Chapter 10

My feet ached to the bone.

They did not feel as if they had any skin left on them. I was a hundred percent sure that they were nothing but two huge callouses stuffed into shoes. I sat on the uncomfortable little office chair that they provided for their people to rest. But the damn thing made my backside go numb after 20 minutes.

I had honestly thought this would be a fantastic substitute for my dream job. But, after two weeks of working to help these people get back on their feet, I was not feeling accomplished. I was feeling severely depressed and sluggish. I did not want to do anything except get back to Lori's place and continue the house shopping.

At first, it was really hard to find someone to work with me after everything that had happened. Most did not want to work with the niece of a convicted felon, even a dead one. I had to explain to more than one person that my money had been frozen for the most part, so any money I would be able to give them would be from the brand-new job that I had gotten. They hadn't cared and called me bad for business, a few of them to my face.

But, Wendy, was more than happy to call me back and talk to me. She jumped at the chance to show me a few places and was happy to talk to the owners about working with me on the rent and deposits.

I had found several promising places, but the one I was most excited about was also the one that I was most worried about.

It was a beautiful old house with a wide front porch that faced the tiny lake. It had two stories with a matching top balcony that came off the master bedroom. It was only a two-bedroom house, but it would be perfect for me. Every night I would be able to look up at the stars I had found in Washington. It needed some work, but I was not worried about that. It would be something that could keep me busy during my newly found downtime.

This place was amazing, and the landlords were willing to rent it to me cheap and deposit free if I agreed to fix it up so they could sell it.

To me, hopefully.

However, there was one… tiny… little drawback to this beautiful house of mine.... right across the way, close enough you could throw a stone at it, was Kevin and Alyssa's house.

Being so close to them freaked me out so badly I practically ran out on the real estate lady when she had shown it to me. She had called me and informed me that the owners had been willing to give me a week to consider.

I didn't know why I was so worried. Kevin and Alyssa had left me alone after that night. In fact, the house had its own private road off the highway, so it wasn't like they would know I had moved in there. Why? Why shouldn't I move in there? I needed a new scene, and I couldn't let them stand in my way just because I had a history with them. I felt my spine straighten as I made my final decision.

I was going to get that place, and I was going to fix it up from top to bottom by myself, and no one could stop me.

A wide smile split my lips, and I felt a bit of the weight I had been under the last few weeks lift slightly. I did a spin in the tiny chair, feeling almost giddy with anticipation, then jumped up and raced to the locker room. Almost running over a few nurses and patience's on the way.

"Sorry!" I called with a giggle.

"Got a hot date, Tinker bell!?" one of the raunchier patience shouted back with a robust laugh.

With what he has been known to say, I was just lucky he kept it PG today.

Even the fact that he used my most hated nickname could not damper my spirits today. I skidded into the locker room, then spun my locker open, yanked out my phone, my feet still doing their little dance.

"Ms. Carlyle! I was hoping to hear back from you today!" Wendy, the real estate agent, chirped happily into the phone.

"I'll do it!" I yelled into the phone excitedly.

"You'll do it?! You'll take the house?" she clarified.

"Yes! I know it's a lot to take over but, I really want to do it."

"Great! I'll call the owner back right now and get the paperwork drawn up!"

I got off the phone and squealed. I was finally going to own my place again, especially a place that would give me as much peace as the cabin by the lake had.

Despite the aches and pains in my body, I was thoroughly excited and could not wait to get back to Lori's house to tell her the news. I hopped back to the physical therapy room to finish my shift, my heart soaring and plans already forming in my head.

"We have to celebrate!" Lori demanded as soon as she heard my news.

"No!" I denied it immediately. "I should get packing right away so I can get out of your hair!"

"Posh!" she rebuked. "You are not, nor have you ever been, in my hair. I'd say out of all the roommates I've had you are the quietest and cleanest. I'd let you live here forever if need be."

"Well now you don't have to worry about it," I declared proudly.

Her face was a bit sad as she answered, "Yeah." then she perked up. "All the more reason for us to go celebrate tonight!"

She and I argued for a little while, though mine was more half-heartedly. After two weeks of forcing myself to be a virtual prisoner, I decided I needed a night out.

"Alright, alright, let's go out for a while," I agreed excitedly.

Lori clapped happily, then practically pulled me into the bedroom so we could pick out some clothes. Being a Domme she always took joy in forcing me to wear whatever horrible contraption of a garment that she contrived. But being the good sub I was, I allowed her enjoyment. Mainly because I really didn't care what I wore tonight, I was not trying to impress anyone; I just wanted to have a good time.

Only after she primped the last curl that she put in my hair did she allow me to look in the mirror. My jaw almost dropped to the ground. Lori had made me stunning. Not only that, but I felt sexy as hell. I had not felt this sexy and sensual since my last pole dancing session.

"Wow, Lori," I gasped out. "You did a magnificent job."

A wide smile crossed her lips. "I know. You look so sexy that if I were into girls, you'd be mine."

I chuckled a bit. "Oh, hell no. You're into stuff that I just can't wrap my mind around."

She shrugged and put her stuff away, then grabbed her purse.

"Let's go!" she bounced towards the front door.

I followed her with a smile and a shake of my head, remembering to grab my tiny little clutch before we left the house. She and I had met at The Dungeon and bonded over the desire to go out dancing and just generally being a wild child.

Suppressed childhood had left us with a need to rebel. There was nothing crazier than going out with a girlfriend and doing things that you knew your mother would have a heart attack over. Or, in my case, an evil controlling stepmother.

Against all odds, I really did feel like doing something insane tonight. The knowledge that I was beginning my life over again after all that had happened made me feel more like my old self.

Just as I felt my heart lightened again, I remember some of the things my old self had done recently. I cringed and drew back from the light that I had found.

Nope, not going that far.

Lori waved at me from the cab she had called. "Come on, Bethany. Let's go get our freak on!"

"I'm coming!" I said with diminished enthusiasm.

I didn't know what was going to go on tonight but, I knew that I suddenly just wanted to run and hide again.