Free Everything I Need by Natalie Barnes Page A

up a barstool. Taking a seat on it, I press Benny’s number. It rings a few times before he picks up. I wonder what the time is there? I know I should be used to it, since he’s always gone on travel.
    “Hey, gorgeous,” he coos into the line.
    Hearing his voice brings me back to reality.
    “Hey, babe. Sorry I missed your calls. I was pretty tired last night.”
    Okay, that’s technically not a lie. I was tired, but that’s because I was passed out. I don’t want him worrying about me and I certainly don’t want him asking how I got home. Even this little, not-really-a-lie, makes my stomach hard.
    “Oh, I’m sorry for calling then, hon. I thought you would be up and getting ready for tomorrow. It is tomorrow, right?”
    Now he’s apologizing. Great! My sweet Benny, what was I even thinking back there?
    “Don’t worry,” I say, shaking my head. “Actually, thank you for calling. I needed to get things ready. Yes, I’m leaving tomorrow. I think it’s five in the morning. Lux is letting us use the company jet.”
    I smile at the last part. I now know the difference between commercial and private. And once you go private, there’s nothing else like it. It fucking rocks!
    I can practically hear Benny grinning into the line.
    “Wow! That’s amazing, Sophia. I have to keep pinching myself that my girlfriend is a rock star.”
    I laugh out loud at him. I certainly don’t feel that way and it’s kind of funny that he sometimes thinks of me like that. We talk for about five minutes and while he’s telling me about the cafés, and how he’s thinking of buying some property out there, I hear a text. It buzzes loudly in my ear. I bet it’s Frankie. I talk to Benny for a few more minutes before he has to go, but we set up a time to talk later where he won’t be interrupted and I won’t have Frankie texting me every minute.
    Bringing the phone down from my ear, I swipe across the screen and see that he left two more messages. Before checking them though, I grab a granny smith apple from the bowl on my island and take a bite. The tartness of the fruit actually makes my stomach ache more. I need something else, I think, but I will get this into me first. Something in my belly is better than nothing. After a few bites, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and pull up Frankie’s text.
    YES U DO!!!
    Don’t u wanna look nice? ;P
    What the hell? Don’t I wanna look nice? I thought I already did. Pouting my bottom lip out, I check myself over. I’m fucking nice. What’s Frankie getting at?
    I look nice, asshole!
    I set my phone back down on the island, walking over to the trash to throw my apple core away. Standing on my tiptoes, I rummage through my cupboards to find something else to eat. I guess it will have to be cereal, then. Pulling a box of Raisin Bran Crunch from the shelf, I get a bowl and spoon. Once I make my cereal, my phone dings again.
    Taking a mouthful, I sit back down on the stool and pick my phone up. My eyes go wide. I sometimes forget how fucking blunt Mr. Heart is.
    Of course. But you will be around Tristan for a week. Let’s give him a rager the whole fucking time! LOL
    I practically spit out my cereal onto the phone. I choose to ignore his last text. What the fuck, Frankie?
    I finish my cereal in silence, not hearing back from him. When I’m done, I rinse out the bowl and place it in the dishwasher. Now it’s time for a couple of Tylenol and a long shower. As I’m heading to the bathroom, I hear my phone go off again. I’ll check it when I’m done.

Chapter Six
     
    Sophia
     
     
    I’ve been in the shower much longer than necessary, letting the warm water crash down on me. I kind of just want to take a seat in here and not move, but I know that probably wouldn’t be a good idea . . . I would probably pass out again, or something. After a while, I feel the spray cooling off. I think I may have used up all of the hot water. I hurry up and finish washing.
    Stepping out, I wrap myself