I could take their attitude until Denzel gets here. I know he hasn't told them about me, about this relationship.

I returned to the living room wondering why my cat is so less bothered about this new environment. He was just too comfortable. 

I started wiping the floor. 

The television was turned on by Soren and they were watching football. Their manly laugh echoed around the atmosphere. 

"Hey!" Justin snapped his fingers at me. "Get us glasses for our wine. Also, turn on the heater." 

I rolled my eyes. "Okay." 

My response was melodious in my ears because I had no intention of doing any other thing for them. I stood close to the door, waiting for Denzel to return. I wanted to complain so bad about how his little jerk friends are. 

He's not so perfect after all. Especially after that night, my fellow club girl put underwear in his bag. How is this any different?

"Since when did Denzel get a cat?" Gil asked.

"I thought he was more of a dog guy," Justin remarked. 

I ignored them and lightened up when Denzel's car drove toward the house. When he came through the front door, I was the first person he saw. I held him tightly by his wrist and dragged him to the kitchen. His friends had their eyes glued on us. I liked that they would soon learn that I'm not just a help. 

Stepping into the kitchen, I let go of his cold hands and turned to him.

"You were out for almost five hours and you couldn't even give me a phone call. I don't care about you, Denzel but at least I wanna know if you're not dead. So, I can run before the police come—" 

"You think you're so special?" He cut me off with his eyes trained on the floor. I froze, checking if I said something out of line. My feet retreated backward to take a good stare at him. His voice was fearfully low. "Get out of my face, Sheldon." 

I sucked in a long breath as I went stiff. I couldn't move a muscle but still, I wasn't buying it. I can't just walk away like that.

"I'm not saying I'm special. I just wanted to know what took you so long. I was starting to think if your dad was so far away..." I was saying when he closed the kitchen door shut with his other hand behind him.

"Really?" He chuckled menacingly. "You thought right. My father was many kilometers away hanging out with people like you." 

"What is that supposed to mean?" 

"It means that I'm angry and not in a good mood to talk to you right now." 

"You owe me a big apology, Denzel. You can't take it out on me. I didn't do anything wrong." 

"You didn't have to do anything wrong. Your existence is already enough..." He spoke to himself, distorted before stepping out of the kitchen.

After he was gone, I burst out through the back door and found solace on the short stairs that leads to a big pool. I watched the rain pouring down from the dark sky. It looked like it wasn't stopping any time soon. But everything was refreshing about the rain. I got to calm myself down in a matter of minutes. 

I struggled not to reflect on his words. Otherwise, my heart would feel too heavy. 

Winter's call solved the rest of my mood. She was coming over. She wants to speak to me in person. 

She was the only family I could rely on although she's not exactly fantastic.

I decided to be a selfish biatch and invited her to the house. I was thinking straight, that was for a fact. 

Within a couple of minutes, Winter texted me that she had arrived. I was nervous going to the door to let her in. The living room was feeling intoxicated by Justin's smoking. I was surprised to see Denzel sitting in their midst and not locked up in his room sulking. I'd imagined she wanted privacy but I guess not. 

His friends are not guilty of whatever he was accusing me of. 

He had a bottle of wine in his grip with his eyes closed and the voices of his friends talking over him. 

I got the door for Winter and we both went to my bedroom. Her thick animal fur coat made her look broad and I couldn't stop stealing glances at her shoes. They were to die for. My materialistic side comes alive when I spot fancy things.

"I thought you'll be busy at the club." I started after she sat on my bed. 

"My assistant is taking care of things. I'm just returning from visiting Henry. I just...I didn't want to be alone tonight." She replied dolefully. Henry was her ex-boyfriend who committed an offense and has been in prison for two years. He's the only person I know Winter cares about. 

"I'm sure he's doing okay." 

"He is." She answered before letting out a laugh. "Before you explain who this lit house belongs to and the men watching football, I have to tell you something — I'm sorry for being so impatient and insensitive over the phone. It's not easy to lose someone. I forgot what it used to feel like." 

"It's okay, I forgive you." 

"So, tell me about this new guy of yours. Which of them is it?" She asked giving me the chills. "Spill..."

Despite the bubbly urge to laugh at hearing Winter speak like this for the first time in my life, I pulled myself together to give the news. "The angry guy with his eyes closed." 

"Ah...he's not entirely bad." She remarked. 

"You won't believe the things that happened to me this week..." I half cried, ready to explain everything.

My long conversation with Winter was enough to write a book and as things were getting to an end, we got thirsty.

I went to the kitchen to get her a can of water. The rain was starting to turn into a storm with the wind blowing loudly against the windows. 

I was almost done getting what I needed when Denzel came in with just his briefs on. His skin was unmarked with any tattoos and looked thick from where I stood. 

"Since when do you invite guests here without letting me know? Who was that lady?" He asked standing in front of me. 

Wasn't he cold with all the outpour outside? 

The crazy imagination of tying him up on his bed and wiping him until he confesses why he wants to seduce me came to my mind. 

"Since when do you walk around the house almost naked?" I asked holding up a frown. 

"I asked you first." He mumbled while I opened the fridge again. I ran my hands through the fruits and vegetables. Denzel might just be the most organized guy I've ever been with. "The rain is a lot and since tomorrow is Sunday, my friends are staying for the night." I heard him say from behind.

My eyes twitched funnily. No way is that crazy bunch staying for the night. Nothing could be more disturbing than this. 

If Winter wasn't here, I wonder how I would have coped. 

"So is my cousin. She's sleeping over. I hope that's okay with you." I replied, hiding my smug. He didn't see this coming, did he? 

"Fine," 

"Also note that I want you to stay away from me throughout the night. I don't want you to approach me for any reason. This ends here." I said turning around.

"You don't have to warn me, I don't care if you're near or far. Remember, my house is huge and It always feels like you're not even here." He responded having the upper hand in this conversation. He was using my words against me. 

"You still haven't apologized..." I reminded him.

"So?" He arched his brows.

"Good. It's all good." I replied before leaving the kitchen. I was glad.