Mercy hadn’t done her own laundry since her college days. She’d forgotten how much she’d hated it. If she had a washer and dryer in her apartment she likely would have enjoyed doing it, but having to lug everything to a communal area that felt anything but warm and welcoming,..Well, that had no appeal whatsoever.
She entered the door and flipped on the light switch. Half of the lights didn’t come on. She decided it felt a little safer being about half way in the room rather than being all the way at the back or just inside the door. In the middle she had options to fight or escape if something went wrong.
She started a washer for towels and whatnot, and a second one for casual wear. She preferred washing her delicates by hand because she didn’t trust that delicate on these machines was actually delicate. She had them strung around her apartment.
Mercy wasn’t going to leave her clothes. She was afraid she’d return and find everything gone. Instead, she sat down in one of the worn chairs and started going through her emails.
She entered the door and flipped on the light switch. Half of the lights didn’t come on. She decided it felt a little safer being about half way in the room rather than being all the way at the back or just inside the door. In the middle she had options to fight or escape if something went wrong.
She started a washer for towels and whatnot, and a second one for casual wear. She preferred washing her delicates by hand because she didn’t trust that delicate on these machines was actually delicate. She had them strung around her apartment.
Mercy wasn’t going to leave her clothes. She was afraid she’d return and find everything gone. Instead, she sat down in one of the worn chairs and started going through her emails.
It had been a shit day of non-stop agitation. In an attempt to clean off her newly acquired research vessel from some vandalism, she had managed to spill dirty water all over her clothes. She tried to tough it out but after scrubbing and scrubbing for over an hour and barely any of the spray paint came off, she gave up. She headed back to her condo and decided to change clothes. As she pulled open her dresser drawer, she realized she didn’t have many clean items left. She undressed and added her current clothes to the hamper and threw on the only thing she could find – a pair of cut off jean shorts and a tank top.
Basket in hand, she wandered down to the first floor and into the laundry room. She was startled when there was another person in there. Neriah started and then placed her hand over her heart and leaned forward over the basket that was resting against her stomach. “You scared the shit out of me.” She immediately started laughing nervously, letting her heart come out of her throat. “Sorry about that. I didn’t expect to see anyone.” Neriah made her way over to an unused washer and began separating her clothes.
With her clothes separated and the washer started, Neriah eyed the other female in the room. “What floor are you on?” She would wait to see if the woman answered her. “I am on two. I wanted one of three, but with the elevator broken, two seemed more reasonable.”
Basket in hand, she wandered down to the first floor and into the laundry room. She was startled when there was another person in there. Neriah started and then placed her hand over her heart and leaned forward over the basket that was resting against her stomach. “You scared the shit out of me.” She immediately started laughing nervously, letting her heart come out of her throat. “Sorry about that. I didn’t expect to see anyone.” Neriah made her way over to an unused washer and began separating her clothes.
With her clothes separated and the washer started, Neriah eyed the other female in the room. “What floor are you on?” She would wait to see if the woman answered her. “I am on two. I wanted one of three, but with the elevator broken, two seemed more reasonable.”
Mercy was just as startled by the other woman as the other woman was by her. She gasped and then laughed, ”I think it’s the environment. This has got to be the creepiest room I’ve ever been in.”
The other woman was absolutely gorgeous, and definitely friendly. As Mercy calmed back down from the initial fright, she found herself hoping the woman was going to stay in the room with her laundry.
Mercy watched the woman sort and start her laundry, ”I’m in 210. I have this weird thing about even numbers.” She had no clue why she told her about the even number thing, or why she was about to over share.
”I just moved in. Have you lived here long?” She paused for the other woman to answer before continuing, ”I’m starting completely over. I cut all ties except with my family and came some place where I didn’t know a soul. It’s hard, but exciting. I’ve never felt more alone, or more certain about a choice.”
Mercy knew she was talking too much, but she intended to talk and listen as long as the woman remained in the room, ”I’m Mercy, Mercy Morgan.”
