Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Unfortunately, when the world looks down on you for your starting point, you’re burdened with building from it, and it creates a sort of hardness. A toughness that can’t be penetrated and a slick, cunning tongue to go with it.
Slowly, Crew’s gaze lifts, pinning my own in place, and I know I’m the punch line before it’s delivered.
Crew makes a show of smirking, his head cocked to the side, palms flat on the countertop in front of him as he serves Jess a slab of go fuck yourself. “Sharing a lot more than the rent, ain’t that right, baby?”
Just like that, my skin is on fire. It must be. I’m burning from head to toe, utterly embarrassed, yet surprisingly, not pissed off. He wants or needs a sense of self-worth? I’ll give it to him if I can. If my words or actions can offer him any sort of self-reprieve, I’m here for it.
All I’ve ever wanted was to be needed by the man masking his shame in a crude comment.
“But sharing is fucking caring, right?” he quickly adds, slipping past me with his discarded shirt in one hand, keys in the other. “Gotta get to work. Enjoy your dinner date.”
Dinner date?
Sharing is caring?
What?!
The door slams with his exit, and when I finally bring myself to look at Jess, I find a broad grin across his face.
He pats the space beside him and says, “Let’s eat.”
I’m not sure why, but a quick, stuttered laugh escapes me, and before I can stop myself, I’m shaking my head. “Yeah, I… no.”
I spin on my bare feet and run out the door, but by the time I get to the carport, Crew’s already gone.
And he doesn’t come home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Crew
“Sharing is caring. Sharing is fucking caring?” Willie sits forward, beer bottle ready to slip from his fingertips. “Are you fucked? How you gonna say that and leave? What if she does share? What if he makes a move?”
“I think we should go there.” Julius crosses his arms.
“We should definitely go there.” X glares.
“Fuck no, we ain’t going there.” Willie shakes his head. “We’ll send Layla!”
The boys nod eagerly, but it’s Layla’s mocking laughter that calls our attention.
“Honey bunnies, you ain’t going nowhere. Crew claimed her, and then he passed her on.” She looks away from her TV drama to meet my gaze with a glare. “You get to boil in the pot of shit you stirred.”
Willie groans. “I can’t believe you walked out of that bitch with him still inside.”
Julius sits forward. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“She won’t touch him!” Layla swears.
Willie scoffs, and then he scoffs again. “You sure? From what I hear, heard and saw, little Davis discovered she’s a fucking—”
“Watch it.”
Willie grins but frowns a second later. “Why do we think she won’t touch him? She’s a girl and Crew’s an asshole.”
“An asshole she likes.” Julius jabs me in the ribs, and I shove his ass off the couch. “What? Am I lyin’?”
I don’t fucking know, is he?
She wants me, yes.
Cares about me, sure.
But does she like me?
The girl loves me, I know this, but she’s loved me since always. She loves me like she loves Memphis, only less. He was first in her eyes, and I was second. It wasn’t a bad place to be when it came to her, but her top spot could never be mine. I know this.
I’ve known this, and eventually, I won’t even be in the top five.
Shit sucks, but that’s what’s real.
“You guys, this is Crew we’re talking about.” Layla hauls herself up, narrowing her eyes. “There is no way you left them there together alone.”
Licking my lips, I sit back, picking at the label on my unopened bottle. “I might have moved my car and waited for the prick to go.”
“And how long did that take?”
I look around the group. “She followed me out, sent him on his way a beat later.”
“Wait. Wait, wait, wait…” Willie jumps to his feet. “We’re having a fucking pity party when we should be painting pastries?”
“Bro, what?” Julius frowns at his brother.
“That’s what she does when I serve her double!” He points toward his wife… who officially exits the conversation.
“Okay, back up a minute.” X scoots forward. “So, you got pissed, and instead of tossing her over your shoulder and carrying her out like you wanted to, and should have, you left… but then you parked where she couldn’t see and watched until you saw Jess, the guy, leave?”
I nod.
“And he left right after?”
I nod again.
“Pfft.” He jumps to his feet. “Man, you’re dumb. She followed you. Bet she’d take your call right now if you tried getting a hold of her.” Anger slips into his tone and he pouts his way to the fridge for another drink.
“Someone not answering your calls, brother?” Julius teases.
X flips him off, and we all know he’s right. His best friend’s baby sister won’t acknowledge him… after he fucked up and fucked her at her birthday party.