Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Thea, I’ll be over by the stage if you want to join. Suddenly, the company here sucks,” she huffs, all but stomping away.
“Does Raze know you’re with Lili tonight?”
“Yes. He wasn’t too happy, but the two of us were friends back in the day. I won’t let Raze tell me who I can and can’t have in my life.”
He gives me a look like he’s disappointed in me and that serves to piss me off. “Stop glaring at me. I can have friends with one of my boyfriend’s exes. It’s allowed.”
“I’m surprised you’d want to after the shit she pulled.”
“What did she pull exactly? If she wants to date two guys at the same time, I don’t see a problem with it as long as she’s not in a committed relationship.”
“Did Raze tell you what happened between them?”
“He said Lili was using him to make another man jealous.”
“Rebel.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t in a committed relationship. I don’t get the big deal. Honestly, it sounds like some fake high school drama.”
“There’s more to the story. You should talk to Raze.”
I frown. “Why can’t you just tell me?”
“If he’s your man, he should tell you.”
I sigh. “I’m not sure I’d call him my man. I mean, we’re dating. I like him a lot. I’m not really ready for more. I just…”
“Just what?”
“No offense, Dom, but we’re not even sure we like each other,” I laugh. “I don’t think I’m ready to bare my soul to you.”
“I like you and you like me, even if I don’t deserve it.”
I fake gasp, bringing my hand up to my heart. “Are you suggesting that you and I become friends, Dominic West?”
“I’m not just suggesting it. We’re going to be,” he declares. I cock my eyebrow up, looking at him as if to challenge what he just said. “Tomorrow, I’ll pick you up at noon, Thea.”
“Um…What if I have plans?”
“Cancel them. I’ve been an idiot for a lot of years—”
“You can say that again,” I inject, my voice full of sarcasm.
“I have a lot to make up for. I’m asking you to let me. Will you let me try to prove I’m worth the effort, Thea?”
“I think I’d be foolish to open myself up to that, Dom. We…” I trail off, trying to find the words to explain how I feel.
“I promise that no matter who I date in the future, I won’t allow them to come between us.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I know I haven’t earned it, but I’m asking you to trust me. I want us to be friends, Thea. I want us to be family.”
“Do you realize that even our conversations are bordering on bi-polar?”
He laughs. “Will you go out with me tomorrow?”
“Fine,” I mutter. “I should warn you that if you annoy me, I’m going to use my cane to ruin all chances of you ever procreating little Dom’s to infest the world.”
“Infest?” he laughs, and I shrug.
I spend the rest of the evening laughing and talking with Dom. It was relaxing and fun. Lili never did come back, and I found I didn’t miss her. She’s not the same person I remember, or maybe the truth is we’re just too different now that we’re older. It doesn’t matter I had a great evening. It ended with Dom walking me out to my car and saying goodbye.
When I finally get home and crawl into my bed, I find myself looking forward to tomorrow.
I also ignore the small voice in my head that tells me I’m being stupid.
Chapter 13
Dom
“Oh no,” Thea says, shaking her head back and forth in denial.
“What? Raze hasn’t had you on the back of his bike?”
“Not yet, no. We both know putting a woman on the back of your bike means something. Neither one of us is ready for that.”
“Hate to break it to you, but having sex means something.”
“If that’s the case, you’ve had thousands of relationships,” Thea huffs. How did I not notice she was so full of snark? It probably shouldn’t be a turn on, but it is.
“Very funny. I meant the fact that Raze hasn’t touched anyone but you, means something.”
“Whatever, I’m not riding on your bike.”
“You are. We’re family. I’m not declaring to everyone that you’re my old lady. Quit being weird and hop on, will ya?”
Thea mutters under her breath but puts her hand on my shoulder and slides on the back of my bike. Once she’s settled, I start it back up and head out. It’s the perfect day for a ride. The sun is bright and the warmth of it sinks into my bones. Thea’s arms are holding onto me, her fingers pressing into my stomach. It has been a long time since I had a woman behind me. I shouldn’t be thinking about Thea as a woman. She’s family. Hell, Mom and Dad view her as their own daughter. Still, Breaker put thoughts in my head that shouldn’t be there—especially after the dreams I’ve had of Thea. I can’t seem to stop them. I even felt guilt when I spoke with Raze last night. He didn’t mind a bit that me and Thea were going out today. He even said he thought it was good that I was trying to mend fences with her. Apparently, Thea had told him how she and Gabby hated one another. I tried not to feel guilty when I spoke with him, but it wasn’t easy. I’m pretty sure if the fucker knew I was having sex dreams about Thea, he’d have tried to kill me, not encourage me to spend time with her.