The other woman was absolutely gorgeous, and definitely friendly. As Mercy calmed back down from the initial fright, she found herself hoping the woman was going to stay in the room with her laundry.
Mercy watched the woman sort and start her laundry, ”I’m in 210. I have this weird thing about even numbers.” She had no clue why she told her about the even number thing, or why she was about to over share.
”I just moved in. Have you lived here long?” She paused for the other woman to answer before continuing, ”I’m starting completely over. I cut all ties except with my family and came some place where I didn’t know a soul. It’s hard, but exciting. I’ve never felt more alone, or more certain about a choice.”
Mercy knew she was talking too much, but she intended to talk and listen as long as the woman remained in the room, ”I’m Mercy, Mercy Morgan.”
With her back to one of the washers she hopped up and sat on the closed lid facing the woman. Her face brightened when she learned they were on the same floor. “Another second-floor girl. I’m in 204.” She hadn’t planned on hanging out in the laundry room, but she really needed the company of someone who didn’t obsessively only talk about work.
Neriah thought for a moment about how long she had been here. “Maybe a month? I think?” She seemed to stare off for a moment, like she was counting or calculating. “Something like that.” Neriah pouted a little as Mercy shared that she had left everything and everyone she knew behind. She assumed something bad must have happened. She also knew it was bad form to get too nosy when first meeting with someone.
Neriah smiled sincerely, “You aren’t alone anymore. You made your first friend.” Neriah hopped off the washer and walked over to Mercy with her hand out in greeting. “Neriah, Neriah Blossom.” She rolled her eyes at her name, “It’s a ridiculous name, I know. But that is what I was blessed with.”
She wanted to share something about herself and what better than what she spent all her time doing. “I moved here on a grant from the university. I study the weather. The cooler title is Storm Chaser.” She grinned, knowing that anyone who had seen the movie Twister knew what I storm chaser was. “I am here to study hurricanes and, if I am lucky, water spouts.” She didn’t want to go into the science of it all, because no one really wanted to here about that. She had some bad ass pictures on her phone if Mercy ever wanted to see.
Neriah swung her legs, her heels hitting the hollow dryer and created a soft drumming boom. “It might be too soon since you just got here, but have you met any cute guys in the building?” There was no way for ladies to bond faster than talking about boys.
Neriah thought for a moment about how long she had been here. “Maybe a month? I think?” She seemed to stare off for a moment, like she was counting or calculating. “Something like that.” Neriah pouted a little as Mercy shared that she had left everything and everyone she knew behind. She assumed something bad must have happened. She also knew it was bad form to get too nosy when first meeting with someone.
Neriah smiled sincerely, “You aren’t alone anymore. You made your first friend.” Neriah hopped off the washer and walked over to Mercy with her hand out in greeting. “Neriah, Neriah Blossom.” She rolled her eyes at her name, “It’s a ridiculous name, I know. But that is what I was blessed with.”
She wanted to share something about herself and what better than what she spent all her time doing. “I moved here on a grant from the university. I study the weather. The cooler title is Storm Chaser.” She grinned, knowing that anyone who had seen the movie Twister knew what I storm chaser was. “I am here to study hurricanes and, if I am lucky, water spouts.” She didn’t want to go into the science of it all, because no one really wanted to here about that. She had some bad ass pictures on her phone if Mercy ever wanted to see.
Neriah swung her legs, her heels hitting the hollow dryer and created a soft drumming boom. “It might be too soon since you just got here, but have you met any cute guys in the building?” There was no way for ladies to bond faster than talking about boys.
Mercy immediately liked the woman. She seemed real which was so refreshing compared to all the people she’d mingled with in her old life. Everyone had been so concerned with presenting themselves as part of the elite. The dull pretense had no appeal to Mercy. There was never any chance of a true bond to form with those women, but Neriah was different. A friendship felt promising.
Mercy smiled, ”Ohhh, I love your name! It’s beautiful, as are you. Speaking of names, imagine the jokes I’ve gotten over and over again about mine.”. She crinkled her nose thinking about lame pickup lines she’d heard because of her name.
