Page 36 of Only You

Detroit

Demir never knew why he woke up before sunrise. He just knew that no matter how little sleep he got during the night, he was always awake just as the sky turned red, signalling the start of a new day. It was also the only time he felt comfortable smoking.

He had grown up with his aunt, a woman with a warm heart but high standards.

She always hated the smell of cigarettes, forcing his uncle to smoke outside.

Demir had picked up the habit when he was fourteen but didn’t have much time for it between work, running around with his friends, and the fights he would get into.

So, he took to doing it in the morning, when the world was still asleep, just for something to do, and carried it to adulthood.

His apartment was nothing nice. It was a small, one room studio that held the kitchen, his bed, and there was a toilet down the hall, but it was good enough.

He didn’t need much, just a space to call his own.

The one good thing about it was the fire escape.

It was the only place he could just breathe and take in the day.

It was his favourite tradition.

Demir was cooking eggs on the stove when someone banged on his door. He never had company in the morning. Cautious, he stepped out of the kitchen and grabbed his bat on the way.

‘Who is it?’

‘D, it’s Jack.’

Demir rolled his eyes and unlocked the bolt. ‘It’s open,’ he yelled over his shoulder.

‘I need a favour,’ Jack said as he came in, eyes landing on the bat as he stepped into the kitchen. ‘Put the damn bat away! You’re not gonna hurt anybody.’

‘I might hurt you for disturbing my peace for a favour I probably won’t like.’

‘That’s why I need you to put the bat down ’cause I know you won’t.’ Demir narrowed his eyes at him. ‘What are you getting at?’

‘I swear I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have to. I know you and Selene aren’t close, but I need you to do this for me.’

This was truly an understatement. It had only been a couple of weeks but Selene and Demir had already had a routine of bickering before ignoring each other before going back at it. It was almost like her and Jack’s relationship but without the affection and twice the animosity.

Demir stared at Jack for a solid minute, unnerving the fidgeting man. ‘Double my money next fight.’

‘What? You don’t even know the favour yet! I don’t have that kind of cash lying around.’

‘Then promote so you can get it,’ he replied. ‘That girl is a pain in my ass, so if I have to deal with her, I want it to be worth it.’

‘Fine, okay. Fuck, I don’t have time to argue with you,’ Jack said quickly. ‘I’m already late. I need you to pick her up at two. She’s taking classes at Wayne State University. Ask anyone on campus, and they’ll tell you where it is.’

‘Wait, you’ve picked up Selene from Wayne State without any problem?’

‘In the beginning they gave us hell, but now no one bats an eye. They think she works for me,’ Jack told him as he dug around his pocket. He dropped his keys and a piece of paper on the kitchen counter. ‘She’s yours for the day. Call that number when you’ve picked her up. I gotta go. Thanks!’

Jack was out the door before Demir could say anything else.

He shook his head. ‘Damn it,’ he muttered, ignoring the keys in favour of his breakfast. Scarfing down his eggs with a scowl, Demir pushed the empty plate aside.

It was tempting to go back outside for another smoke, but he decided against it.

He had things to do today, especially now that his afternoon would be full.

He tapped his fingers on the table while staring at Jack’s keys.

Old man Eddie was always trying to pass him some work, something he could do until he picked up Selene, and the pay was decent. The man hardly cared when Demir showed up; he was just ecstatic he had an extra set of hands for his bar. With that thought, Demir got ready to leave.

He would never admit the small thrill he felt sitting in the driver’s seat of Jack’s car, watching the world around him moving faster than it normally did. That was a piece of happiness he would keep for himself.

There was only one feeling Selene had when she saw Demir waiting for her outside of her school, leaning on the hood of Jack’s car: horror.

She rushed down the school stairs over to him. ‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed. ‘Where the hell is Jack?’

‘He asked me to pick you up today. He’s got something to do.’

‘Do what?’ she demanded. What was so important that he wouldn’t tell her this morning before he left?

‘I don’t know. Didn’t care to say,’ Demir replied, dismissing her as he stood. Her hands balled into fists at the attitude. She couldn’t stand this man. ‘You gonna get in the car?’

She looked over her shoulder as more students walked their way and she could already imagine the rumours that would start if they saw her with Demir.

She could take the taunts of going ‘back to black’, but she didn’t need them connecting the dots to her side hustle.

Placing her hand on his arm, she pushed him towards the driver’s side. ‘You first.’

Demir looked at her hands on his arm, barely budging. She groaned. ‘Hurry up, will you?’

