Theo stared at her for a few seconds before he put his hands in his pockets and looked away.

  Was I the only one who caught that exchange?

  “Well, I should pack my things.” Dee stepped away. “It was nice meeting you all.”

  “You too,” Conrad said. “I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”

  Dee smiled then left.

  Theo didn’t look at her again.

  “So…what should we do to celebrate?” I asked. “I’m thinking greasy burgers and fries.”

  “My husband is such a wise man,” Trinity said as she stared at me like I was her hero.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” Conrad said. “But I’ll have to get it protein style. You know, I don’t look this good from eating shit all the time.”

  Theo had a dazed look on his face, like he was thinking of something in a far away place.

  Conrad nudged him in the side. “So…Dee was cute.”

  Theo shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

  Conrad’s smiled widened. “You guess? Dude, every guy in that audience stared at her like eye candy—including you.”

  “So?” Theo asked. “What’s your point?”

  “Is she seeing anyone?” Conrad asked me.

  “Nope.” I winked at Theo. “She’s on the market.”

  Theo rolled his eyes. “Knock it off.”

  “What?” Conrad asked innocently. “We know you’re into her.”

  “You try to hook me up with every girl that crosses my path,” Theo argued. “Like that is going to solve anything.”

  “It doesn’t hurt,” Conrad said. “And she seems really cool.”

  “I can get my own dates,” Theo said coldly. “But thanks.”

  Conrad rolled his eyes. “Theo can be a baby sometimes…”

  “I’m not a baby,” Theo argued. “If I wanted to get her number I would have asked for it. But I don’t.”

  “Why the hell not?” I asked. “She’s a musician, she’s cute, and she’s really cool. Seriously, she’s like one of the guys.”

  “We all know she’s way out of my league,” Theo said. “I’m not going to waste my time.”

  “Out of your league?” Conrad asked incredulously. “What makes you think that?”

  “Have you seen her?” Theo asked. “She’s perfect. And I’m—”

  “Really good-looking,” Trinity finished.

  I turned my gaze on her and narrowed my eyes.

  “But not nearly as good-looking as you,” she said in a bored voice.

  “Just wanted to make sure that was clear.” I pulled her closer into my side so she wouldn’t even think about going near Theo.

  “Just ask her out,” Conrad said. “If she says no, whatever. Move on.”

  “I don’t even know her,” Theo said. “I’d rather not.”

  Conrad sighed. “Dude, get back in the game.”

  “I am back in the game,” Theo said. “I just got laid this weekend. And I told you how miserable I felt. You think getting Dee in the sack is going to end up differently? It’s not. When I’m ready, I’ll know it.” He turned away from our group and walked out. “Congrats, Slade.”

  We all stared at each other when he was gone.

  “Man, she really messed him up,” Trinity said. “I feel bad for him.”

  “He’ll get over it,” Conrad said. “It’s something only time can fix.”

  When Trinity left me, I was a wreck. In my heart, I knew it didn’t matter how much time had passed. It’s something I would never get over, something I could never recover from.

  And I sincerely hoped that wasn’t the case for Theo.

  ***

  “How’d the show go?” Skye asked when we walked inside.

  “Great.” I pulled Trinity to the stairs. “Bye.” I was in the mood for some good lovin’ and I didn’t feel like talking to Skye.

  “Uh…okay.” Skye didn’t get up from her spot on the couch.

  Trinity laughed as I dragged her up the stairs. “You’re really enthusiastic.”

  “Yep.” I got into our bedroom then shut the door. Once we had some privacy, I threw myself at her and devoured her like a meal. My hands yanked at her clothes and pulled them away. Perhaps it was just my ego, but seeing her cheer for me in the front row really got my motor running.

  Trinity allowed me to kiss her everywhere as she removed my clothes. Quiet breaths escaped her lips as I sucked every inch of her skin. When my mouth found her nipple, she released a restrained moan.

  I trailed kisses up to her ear. “I want to fuck you in the ass.”

  “Since you’re a rock star you think you can just do whatever you want?”

  “Yes.” I moved her to her knees then fisted her hair and pulled it back from her face. I loved seeing her on her knees like this. She was mine and I owned every piece of her.

  Trinity grabbed the base of my cock and sucked me off like a pro.

  “Fuck.”

  She worked her tongue around my shaft then sucked the tip aggressively. She shoved me into the back of her throat then came up for air before she did it again. When I was soaked and twitching, she pulled me out of her mouth then pressed a gentle kiss to my tip.

  I had the hottest wife ever.

  I moved her to the bed then had her grip the headboard as I came behind her. Then I slowly inserted myself within her, rubbing her clitoris to get her to relax. She had a tight asshole and I had to take it slow so I would fit. Once I was completely inside I moaned loudly. No matter where I put my dick, she felt amazing. But this felt particularly good.

