The Call: A Psychic Paranormal Romantic Comedy Read online

"Again, he's dating a supermodel!" Matilda said.

  ✽✽✽

  "Welcome home, Bella. How was the trip?" Jake asked.

  "Smelly. Europeans smell. And I had to fly coach on the way home because the airline screwed up. They should know I fly first class, always. I don't care what the agency books. I tweeted at them to make my displeasure known. My fans are organizing a boycott."

  "Well, that seems reasonable. Listen, Bella, I've been thinking-"

  "My period is late," she blurted out.

  "I haven't seen you in almost two months, and it's been longer-"

  "It's really really late," she said.

  Chapter 8 - June

  "How did the doctor go?" Jake asked.

  "He said that I'm not pregnant, that I might have had a miscarriage," Bella said, pulling a frown.

  "Well, we kind of knew that when all the tests were negative," Jake said.

  "It's still sad, though. We could be on our way to having a baby by now. Wouldn't that be amazing? You and me as parents? I love you so much, Jake," she said.

  "Bella-" Jake started.

  "We should try to start a family, don't you think?" She asked.

  "Bella, I wouldn't want to start a family without being married and-" Jake started.

  "I mean, we've never really talked about it before, but I'd like to get married at some point. I'd have to keep my name for work, but 'Bella Trellis' does have a nice ring to it," Bella rambled.

  "Bella, I don't want to marry you. We're not getting married. That's not the conversation I'm trying to have," Jake said firmly. "I think we should-"

  "Jake, can we talk about this later? I'm still kinda upset about the doctor's visit and all. I'm going to go back to my place and take a nap, OK?" Bella asked.

  Jake sighed and nodded. "Of course."

  ✽✽✽

  "Matilda Benton, this is my little sister, Bethany," Sam made the introduction as Bethany gave Matilda a giant hug.

  "I don't know you at all, but I love you so much. I love that you told the Screeching Face she was going to get lines," Beth clapped.

  "We're going to have so much fun trolling Jake. The Stephanie-Bella reference is gonna stick. Everyone has started to use it. Her face - every time I say it - Best. Thing. Ever."

  "It's great to finally meet you," Matilda said.

  "Likewise! You're coming to dinner on Sunday, right? Last week, that bitch kicked the dog. I thought Will was going to bodily throw her out of the house," Beth said.

  ✽✽✽

  "Ugh! Can't you people put this beast away when I come over? You know I hate him!" Bella screamed from the entryway on Sunday.

  As Will went to retrieve the dog, Noah called out, "The dog lives here, Bella. You don't have to come over to his house if you don't want to deal with him."

  When Jake entered the big room behind Bella, his heart did a little lurch. Matty was sitting by Beth, giggling about something.

  Fuck. I don't want to sit with Bella and Matty together again.

  "Ugh, it's the little gimpy ginger bitch again. Don't you have anywhere else to be?" Bella said.

  "Bella, you look… poofy. Are those new implants or is the rest of your body just shriveling around the artificial parts?" Matilda asked.

  Beth choked on her drink.

  "Does your t-shirt say 'Juicy', bitch? That's so fucking tacky," Bella sneered.

  "I know, right? It glows in the dark, too," Matilda said as she bounced her boobs around.

  There were snorts of laughter from everyone in the room, including Darla.

  Fuck my life. Jake thought as he watched Matty's boobs.

  ✽✽✽

  "Have a safe flight, Bella. Here, I'll put the luggage up there for you," Jake said.

  "Ugh, I hate flying commercial. You should fly with me so we can take the Trellis plane," Bella whined.

  "I would take a commercial flight to Australia, Bella, not the private plane," Jake said.

  "Well, you should still come with me. We didn't have any private time at all while I was home. It's like you were avoiding me," she pouted.

  "Safe travels, I hope the shoot goes well. You'll be back in like eight weeks, right? Australia, then Peru, then Portugal?"

  "Six weeks. I'll be home in six weeks," she said.

  "OK, have fun."

  Chapter 9 - July

  "But it's my birthday!" Jake whined.

  "Oh, poor Jake. Want some cheese to go with that whine?" Matilda mocked.

  "You're not supposed to shellack me like this on my birthday!"

  "Oh, shut it. You love it!" She said.

  Jake grinned. "I really do. Where's my birthday present, woman?!"

  "You mean other than this ass-kicking?" Matty laughed.

  "Yes!"

  "I mean, you could have worn the Juicy t-shirt at least," Noah said.

  "Shut up about the Juicy t-shirt!" Matilda laughed.

  "No juicy t-shirt talk right now! It's only fun to talk about when she's wearing it. Where's my present!" Jake yelled as Sam, Will, Hank, and Ethan laughed.

  "What if I didn't get you anything?" She asked.

  "I will cry lonely sad, tears of neglect," Jake said with a grin. "Did you get me something?"

  "Of course, I did. I brought you two things," she grinned back.

  "What'd I get?" Jake asked.

  She handed him the first box.

  "My collection is complete!" Jake laughed as he pulled off his Alf t-shirt and pulled on a new Herman Munster t-shirt.

  "Could you take off your shirt again so I can take a picture for Eric?" Matilda asked.

  "Only if you promise to frame it and put it on your desk," Jake teased.

  "Show's what you know," Matilda laughed. "I don't have a desk. I work from my couch!"

  "I feel like you missed an opportunity to ask her to take her shirt off," Noah said, disappointed.

  "What else did I get?" Jake asked.

  "Oh, so this one is really a gift to me. You're supposed to wear it for a while and then give it back on my birthday next month."

  Jake's eyes turned to slits. "Is it my Trellis fleece?"

  "It absolutely is," Matilda grinned.

  "I love that fleece, you know," Jake teased.

  "It has bumps in it now where my boobs go. Sorry, not sorry," Matilda laughed. "It's nice to wear with stretchy pants."

  "So, I'm going to need some alone time with this fleece now. That's what you're telling me?"

  "Eh, make the shrew wear it for an hour. That'll suck all the joy right out of it," Will said with a straight face while everyone but Jake laughed.

  "What did Bella get you for your birthday?" Matilda asked. She still felt bad that they all took potshots at Bella. It had to bother Jake.

  "She left for six weeks."

  OK. Or, maybe it doesn't bother him at all, she thought.

  Chapter 10 - August

  "But it's your birthday!" Jake whined.

  "Oh, poor Jake. Want some cheese to go with that whine?" Matilda mocked.

  "You're not supposed to shellack me like this on your birthday!"

  "Oh, shut it. You love it!" She said.

  Jake grinned. "I really do."

  "I'm surprised you didn't go to the brewery with everyone else. This was your project," Matilda said.

  "Meh," Jake said.

  "Meh?" Matty asked.

  "It's your birthday. Someone had to stay behind and give you gifts," Jake smiled.

  "We could have celebrated my birthday on a different day," she said.

  There was a pause in the conversation.

  I am hopelessly in love with you and wouldn't miss your birthday for anything. Say it. Say it. Say it. Spit the words out. Jake thought. But the words didn't come out.

  "Jake, you OK? I'm sorry you're missing the trip," she said. Her smile fell a bit.

  "I'm not. Time for presents?" He asked.

  "Did you get me a Polly Pocket doll?" she asked.

  "No, I couldn't find one with red hair
. And they don't make a Skipper Barbie with red hair, either," he laughed.

  She glared at him.

  "I was told to give these to you in a specific order. This one's from Noah," Jake said.

  "Oh my God, it's a glow in the dark Lush t-shirt. Ellie will be so happy," Matilda laughed.

  "So will Noah," Jake laughed, too.

  Ethan gave her a pale purple coach wallet. "I looked at this, right after I fell into the mud puddle and didn't buy it because it wasn't a need."

  "Ethan has good taste in gifts. It's always either something you wanted and didn't buy or something you didn't know you needed," Jake said.

  "This one is from Sam," Jake said.

  It was a leather carryall, clearly meant to fit her small frame and not pull her off-kilter.

  "This one is from Hank and Darla," Jake said.

  It was in a Tiffany's jewelry box.

  Matty blinked back tears.

  "Matty?"

  "I'm ok," she choked out.

  She opened the box and found a charm bracelet with a beer bottle charm. The tears dripped down.

  Beth got her a friendship charm. Luke gave her a violin charm. Matthew gave her a tsavorite and white gold charm with the date engraved. Will gave her a carrot charm.

  Jake gave her two charms. The first was a pool cue charm that had her name engraved in super tiny letters. Matilda smiled, "I should have seen that coming."

  The second charm was a platinum and diamond doll charm.

  By the time she was done opening little charm boxes, she was snot crying in big heaving sobs, face buried in her hands.

  And then Jake was hugging her, rubbing her back. "Matilda, what's wrong? Can I help? Can you tell me?"

  She shook her head. "It's silly. I'm so sorry. It's beautiful. Thank you so much," she gasped out.

  "Why the tears, Matty?"

  "You and your family have always been so kind to me." Matilda shook her head a bit. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but I'm so grateful for all of you."

  "Why the tears?" He asked again.

  "Uh, it's silly. Sentimental and silly," she said.

  "OK," he said.

  "No one's ever given me jewelry before. My grandma wasn't one to wear jewelry and was buried with her wedding ring. My dad wasn't one to shop for jewelry and we had bigger fish to fry growing up. Not a whole lot of money in bartending."

  "Oh, come on. No diamonds from old boyfriends or best friend rings from Ellie and Eric? Nothing?" Jake asked, somewhat appalled.

  "No diamonds from old boyfriends," she said with a laugh. "Ellie is a firm believer that jewelry is shared between lovers, and she didn't enter my life until college. We were past the friendship bracelet stage."

  "The bracelet is very beautiful and thoughtful," Matilda bit her lip. "I don't really have any family left. I hope you and yours understand how much this means to me."

  She mopped up her face with a tissue and looked up at him. He touched the side of her face gently and for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her.

  "Where's my fleece?" She said with a laugh.

  He gave her another brief hug as he laughed.

  ✽✽✽

  "Matilda, this story had better end with 'AND THEN I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES AND GAVE HIM THE BLOW JOB OF A FUCKING LIFETIME'. This is not a gift one gives to a work consultant for brewing some fucking beer!" Ellie yelled later that night, sitting in Matilda's living room.

  "No," Matilda muttered.

  "I'd give the mother of all blow jobs for this bracelet. Blow jobs for all the boys for that. It's so fucking sweet I can't even process it right now," Eric said as he teared up.

  "I know, right?" Matilda said, tearing up again.

  "Quit being a couple of sissy bitches, you two! That doll charm is mostly diamond," Ellie pointed out. "What the fuck happened? How did you leave it?"

  "I'm pretty sure I owe him a new t-shirt because I snot cried and sobbed all over his Thundercats shirt. Makeup running down my face - full-on ugly cry," Matilda said.

  "And then you mopped up your face, shoved your tongue down his throat, and gave him the mother of all fucking blow jobs, right?" Ellie asked.

  "No, Ellie. After I calmed down, he drove me home because I was a mess," Matilda muttered.

  "MATILDA!" Ellie and Eric yelled in unison.

  "He's dating a supermodel! They're still together! I can't compete with that, please stop with this. It makes my chest hurt to think about him with her," Matilda begged.

  ✽✽✽

  Jake ran his hands through his hair.

  "What's the story? Together? Not together? Not interested?" Beth asked Jake.

  "Uh," Jake said.

  "So, there was no kissy-face and no discussion. We all beat feet out of town on her day for nothing," Noah said.

  "Things got awkward," Jake said.

  The table groaned.

  "You know what makes things awkward?" Ethan asked.

  Jake pretended to bang his head on the table.

  "Do tell, Ethan," Matthew played along.

  "GIVING A TRULY WONDERFUL PERSON A BEAUTIFUL PRESENT AND THEN NOT TELLING THEM HOW YOU FEEL WHILE ALSO DATING A SHREW!" Ethan yelled.

  "Why isn't that over?" Asked Luke. "That needs to be over, man. That is a major blocker at this point. Matilda will not be the 'other woman'. She just won't. She has the wrong colors for that."