He grabbed her wrists and tossed them aside, unhurriedly getting in the car while she stared at him offended. Regaining her composure, she ducked inside, hiding her face from her gawking classmates and slumping down in her seat until they were far from the campus, barely holding back a grumble.

Class was going to be hell tomorrow. ‘Where does Jack usually drop you off?’

‘Oh, he didn’t bother telling you my whole schedule?’ she snipped. Brows furrowed, he pulled over and parked.

A nervous jolt went through Selene. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m not riding around in circles all afternoon because you have an attitude. I can find other things to do so…’ He reached across her and opened the door, leaning back in his seat as Selene gawked at him.

‘You can’t be serious,’ she said. ‘We barely got off the campus!’

‘Not my problem. You got two feet. Do what you used to do before Jack came along.’

She glared, staring him down but he didn’t budge. He didn’t have much patience for her on a regular day, much less when they were two feet apart. Granted, she didn’t have much for him either but, thanks to Jack, they were stuck together for the rest of the day.

Reluctantly, she closed the door.

‘Jack usually takes me to his place,’ she answered. ‘That or the garage. Lately, he’s been taking me to the gym.’

‘And your house?’

‘Not an option,’ she said, being careful not to be too snippy with him. He still might kick her out.

‘I’ll take you to the gym,’ he decided, turning the car back on.

Neither of them spoke the rest of the ride, nor did they utter a word as they entered the gym. Demir set his practice bag in his usual corner and got to work. Crossing her arms, she sat on the stool in the corner of the room and looked around, noticing an office in the corner.

‘I’ll be right back.’ Demir nodded as she walked to the office. She knocked on the open door and the manager looked up from his desk as she put on her sweetest smile, cocking her hip out just enough. As expected, his eyes trailed down her curves.

Like clockwork , she thought, clearing her throat to bring his attention back to her face. ‘Do you have a phone?’ she asked with a playful smirk.

‘Y–Yeah back here,’ he stuttered, pointing to the table behind him.

‘Thanks, sugar.’ Walking past him, she made sure to keep the smile as she dialled the garage. She did her best to ignore the stare as the phone rang. Finally, someone answered, ‘Hello?’

‘Is this Jack?’ Selene asked sweetly. ‘Yeah, who’s this?’

‘Your wife, sweetheart,’ she said, an edge appearing in her voice, and she felt the manager’s eyes finally leave her.

‘Oh, Sel! Hey, I’m super busy, but I’ll be there in a couple of hours – wait, where are you?’ he asked quickly.

‘The gym,’ she said. ‘But Jack—’

‘Cool. Just do some homework or something til I get there. Love you.’

The line went dead, and Selene gripped the receiver, the urge to scream on the tip of her tongue.

Don’t lose it , she told herself.

‘I love you, too,’ she said to no one, hanging up the receiver. The manager was staring down at his ledger. Selene rolled her eyes and left. She returned to her seat, pulling out a textbook from her bag.

‘You okay?’ Demir asked suddenly.

Selene swallowed before looking at him. ‘Fine,’ she answered nonchalantly as she opened the book.

‘Where’s Jack?’

‘He said he’ll be here in a few hours.’

‘That’s it?’

‘Yep,’ she said through gritted teeth. Pulling out a pencil and notebook, she started studying. A moment later, Demir went back to practising.

Eventually, she felt herself start to relax, the rhythmic sound of fists hitting the punching bag steadying her. It felt like they were in their own separate worlds as she focused on anatomy, getting lost in her notes. She didn’t look up again until she heard someone rushing down the stairs.

Jack was practically gasping as he approached them, the barest hint of a limp showing as his knee became agitated. Usually, this would stop Selene cold, but today she didn’t care. Before either man could even greet the other, she slammed her book closed and stood.

‘Where were you?’ she demanded.

Jack barely looked at her. ‘Don’t worry, Sel,’ he dismissed before stepping around her. ‘Nice form, D. Just be careful when you switch your feet. You looked off-centre.’

‘What’s off-centre is your head,’ she snapped, blocking his path and crossing her arms. Jack stared at her in shock before looking around. Luckily, most of the boxers had gone home or this would have been a spectacle. Not that she really cared. When wasn’t she putting on a show?

‘I don’t do well with being ignored, Jack,’ she said. ‘Where were you today? You always tell me if you’re not picking me up.’

‘I was taking care of some business,’ he told her. ‘Why are you upset? I got you a ride!’