”A storm chaser? How exciting and dangerous! What did your parents say about you choosing to go that route?” Mercy knew not everyone was fortunate enough to have a close family. She’d never even gone through a rebellious stage with hers because they had been so supportive and trusting. They’d given her all the freedom she had wanted, which honestly wasn’t that much. Sure, she’d gone to parties and had a few boyfriends, but she’d never been wild. Well, until maybe now. She blushed as she recalled last night at the bonfire.
”I was a nurse practitioner, but I think I’ll probably have to change to something else. I don’t want my past to find me. Maybe just an X-ray tech or something.” She likely needed to illegally change her last name before she got started, but she thought that was way too much to share.
Mercy blushed, ”Guys? Ummm, maybe. I went to a bonfire last night with a guy. Cute doesn’t begin to describe him. Delicious is more fitting.” Her cheeks turned bright red. ”He had a couple of super cute friends. I think the bonfire is a regular thing they do. You should check it out. There were several girls there too, but I didn’t really talk to them. I spent the whole time with Jax. She thought about it for a minute before asking, ”You met any guys, or made any other friends? I open up easy, but I’m not usually one to initiate anything. I’m glad you spoke to me, or I’d be sitting here scrolling through my phone instead of getting to know my new friend.”
Mercy smiled, ”Ohhh, I love your name! It’s beautiful, as are you. Speaking of names, imagine the jokes I’ve gotten over and over again about mine.”. She crinkled her nose thinking about lame pickup lines she’d heard because of her name.
”A storm chaser? How exciting and dangerous! What did your parents say about you choosing to go that route?” Mercy knew not everyone was fortunate enough to have a close family. She’d never even gone through a rebellious stage with hers because they had been so supportive and trusting. They’d given her all the freedom she had wanted, which honestly wasn’t that much. Sure, she’d gone to parties and had a few boyfriends, but she’d never been wild. Well, until maybe now. She blushed as she recalled last night at the bonfire.
”I was a nurse practitioner, but I think I’ll probably have to change to something else. I don’t want my past to find me. Maybe just an X-ray tech or something.” She likely needed to illegally change her last name before she got started, but she thought that was way too much to share.
Mercy blushed, ”Guys? Ummm, maybe. I went to a bonfire last night with a guy. Cute doesn’t begin to describe him. Delicious is more fitting.” Her cheeks turned bright red. ”He had a couple of super cute friends. I think the bonfire is a regular thing they do. You should check it out. There were several girls there too, but I didn’t really talk to them. I spent the whole time with Jax. She thought about it for a minute before asking, ”You met any guys, or made any other friends? I open up easy, but I’m not usually one to initiate anything. I’m glad you spoke to me, or I’d be sitting here scrolling through my phone instead of getting to know my new friend.”
Neriah giggled, “I take it the boys approached you with the ‘Have Mercy’ line from Full House?” She tried to do a lame impression of Uncle Jessie. Neriah, still smiling, looked at Mercy and said softly, “You are way too hot for that lame ass shit.” Mercy was stunning and Neriah would have to be very careful to keep this friendly and not start hitting on her.
“My parents?” She had never had parents. Think. Think. Think. He put a sweet smile on her face and said, “I got a PhD in meteorology so they leave me alone about what I do with my degree.” She lifted one of her legs in a kind of playful pose. “They get to say there is a doctor in the family and I get to follow my free spirit.” She giggled a little harder, “Though I did get a little backlash when I was the bikini wearing weather girl for a while.”
Neriah heard that Mercy might be thinking about changing careers and had some insight on that. “How about you keep practicing as a nurse practitioner but you just don’t do it in a hospital anymore.” Neriah leaned forward towards Mercy. “I have tons of grant money. Come hang out with the storm chasers. We are always getting hurt and it would be great to have someone one site who can sew us up.” Neriah’s expression turned a little daring, “You want to feel an adrenaline rush so intense it will make you wet?”
