T Y L E R
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" asked Autumn as she glanced up from the black dress she was wearing and looked in the mirror at me, who was trying so hard to figure out how the heck four straight metals could turn into a towel hanger.
I put the IKEA instruction manuals on the floor and stood. I walked towards her and stopped right behind her. "You know you don't have to come if you don't want to." I raised my hand to close the zipper on the back of her dress. I kissed the spot between her neck and her spine.
"I know," she said with a deep sigh. "But I can't let Jess come alone."
I frowned. "I thought Colton is also coming."
"He is. But he's her boyfriend, she needs a girlfriend too," said Autumn. Sometimes I didn't understand girls, this was one of those times. "What if she sees a cute guy? She can't possibly say it to Colton without him getting jealous."
"Is that what you did whenever you saw a cute guy? Did you go and tell your friend?" I asked and didn't bother to hide my irritation.
After what happened in the bar last night, I started to feel like I had so many competitions around. Guys in NYC were so forward, they didn't care that she had a boyfriend. Or maybe that was how some jerks were, not only here in NYC. But I didn't seem to notice until later.
Autumn smiled and turned to face me. "Yes. That's exactly what I did when I saw you." I was about to argue but she stood on the tip of her toes and kissed my lips lightly. "Don't worry. You're the only guy in my mind and in my heart." Like always, she was always able to calm my storm.
"Call me when you want to go home," I reminded her as I held the front door open. "I'll come and get you."
"Okay!" She pecked on my cheek and headed outside.
I closed the door and walked to the mess I left on the floor. Who would've thought this IKEA furniture was harder to build?!
I was about to settle down when my cell phone rang. "Hello?" I greeted.
"Tyler, it's time."
I froze. It was him. I should've known that there was no escaping this. I gripped my cell phone so tight that my palm hurt. "What do you want me to do?"
* * *
I should've known that Santiano wouldn't leave me alone for more than two days. I guess it was a good thing that Autumn was outside or else I would have to lie to her. And I hated lying even though it was for her own protection. It was better for her not to know about Santiano. Her life has been tough as it was, she didn't need more things to be worried about.
I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jacket and kept my head down as I roamed through the busy street of New York. The good thing about New York was that the city was too big so no one knew anyone and everyone was too busy to care.
I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. He picked it up after the second dial tone. "I'm here," I informed him once I turned at the corner of the fifty-one street.
"Good. Wait there. Someone will come and give you further instruction," was all he said before he cut the connection and left me with annoying dial tones.
I shoved my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and waited. A guy who looked like he was probably older than me by a year or two came a few minutes later. In one hand he was carrying a package while the other was holding his lit cigarette.
He dropped the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it without even looking. His eyes traveled from the tip of my toe until he locked his eyes with mine. "Are you Tyler?" asked him with a thick Italian accent.
I gave him a firm nod.
"Give me your phone," asked him as he held his hand out. I shoved my hand into my pocket and pulled my cell phone. I put it on his palm and he checked my call logs. "Okay. Here's the package." He put my phone on top of the package and handed both to me. "Don't lose it."
I frowned. Santiano's instruction was to wait for this guy's instruction. "What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Open it," he answered. But when I went to unwrap the package he quickly caught my hand. "Dude! Not here. Are you crazy?!"
"What's inside?" I was curious. What was inside the box that I couldn't show to the world and why did he want me to have it?
The guy smirked, ignoring my question. His hand reached into the pocket of the black jeans he'd cut in several places to make a few holes here and there. He pulled a Marlboro from the pack, then lit the end with his Zippo."Want some?" He held the pack of cigarettes in front of me. I shook my head. "You really don't strike me as a dealer. Damn Santiano is really good at hiring people." With a snap of his wrist, the Zippo closed, and he shoved the pack and lighter back into his pocket. He leaned against the wall. His eyes were on to the sky as he took a pull of the cigarette and exhaled a long stream of smoke.
I watched the smoke hang around his head like a grey cloud as I tried to figure out what to do. I had one unknown package in my hand and the guy who was supposed to give me instruction looked too chill to give me one. I pulled out my phone and decided to check up on Autumn.
How is the party? T.
I hit send and was about to put my phone back in my pocket when it buzzed. Her reply came faster than I thought, it was almost as if she has been holding her phone and waiting for my text.
Boring. Drunk puking dudes everywhere. I miss you, boo. How's the IKEA? Any luck? You know you can call for their help if you want.
That made me smile. I stole a glance at the Italian dude, he was still looking up at the sky while savoring his remaining cigarette. I returned my attention back to my phone and typed my reply.
I miss you too, love. Don't worry. I have the manuals, I'll figure it out on my own.
I knew it was silly not to call customer service and ask for their help, but I couldn't help myself. The IKEA furniture might look tougher than the calculus test but I knew I could solve it. I had to.
"Are you done love lettering?" His voice interrupted my train of thoughts. I looked up and noticed he was right in front of me. There was no cigarette between his lips or in his hand. "It's time." His eyes glinted mischievously.
I shoved my phone back into my back pocket and dared myself to ask, "Time for what?"
"Do the real job." He turned and signaled me to follow him and so I did.
- 𝓐. 𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮 -