Dawn of Eve - MJ Howson (read full novel .txt) 📗

He sat in his chair, undid his belt buckle, lowered his zipper, and slid his hand into his pants and around his genitals. Using his other hand, he began swiping through Justice’s private pictures. He whispered, “What I wouldn’t give to be with you.”

Twenty Six

Doubt

Jacob held his fingers above his left eyebrow, pulling on the skin to form an arch. With his other hand, he used his electric trimmer to remove any stray hairs, creating a perfectly sculpted eyebrow to match the right one he’d just finished trimming. He stepped back from the vanity mirror, turning his face back and forth to be sure the brows matched. Satisfied with the look, Jacob let his eyes drift to the scar running through his lip and cheek. He’d already used concealer and bronzer to make it less noticeable. Jacob added a bit more bronzer, sighed, and turned off the light.

After getting dressed, Jacob checked his calendar on his phone. The date was Tuesday, November 5th. He scanned his schedule for the rest of the week. He had tomorrow morning free, but then back-to-back clients from noon through five o’clock, giving him very little time to get home, shower, and then back into the city to bartend. As he went to pocket his phone, a notification popped up from his bank warning him of a low balance.

“Fuck,” Jacob said. “The transfer is today.” Jacob sighed and took a moment to open his banking app and moved funds to replenish his checking account. He pocketed his phone and said, “I’ll be glad when this is over.”

Jacob grabbed his coat and turned off the bedroom light. He stopped by Sean’s bedroom and frowned. The flashing light coming from beneath the closed door, along with the muffled crashes and booms, told him Sean was engrossed in another video game. Jacob twisted the doorknob and flung the door open.

“Another Friday night home?” Jacob asked.

Sean was sprawled out flat on his stomach, an X-Box controller in his hand, staring at the television on the dresser. He paused the game and briefly glanced over before taking a second, longer look. Sean said, “You’re all decked out.”

Jacob entered Sean’s room, held his arms out wide, and slowly spun in a circle. He wore skin-tight black denim jeans and a form-fitting emerald and black pinstriped long-sleeved shirt. Jacob smiled and said, “Hugo Boss. I bought it today. You like it?”

“You always look good.” Sean restarted his game, turning his attention back to the screen. “Hot date?”

“I’m going over to Dawn’s.”

“Dawn?” Sean looked over at Jacob and frowned. The television suddenly flashed red, and the sound of an explosion filled the room. Sean looked back to see his character had died, and the game was over. He dropped his controller and sat upright. “I thought you two were on a break.”

“A break?” Jacob walked to Sean’s bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “No. We’ve just been working through a few things.”

“Oh. You never mention her anymore. And you’re never here. I just figured you’d moved on.”

“No. Work’s just been super busy.”

“That never seemed to stop you before.”

“What?”

“You used to spend at least one if not more nights a week at her place.” Sean paused and scratched his cheek. “What’s going on?”

“It’s . . . .” Jacob lowered his head and sighed. He let his eyes wander around his roommate’s bedroom, unsure of how much to tell him. “It’s that stupid doll.”

“What doll?”

“The therapy doll. I didn’t tell you?”

“You never tell me anything.”

Jacob crossed his arms and shook his head. Although Jacob wouldn’t acknowledge it, Sean was right. Jacob tended to be selective on what information he chose to share. He looked at Sean and said, “So, she got this doll to help her deal with the miscarriage. The doc told her to roleplay being a mom with the thing. And she’s kind of taken it to an extreme.”

“How?” Sean crossed his legs and leaned closer to Jacob. “Does she feed it?”

“No. God, I hope not. No. She . . . she just treats it like it’s real.”

“Isn’t that what she’s supposed to do?”

“No. Well, yes. She’s . . . she’s just. It’s like she’s become obsessed with it.”

“Maybe you’re just jealous.”

Sean chuckled as he picked up his controller and reset his game. He uncrossed his legs and spread out flat on his stomach, facing the television.

“Fuck you.” Jacob smacked Sean on his ass. He stood up and glanced at the video game on the television. “You haven’t seen how she acts around it. She’s . . . different.”

“Sometimes different is good.”

Jacob rolled his eyes as Sean started playing his video game. He glanced at his watch to check the time.

“Are you staying there tonight?” Sean asked.

“I don’t know. Why? You got a hot date? Hosting?”

“No. I have to get up early tomorrow. I’m heading into Manhattan.”

“Hot date?” Jacob asked with a chuckle.

“No.” Sean sighed. “My uncle asked me to come see him. Last week the doctors confirmed it’s Alzheimer’s. Did I tell you that?”

Jacob shrugged but didn’t say anything.

“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Sean said. “He sounded nervous. That’s not like him.”

“You keep making excuses to never leave the apartment.” Jacob walked to the doorway, turned, and said, “You need to get out more, Sean. A sweet guy like you should be married by now. Or at least have a steady boyfriend.”

∞∞∞

The doors to the Spire’s penthouse express elevator closed with a silky whoosh. Jacob glanced in the mirrored wall and adjusted the fit of his olive green Italian wool bomber jacket. He frowned at the sloppiness of his gelled hair and spent a few moments trying to keep it slicked back in place.

During the ride to Dawn’s apartment, Jacob felt a sense of dread wash over him. His chat with Sean earlier weighed heavily on his mind. He’d spent very little time with Dawn these past few weeks. Deep down, he knew why.

The elevator glided to a gentle stop. Jacob stepped