When the conversation switched to guys Neriah was hanging on Mercy’s every word. “Ooo, a bonfire sounds amazing, and we love delicious boys. You will need to take me next time and introduce me to these cute friends.” When it was Neriah’s turn she said, “I have only gotten to meet the asshole of a police chief. I know him from way back and we have never gotten along.” Neriah then remembered a pleasure interaction she had, though it was brief. “I did meet a really hot woman in the bar down the street. There was potential there, but I am not sure how much. I have her business card but she works with the asshole.” Neriah shrugged.
“My parents?” She had never had parents. Think. Think. Think. He put a sweet smile on her face and said, “I got a PhD in meteorology so they leave me alone about what I do with my degree.” She lifted one of her legs in a kind of playful pose. “They get to say there is a doctor in the family and I get to follow my free spirit.” She giggled a little harder, “Though I did get a little backlash when I was the bikini wearing weather girl for a while.”
Neriah heard that Mercy might be thinking about changing careers and had some insight on that. “How about you keep practicing as a nurse practitioner but you just don’t do it in a hospital anymore.” Neriah leaned forward towards Mercy. “I have tons of grant money. Come hang out with the storm chasers. We are always getting hurt and it would be great to have someone one site who can sew us up.” Neriah’s expression turned a little daring, “You want to feel an adrenaline rush so intense it will make you wet?”
When the conversation switched to guys Neriah was hanging on Mercy’s every word. “Ooo, a bonfire sounds amazing, and we love delicious boys. You will need to take me next time and introduce me to these cute friends.” When it was Neriah’s turn she said, “I have only gotten to meet the asshole of a police chief. I know him from way back and we have never gotten along.” Neriah then remembered a pleasure interaction she had, though it was brief. “I did meet a really hot woman in the bar down the street. There was potential there, but I am not sure how much. I have her business card but she works with the asshole.” Neriah shrugged.
Mercy laughed at the impression, and rolled her eyes, ”And they thought they were so clever and original. At least they tried. Maybe if I had taken one of them up I wouldn’t be in this crappy laundry room right now.” She held up a finger, ”But then I wouldn’t have met you, or met him.” She looked up at the ceiling indicating the guy in 207, ”So…So, maybe it worked out for the best.”
Mercy raised her brows, ”I suppose if you’ve got it, flaunt it. And you have definitely got it, girl!. She wolf whistled and paused a moment, ”I was usually a bit conservative. But, after my behavior last night, the new me may prove to be more of a hand full. I honestly don’t know myself. When you have someone controlling your every word and action for so long you get buried along the way.”
Mercy’s eyes grew big, ”Are you serious? You are offering me a job? A crazy, dangerous job? I’m definitely interested.” Did that job offer really just fall into her lap? Was she really going to run around with storm chasers? Hell yes it did, and hell yes she was! Here such a short time, but everything seemed to be falling into place.
Mercy nudged her new friend before she began peppering her with questions, ”Have you called her? Obviously not! Why haven’t you pursued it? So, you’re bi? You like cute guys and hot women? I’ve always been straight, but I also find the female form beautiful. I see the appeal. You have much more to pick from than I do.”
Mercy raised her brows, ”I suppose if you’ve got it, flaunt it. And you have definitely got it, girl!. She wolf whistled and paused a moment, ”I was usually a bit conservative. But, after my behavior last night, the new me may prove to be more of a hand full. I honestly don’t know myself. When you have someone controlling your every word and action for so long you get buried along the way.”
Mercy’s eyes grew big, ”Are you serious? You are offering me a job? A crazy, dangerous job? I’m definitely interested.” Did that job offer really just fall into her lap? Was she really going to run around with storm chasers? Hell yes it did, and hell yes she was! Here such a short time, but everything seemed to be falling into place.
Mercy nudged her new friend before she began peppering her with questions, ”Have you called her? Obviously not! Why haven’t you pursued it? So, you’re bi? You like cute guys and hot women? I’ve always been straight, but I also find the female form beautiful. I see the appeal. You have much more to pick from than I do.”
