I storm to my room, slam the door behind myself and exclaim, “Oh my God! What the fuck is wrong with your husband?”
“H-hi. What?” Carly sounds baffled.
“He let Jude Novak move into my apartment!” I snap.
“He what?”
“Jude. In my apartment!”
“What? Why?”
“Exactly. Why?”
“Explain.”
“I got back last night and here the guy is, feet on the coffee table, sexy gleam in his eyes, informing me he’s staying here while he has some repairs done. I smell a rat, Carly.”
“Hang on, Ally. Aiden?” I hear muffled voices.
She’s got her hand covering the phone. Then it goes fully muted.
And I’m pacing in my room, steaming-mad for a good minute before she talks again.
“Aiden says he needs to stay there for just a bit.”
“No. No way.”
“Can’t you just ignore him?” Carly asks.
And now my head might explode.
“It’s not exactly easy to ignore Jude Novak,” I say.
“I’m sure it’s not. Why don’t you have some fun with it then?”
“Carly, I need him out of here.” I stomp a foot.
“Well, he’s… um…got to stay for just a bit, so…what’s the big deal?”
“Huh? You’re not going to back me up and make Aiden tell him to leave?”
She doesn’t answer.
“Carly?” I check. “What the fuck is happening here?”
“Sorry, Ally. I think we’re a little stuck here. Aiden’s playing dirty with me.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I asked him for a favor, and this is his price.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It’s …” she pauses. “Complicated.”
“Can you let him stay at your place then?”
“Um…” She holds the phone.
Why isn’t she taking my back?
I hear a muffled male voice and then a giggle - Carly’s.
“Okay, okay,” she says softly, sounding like she’s saying it to her husband. “Ally, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. Aiden says Jude won’t likely be a huge bother. Just… you know… do your thing. He probably won’t bother you.” She sounds like she’s stifling a laugh. Is that because of this or is it just Aiden being frisky?
I can’t explain properly to her why I need him gone. I’m on my own here. She’s busy with her honeymoon and doesn’t realize the gravity of this situation. Of course she doesn’t because I can’t tell her.
Carly squeals again.
“Is your husband being frisky while you’re talking to me? Because this is important, Carly.”
“My husband. I’m still getting used to that.”
I roll my eyes. And then I feel guilty. She’s off having the time of her life, getting to have her happily-ever-after and it’s shitty of me to try to get in the way of that with my crap.
“I’ll let you go. Don’t worry – I’ll figure something out.”
“I’m sorry, Ally. It’s kind of… I asked Aiden for a favor and he’s being… Aiden about it with this.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re having fun? You’re happy?” I ask.
“So much fun. And yeah. So happy. So fucking happy, Ally. For real.”
“Good.” I smile genuinely. “I’m sorry to call and lay on the drama.”
“It’s okay. I’ve always said you can call me day or night. I’m just not sure why this is such a problem.”
“Believe me, it is.”
“Why? I sensed some serious tension between you two at Club Foxxx the other night too. Are you gonna let me in on this?”
“Forget it, Car. I’ll let you get back to your honeymoon.”
“Try to just ignore him,” she tries.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “I’ll try.”
Something tells me Jude’s not easy to ignore.
“Call you tomorrow if I get a breather.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
“Love ya,” Carly says.
“Love you, bestie.” I hang up.
She’s in love and I’m so happy for her. Despite my current conundrum. Funny how Aiden started out as a pain in her ass and now look at them.
I blow out an exasperated breath.
Fine. I’ll figure this out myself.
***
I stay in my room trying to ignore whatever that awesome smell is that’s coming from the kitchen, but I’m not doing a very good job at ignoring – or my stomach isn’t. All I ate was a candy bar at the hair salon and a scone for breakfast with the girls at work.
By eleven thirty, my stomach isn’t letting me sleep and all is quiet, so I pad on my grippy onesie feet to the kitchen. Yes, I’m in a onesie, a Tigger one (I have four. Tigger from Winnie the Pooh is my spirit animal), and look around with surprise.
The kitchen is clean; Jude didn’t leave a mess. I peruse the fridge contents and spot a big container of some food along with groceries that I did not put here. Upon a visual and nose inspection, I deduce it’s a curry dish with noodles, vegetables, and chicken. And I’m drooling. There’s loads of it so I nuke some.
It’s phenomenal.
But it doesn’t distract me from my problem.
I look around in the dimly lit space as I consider it.
What would Ally - the Ally I wanna be do?
How do I make him leave?
It hits me as I rinse my bowl.