Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“You fuckin’ them both?”
I shoot him a glare. “Not a fuckin’ dick, man.”
He grins at me. “Know that. What’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I want them both. And they’re good women. And fucked if I need to be getting involved with one, let alone two girls. I told them both I’m goin’ to stay away.”
“But you can’t.”
I grind my teeth. “Well, I fuckin’ can, but it’s provin’ to be fuckin’ hard. Never thought I’d find myself in this position. Two women, both of them sparkin’ somethin’ inside of me, somethin’ I need more than fuckin’ air.”
“And you can’t decide which breath you need more.”
I roll my eyes. “That was fuckin’ poetic, man.”
He smirks. “Just tryin’ out somethin’ different.”
I snort.
“Ever think spendin’ more time with both, will help you decide which one you need more.”
“All that’ll do, brother, is break someone’s heart.”
Malakai nods. “Well then, I’ve got nothing for you.”
“You and me both,” I mutter.
“Callin’ Church in ten, you comin’?”
“I don’t get a choice, remember?”
He grins and slaps my shoulder. “Got your back, always. Never forget that.”
That felt good.
Fucking good, for that matter.
~*~*~*~
BOSTON
“How’s Chantelle?” I ask Saskia, inhaling my cigarette.
I’m sittin’ on the back porch at Mason’s house, drinking and smoking, washing the fucking shitty week away. Saskia just waltzed out, looking sassy and fucking fine, as always. The words came out of my mouth before I could even stop them, and judging by the sarcastic look she’s giving me right about now, she doesn’t appreciate my asking.
“How do you think?” she mutters, walking over and flopping down onto Mason’s lap.
“Not tryin’ to be a dick here, Saskia. Just askin’ how she is.”
“She’s great, because Chantelle is a damned warrior and it takes a lot more than a man to bring her down.”
Mason squeezes Saskia’s knee. “Easy, babe.”
“I’m just saying,” she points out, innocently. “Chantelle, she’s worth it. She’s worth her weight in gold. Any man in her life should see that. She doesn’t deserve to be put second, not ever.”
“Not puttin’ her second,” I grunt. “Not puttin’ either of them anywhere.”
“No, you’re not, which I appreciate as I’m sure they do. But, you have to know, it should never be a choice when it comes to the person you’re with. The fact that it is says neither one of them means enough to you.”
Fuck her.
“Sure you’ve found yourself in a conflictin’ situation before, where your feelings didn’t make sense.”
Low blow.
But fuck her, she deserves it. She can throw them out, so can I.
Mason growls. “Enough, man, that’s enough.”
“She wants to throw it out, bro, she can take it back. She, out of everyone, should understand how the fuck it feels to be in a situation you don’t wanna be in, feelin’ things you don’t wanna be feelin’. At least, at the very fuckin’ least, I had the decency to tell both the girls how I was feelin’. Never led them along.”
Saskia stares at me, and Mason goes to open his mouth to argue, but she cuts him off. “No, you’re right. You are right. You have been honest with them. I’m just protective of my best friend, as I’m sure you can understand.”
I nod, holding her eyes. “Never intentionally hurt her, I’m not that man.”
She nods, smiling at me. “No, I know you’re not. Sorry, I’ve just had a long day.”
“You and me both,” I mutter.
“And Boston?”
I look at her.
“She is good. She’s strong. She’s going to be just fine.”
Not sure that makes me feel better, or fucking worse. Can’t get the girl off my mind, can’t figure out what in the hell I’m doing right now. All I know is that I can’t seem to escape the fucking mess I’ve gotten myself into.
Saskia’s phone rings, and she glances down. “Speak of the devil. I’m going to take this.”
She gets up and walks off.
And my mind walks off with her. Wondering what Chantelle is doing, and if she’s okay.
Fuck, I’m whipped.
By two women.
Not classy at fucking all.
~11~
NOW – CHANTELLE
“Chantelle!”
I look over, key about to hit the front lock, and see my neighbor Roy waving and rushing over. He’s only about twenty, maybe twenty-one, but he’s a great neighbor. He’s always quiet. Definitely not the partying type. More the geeky type. Which makes it an absolute pleasure to live next door to him.
“Hey! Roy,” I smile, turning to face him. “What’s up?”
He stops in front of me, dark hair falling over his forehead. He takes a breath, then another, before looking to me through those thick, dark framed glasses. “I don’t know if it’s a thing, or not, but there were two men at your front door today. They were playing with the lock, leaning down, peering through your front window. It seemed ... strange. Like really out of place. They might have been friends of yours, but I didn’t get that vibe. I thought you should know.”