Neriah gave her a sideways look when Mercy mentioned being controlled. “No friend of mine is going to be the victim of some controlling prick.” She said that in a matter-of-fact way. “We will have to find the balance you are comfortable with between easy going and Stepford Wife.” Neriah offered a genuine smile, “You got a wing woman now. I’ll have your back and help you navigate.”
The excitement on Mercy’s face when Neriah mentioned joining the storm chasers was an answer enough. “Oh, I’m serious. Having someone with medic-style training is exactly what adrenaline junkies need. Plus, you’re a hotty and will look great when the university comes to take picture of us for the board. Two sexy ladies in booty shorts and bikini tops. It makes the geezers drool and they throw more funding at us.” Neriah grinned a devilishly innocent look at Mercy. “And we will have to attend a few galas here and there as fundraisers to the university.” She rolled her eyes a little. “Show up looking supermodel good. Let the old men ogle us and then we get to use really big words that they don’t understand to establish ourselves as being way out of their league.” She hoped this was all appealing to Mercy.
Back to the love interest. Neriah shrugged a little. “I was having a really bad day. Some kids vandalized our research boat. They spray painted dicks all over it, you’ll get to see. The police chief won’t do shit about it. So, I went to the bar with the intention of getting laid. She was there, sexy, and available. I guess I am just an opportunist?” Neriah shrugged but got a little dreamy look on her face. “I guess I should call her, huh? See if there is anything there?”
The excitement on Mercy’s face when Neriah mentioned joining the storm chasers was an answer enough. “Oh, I’m serious. Having someone with medic-style training is exactly what adrenaline junkies need. Plus, you’re a hotty and will look great when the university comes to take picture of us for the board. Two sexy ladies in booty shorts and bikini tops. It makes the geezers drool and they throw more funding at us.” Neriah grinned a devilishly innocent look at Mercy. “And we will have to attend a few galas here and there as fundraisers to the university.” She rolled her eyes a little. “Show up looking supermodel good. Let the old men ogle us and then we get to use really big words that they don’t understand to establish ourselves as being way out of their league.” She hoped this was all appealing to Mercy.
Back to the love interest. Neriah shrugged a little. “I was having a really bad day. Some kids vandalized our research boat. They spray painted dicks all over it, you’ll get to see. The police chief won’t do shit about it. So, I went to the bar with the intention of getting laid. She was there, sexy, and available. I guess I am just an opportunist?” Neriah shrugged but got a little dreamy look on her face. “I guess I should call her, huh? See if there is anything there?”
Booty shorts and a bikini top? Before moving here…Well, she’d been expected to always look like a trophy wife. Showing off her body was part of that, but it usually meant strands of pearls and tight fitting designer clothes. As for galas, she had that in the bag.”I’m in, but you might have to help me shop for the booty shorts.”
Mercy knew it wasn’t funny to Neriah, but she couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of dicks being painted all over the boat. ”Was the artwork realistic or childlike? I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, but at the same time it kind of is. Kids, or someone sending a message to one of your team members?”
She sighed wistfully, ”At the moment, I’ve only got one of those on my mind.. She glanced up at the ceiling again.
She looked seriously at Neriah, ”You absolutely should call her if she caught your attention. Life shouldn’t be just work, no matter how exciting your job may be. If you felt there could be something, go for it! The worst that can happen is she says she’s not interested. If she isn’t interested, then you move on to find something else to get into.” Who the hell was she to give advice?
Mercy knew it wasn’t funny to Neriah, but she couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of dicks being painted all over the boat. ”Was the artwork realistic or childlike? I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, but at the same time it kind of is. Kids, or someone sending a message to one of your team members?”
She sighed wistfully, ”At the moment, I’ve only got one of those on my mind.. She glanced up at the ceiling again.
