’ I knew that Jen was right about that, but it also made me nervous. Was she backing off a bit, was she feeling that I was rushing things too much? ... could tell: I was about to start overthinking this. Friday evening came, and I was back in my apartment, trying to figure out what was going on in my world. I couldn’t really concentrate on studying, and I really did need to study. I figured that it was time to clean my apartment, because maybe, just maybe, Jennifer would want to come over. She said that she, too, would keep looking, but she was not hopeful; however, she would not give up, no matter how long it took.The other three women who had come to Santa Fe with her had also found similar employment. Diamond, Emerald, and Jade, the Chinese girl who had been only 13 at the time of her "rescue," were all doing well at other establishments around Santa Fe. They seemed to be happy enough, and met with Ruby often enough to remain friends. I did not consider myself really in their. “I’ve got to ask you, Dave,” Tommy began, attempting polite conversation, “you got someone staying with you? Or are you alone?”“Alone, unfortunately. My girlfriend’s parents showed up unexpectedly, an hour or so before we were going to leave.” Turning to address Charlene and motioning toward the opposite couch where Blake and Tommy were sitting, he asked, “So which one of these guys is your boyfriend?”“Neither,” Charlene replied. “Tommy and I grew up together. Blake is a good friend of Tommy –. .. was ... right.It was actually possible to move quite fast despite the heavy ankle cuffs and the short hobble chain. The trick, Alexa had realized was to lift her feet higher than normal with each step while keeping the chain taut between strides.It was a funny way to walk - almost like dancing or trotting like a little pony.But at least she had stopped tripping herself or stumbling against the guard who was tugging her along by her leash chain. Dressed in a clean, shiny red catsuit but whose.