  "Colors?" Asked Sam, trying to look at Luke at the other end of the table.

  "Yeah," Luke said. "You know, like it doesn't fit her personality."

  "How-" Sam started.

  "I keep trying and then Bella pulls something like the pregnancy scare shit. Sorry, Mom - Didn't mean to swear.

  "When I last talked to her, I was just going to do it over the phone and be done with it, but then she started babbling on about how much she loves me and how she couldn't imagine life without me and that she'd just want to die if we broke up," Jake said.

  "Serious question: Do you think that's even remotely true?" Sam asked.

  "No. I know it's not, but it makes me feel horrible. And I'm pretty sure she's actively avoiding coming back to Chicago now," Jake admitted.

  "Jacob, get on a plane, go wherever she is, and end this. She's manipulating you into staying together. It's not even that she wants to be with you," Hank said.

  "We've been together for like a year and a half. You want me to fly out, dump her, leave her overseas, and call it done? That's just horrible," Jake said.

  The table groaned again.

  Chapter 11 - September

  "Yay beer! Cheers!" Matilda called.

  "Cheers!" The beer team called back as they all drank.

  "It's just like Connor's! We did it! The first batch is a success!" she cheered. "Now we just need to mass-produce it. The factory is almost ready..."

  Sam and Jake clinked bottles as they watched Matilda strategize the successful launch of their product.

  "You are so stupid," Sam said.

  "I'm aware," Jake agreed.

  Chapter 12 - October

  "OK, the product will be shipped in cases to the conference next month. It's all prepped, just conditioning now. I can't believe the labels came together that well," Matilda said as they wrapped up the end of a status meeting.

  "This is your first conference, right Matilda?" Ellen asked. "I forget you've been here for months and not years."

  "First conference," Matilda confirmed.

  "Just be warned. It's a big conference. People everywhere. Bring your invite with you, you'll need it to check-in," Ellen advised.

  ✽✽✽

  "You don't have to fly back for the conference, Bella. It's going to be a bunch of work talk and standing around," Jake said.

  "No, I'm going. I'll meet you there and we'll go back to Chicago together. It'll be fun, plus there will be other rich people like us at the conference!" She squealed excitedly.

  You're not rich.

  "Mostly not," Jake disagreed. "A couple of good friends of the
family that you already know. It's a conference. Mostly worker bees."

  "I'm going. If I don't go, you'll drink beer and play pool all night," Bella said.

  Can't have that - sounds too much like fun, Jake thought.

  "I just want to be clear - this is a work thing. Full of people I work with. Where I will talk to work people about work stuff. I don't want you to feel left out, but I can't spend the entire conference sitting with you."

  "That's fine. You'll have to step away occasionally. I'll mingle with you. Plus, we can have some alone time together. My poor Jake has to be feeling neglected with me traveling so much."

  FUCK MY LIFE.

  Chapter 13 – November

  Matilda stood in the hotel entryway with a look of abject terror on her face. There were thousands of people and all their luggage packed into the lobby.

  What the everliving fuck?! I'm going to get trampled and die. There's no way this meets fire code.

  There was a large sign hanging from the ceiling. "Check-in at the desk that matches your invitation number."

  Invitation number?

  She started digging through her carryall for the invitation, but the man behind her was trying to push her forward.

  "Jesus, lady. Don't you know where you're going? If you're new, you're a one. That's your line."

  "There is literally nowhere to go. It's a wall of people. Why are you shoving me?" Matilda demanded.

  "For fuck's sake. It's a crowd. Move!"

  Matilda stepped toward the line labeled with a giant number one. As she looked around, she realized there were nine numbered lines, and the queue of people in each line was shorter as the numbers got higher.

  Maybe I could go get in line 9 and tell them I lost my invite?

  She dug through her bag to find her invite.

  "You're in the wrong line," the lady behind her said.

  "Where is the number? I don't see it," Matilda was thoroughly confused.

  "I'm not sure about yours. It's a platinum invite. You can go in any line, I think."

  Matilda gave the woman a look that clearly said, huh?