She looked seriously at Neriah, ”You absolutely should call her if she caught your attention. Life shouldn’t be just work, no matter how exciting your job may be. If you felt there could be something, go for it! The worst that can happen is she says she’s not interested. If she isn’t interested, then you move on to find something else to get into.” Who the hell was she to give advice?
Neriah moved to sit the chair next to Mercy, hoping the closeness was comfortable as they were being fast friends. “I will never say no to shopping.” She said this with a seriousness that made it seem like shop was a religious rite for her. “In no time you will be known around the university meteorology labs as the ‘sexy medic’. Get ready for the undergrads to start drooling.” Neriah found teasing people with her body and mind a game. A game she was skilled at.
Neriah grabbed her phone and pulled up the pics of the boat with the graffiti all over it. “Just look at that!” The first dozen or so pictures were of the wrecked boat – beer and liquor bottles littered over every surface. Close up pictures show where people had used the deck and their personal toilet as pieces of shit and obvious urine spots were in several locations on the desk. And the dicks spray painted all over the white exterior of the boat. If Mercy scrolled one too many over, she might catch a glimpse of Neriah taking a sexy selfie in her underwear. “I don’t see how anyone could have pissed someone off that bad that it would warrant this kind of message.” Neriah sighed when her phone was given back. “All I know is that it is going to suck cleaning all that up.”
Neriah didn’t want to be in a bad mood until she was elbow deep in the aftermath of someone else’s leftover party. So, when she saw Mercy start to think about him, Neriah pounced. “Okay, dish. I didn’t get laid last night, and I need something to make my heart race. What’s his body like?”
Neriah grabbed her phone and pulled up the pics of the boat with the graffiti all over it. “Just look at that!” The first dozen or so pictures were of the wrecked boat – beer and liquor bottles littered over every surface. Close up pictures show where people had used the deck and their personal toilet as pieces of shit and obvious urine spots were in several locations on the desk. And the dicks spray painted all over the white exterior of the boat. If Mercy scrolled one too many over, she might catch a glimpse of Neriah taking a sexy selfie in her underwear. “I don’t see how anyone could have pissed someone off that bad that it would warrant this kind of message.” Neriah sighed when her phone was given back. “All I know is that it is going to suck cleaning all that up.”
Neriah didn’t want to be in a bad mood until she was elbow deep in the aftermath of someone else’s leftover party. So, when she saw Mercy start to think about him, Neriah pounced. “Okay, dish. I didn’t get laid last night, and I need something to make my heart race. What’s his body like?”
Mercy looked at the pics, ”Oh, wow! Who is cleaning it up? I don’t mind trying to help. I’ve never painted a boat before, but I’m pretty good with a brush. Mercy did indeed scroll over to the sexy selfie, “Girlfriend! Who was the lucky recipient of this? I wish I looked like that. My ex wanted me to get boob job. I sort of regret never getting it done. Mine aren’t bad, but they’re definitely on the smaller side.”
When Neriah asked about Jax’s body, Mercy sighed, ”Oh, you know. Absolutely perfect. Sexy V below his six pack abs. Very chiseled upper body. Tight, firm ass. Dreamy back. He is covered in ink.
She sat back thinking about the night before, ”It wasn’t just how he looked, but how he moved. He’s obviously been around, but he treated me tenderly. His words, his hands, his mouth…Don’t get me wrong. He was very passionate, but it was more like being made love to than just a fuck. I’d be a fool to expect anything to come from it, but I’m definitely crushing on him.”
When Neriah asked about Jax’s body, Mercy sighed, ”Oh, you know. Absolutely perfect. Sexy V below his six pack abs. Very chiseled upper body. Tight, firm ass. Dreamy back. He is covered in ink.
She sat back thinking about the night before, ”It wasn’t just how he looked, but how he moved. He’s obviously been around, but he treated me tenderly. His words, his hands, his mouth…Don’t get me wrong. He was very passionate, but it was more like being made love to than just a fuck. I’d be a fool to expect anything to come from it, but I’m definitely crushing on him.”
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