Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“No, never again.”
“If you say so.” Lucas laughs. “I see the way you watch her. What do we call her, then? Ex-wife, side piece, your whore?”
“Lucas, would you like Joey to call Chanel a whore?”
“I’d kill him. Only I’m allowed to say that to her, and usually, it’s when she is begging for my cock.”
“You both should leave.” I point to the door before I lose my shit.
“Sailor asked me to remind you about her girls’ night in. Can you tell Adora?”
“Does Sailor not have her number?”
He shrugs. “She does, but she wants you to remind her.”
I groan. “She can text her.”
“If you say so.”
“So, the kid?” Keir asks.
“What about him?”
“He is going to be an issue with Scott.”
“Scott has made no contact. Do you think he would be stupid enough to?” I ask.
“Yes. Yes, I do. He is the type of man who’s fixated on things, and he wants her. And in return, he takes the son. So he has her by the balls, as they say.”
He’s right.
I know he is.
Seeing her be a mother is different. Nice.
She’s softer with him.
Whereas with me, she was always hard. Uncompromising.
Not always now, but I never saw any softness in the beginning.
It took a while, and I understand why.
When someone tries to take everything from you, you never want to give any of yourself.
I almost gave her everything, which in turn has put up all my walls.
I’m happy to just fuck.
As long as she leaves when we’re done.
Another relationship is not what I need right now.
TWENTY-ONE
ADORA
Somehow, I managed to avoid him all week. Instead, I’ve been busy looking for apartments close to the new shop, which is coming along nicely with the help of Merci. She did some setting up while I was sick, which I appreciate.
It’s Friday night. Jerome is in bed, Bianca has gone for a shower, and I’m sitting here wondering what I should do.
“I’m going to head to bed,” Bianca says, walking out of the bathroom.
“I might take a walk. Is it okay if I leave Jerome here with you?”
She waves me off. “Of course. He’s an angel, and once that kid is asleep, he doesn’t wake up.” She’s right. He’s a heavy sleeper, that’s for sure.
Grabbing my jacket, I call a cab. I don’t intend to walk to my destination. And I know where I’m going. As soon as the cab arrives, I think about sending Joey a message.
He’s been quiet.
Then again, so have I.
I put my phone away, not knowing what to say to him.
“Thanks for the sex and for looking after me. Let’s do it again sometime.”
But after.
How he asked me to leave.
That stung more than I’m willing to admit.
A lot more.
The cab stops in front of the dark alley. I’ve been here before, and these places don’t bother me.
When I push the door open to the club, the lady behind the desk smiles at me. “Color?” she asks.
“Red.” She scrunches up her nose at my choice but says nothing. I’m not here to fuck or watch anyone getting fucked. I’m here to see Jake. “Is Jake in tonight?” I ask.
“Oh, honey, you’re dreaming. That man doesn’t see anyone.”
“I’m not looking to fuck him. I need to talk to him.”
She steps back after she’s attached my wristband.
“Can you at least tell him Adora is here? I’ll wait at the bar.”
“He won’t come,” she replies before returning to her stand and opening her phone. Sighing, I head down the stairs, noticing how packed the place is tonight. I try not to look around, but how can you help yourself? The surroundings are hard to ignore.
Everyone is wearing colored wristbands, each indicating their willingness to participate. Some want it more than others. Some are here for their partners. Some just to watch. Walking to the bar, I sit as the bartender approaches.
“What can I get you?”
“Water.” He raises a brow but pours it anyway.
“Anything else?” he asks. I shake my head as the stool next to me is pulled out, and Jake takes a seat. Just like I knew he would.
“You here for Joey?”
“Umm… no. Is he here?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
He glances away, and I follow the direction of his eyes where Joey’s at the other end of the bar, a woman talking to him and leaning in way too close for my comfort. He hasn’t noticed me since his back is to me, but he’s easy for me to spot by the mess of curls on his head and the way he sits. Like he knows what he wants, and no one will change his mind.
“No, I came to see you. And didn’t know how else to get hold of you,” I tell him.
“Okay.” His fingers tap on the bar. “What is it you need?”
“I need to know if you’ve heard anything. I know you have ears there.”