Chapter 5 I DON'T NEED A MAN

ADELINE'S POV

I must have fallen asleep because when I open my eyes, the sun is beaming through the window and Kenneth is gone.

He leaves a note on the coffee table: "Work calls. Get some rest, beautiful."

I feel a sharp pang of disappointment when I realize I won't see his face.

Hey, maybe it's just hunger pains. I am ravenous in the morning. Yeah, maybe that's it.

Kenneth is true to his word.

First thing in the morning, a man comes to install new locks on the doors and the windows.

Not long after, I place a call to my sister. After I update her, she tries really hard to contain herself and not come through the phone and strangle me for not calling her last night.

She scolds me like I'm a child who has broken curfew and needs to be punished. I love her to death and I know it comes from a good place, but she really needs to back off.

I debated not telling her, but if something like that happened to her, I'd want to know. When I finally convince her that I'm okay, she asks about Robbie. She says I was right to freak out and she hates that Robbie is now on my mind. But Robbie isn't the one on my mind.

The guy I can't stop thinking about is Kenneth. I'm only half listening to my sister because I'm too busy looking over at the sofa where we sat. He held me all night. His hold was firm but tender. I laid my head on his rock-solid chest and felt safe. And when his powerful hand gently stroked my arm, it caused a tingle down my spine unlike anything I ever felt before.

When I replay that moment, a fleet of butterflies takes flight in the pit of my belly.

"Mel , I gotta go, or I'll be late for work. You tell Millie I love her."

"Are you one hundred percent sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I am."

"I can't believe the dumpster part."

"So you can process the gunshots but not the trash?"

"You live in New York City. That's why for years I've told you, you need to move-"

"Yeah, I know. I know. But can we argue about my life choices later?" She reluctantly agrees and lets me off the hook.

I hop in the shower and wait for it to get nice and hot. I stand under the downpour and try wash away all the drama of the past twenty-four hours.

But no matter how long I stay in the shower, I can't seem to get Kenneth out of my head. It's not just being held by him that has me acting so nuts, it's something else-he listened.

We sat on the sofa and he listened to me. All the guys I've been with before only pretended to listen so they could get back to the part where they talked.

But Kenneth was different...I get out of the shower and remind myself that chances are, Kenneth was just doing his job. I was a hysterical woman that he had no choice but to look after.

There was no "spark" like I thought when our eyes met in the alley. It was all in my head.

In reality, he's got several women or one amazing woman at home. She's one of those women who looks good in everything and doesn't own any fat pants. Why would she? She never gains any weight. She wears white and never spills anything on it. She buys her lingerie at high-end places like La Perla.

And even if by some miracle he was single, I'm not looking for a relationship. After what happened with Robbie, I was a fool to even try dating.

"Guys don't know how to love back. I fell for their act once; I won't do it again. I can't," I tell myself as I look in the mirror.

It helps. It has renewed my resolve. I don't need a man. I have the kids at the center. I have my friends and family. I need my trusty vibrator and, yes, my Netflix.

I take in a deep breath and vow never to think about "Mr. Hot and Sexy" ever again. I open my closet and decide on a chocolate brown pencil skirt, paired with a fitted ivory silk blouse I got on sale at Nancy's.

I dab a little perfume on my wrist and put on my heels, a hint of lip gloss, and a little mascara. That's it. I'm ready to go back to normal.

No bullets.

No drama.

And no dating.