  I turned her face toward mine as I leaned over her shoulder. Then I kissed her as I thrust, taking it slow so I wouldn’t hurt her. I didn’t feel like a rock star because I was in a band. I felt like one because of Trinity. Every day of my life she made me feel special. When I was down on my luck, she picked me up again. She always stared at me with affection in her eyes. To her, I was a hero. To her, I was someone she could rely on for everything.

  To her, I was the man I’d always wanted to be.

  Chapter Eleven

  Arsen

  Every night before bed, Silke and I made love. Abby’s room was down the hall and on the other side of the house, so we never worried about being overheard. The distinct architecture of the house was the reason why I bought it.

  After we were finished, I usually fell asleep immediately. I was tired and satisfied, and having my girl in my arms lulled me into a deep sleep. But tonight, I was struggling to close my eyes. I was restless and irritated. No matter how I lay, I couldn’t get to sleep.

  Silke had immediately drifted off the second she rolled over and shut her eyes. That was her usual behavior. She didn’t always cuddle with me, but when I woke up in the morning she was wrapped around me like a teddy bear.

  I stared at the ceiling and started to count sheep. But after I did that, my thoughts went on a tangent and I started to think about motorcycles. Then that made me think of my days of selling weed on the street. On and on it went.

  “Can’t sleep?” Silke’s whisper came from across the bed.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “You keep rolling around all over the place and sighing every other minute.”

  “Sorry…I’ll keep it down.”

  She snuggled into my side and ran her hand down my chest. “Why can’t you sleep? You aren’t tired?”

  “I’m not sure. My mind won’t stop working.”

  She ran her fingers through my hair and tried to soothe me. She watched my face as she waited for me to grow tired. When minutes had passed and it didn’t make a difference, she gave up. “Well, I can tire you out instead.”

  “Meaning?”

  She crawled on top of me and straddled my hips. She grabbed her tits and massaged them in my face.

  Now I understood.

  Within a few seconds I was hard, and my cock twitched from underneath her.

  She inserted me within her then started to ride me like a cowgirl. Her tits shook in my face as she moved.

  My hands gripped her hips and I thrust into her from underneath. Her pussy always felt amazing no matter how many times I made love to her. I never got tired of it. Before I met her, I couldn’t be with just one woman because I was never interested enough. I always wanted something new, something I’d never conquered before.

  Silke rode me hard and fast, taking me inside her at an alarming pace. The friction on my dick was heavenly. “Come for me, Arsen.” She gripped my shoulders for balance.

  I breathed hard before I felt the explosion between my legs. I held her down and inserted myself as far as I could go. Then I released deep inside her, giving her everything I had.

  Silke waited until I was finished before she lay beside me. “Now go to sleep.”

  I lay there as my heart rate slowed down. My body finally relaxed and I felt the sleep behind my eyes. Then my eyelids finally fell and I drifted into my dreams.

  ***

  My dream was vivid and strong. Every scene had so much detail it had to be real. The cigarette smoke was in the air and I could actually smell it. The scent of alcohol leaking through my mother’s pores flooded my senses. The darkness of the apartment hurt my eyes and I had to squint.

  I lay on the floor and played with the second-hand toys Mom picked up from The Salvation Army. One doll was missing an arm, and a toy soldier had his bottom half missing. I managed to make them play together anyway.

  A knock on the door made my hair stand on end. Anytime there was a visitor, it was never good. Strange men always came to the apartment, giving me funny looks like they wanted to crush me under their shoe. They were always frightening…creepy.

  Mom answered the door, and a man I didn’t recognize walked inside. “Five-hundred.” She held out her hand and waited for the cash.

  He pulled out his wallet but didn’t open it. His eyes moved to me.

  I quickly looked away, afraid that he saw me staring at him.

  “You have a kid?”

  “Yes.” Mom continued to hold out her hand.

  “Is there a boyfriend or husband hanging around?”

  “Nope. Just me. Are we doing this or what?”

  He finally handed the cash over.

  Mom stuffed it down her shirt then headed down the hallway. The man followed her, and the bedroom door opened and closed.

  I played with my toys and tried to concentrate on the battle they were having. The doll had captured the soldier’s captain and he was holding him for ransom.

  When the bed started to squeak and I heard loud moans, I concentrated harder. We didn’t have a TV so I couldn’t watch that or turn up the volume. The loans only grew louder and I heard my mom whimper as she was slapped.

  I couldn’t concentrate on the toys anymore. I couldn’t block out the sounds. I pulled them to my chest then walked outside the apartment. We were on the top floor, so I sat at the edge of the stairs and held my only friends to my chest. It was a spring day and the trees swayed slightly in the wind. It was peaceful out there, much safer than it was in there.

  Half an hour later, the man stepped out and walked down the stairs. He didn’t look at me as he passed. It was like I didn’t exist.

  “Arsen!” Mom shrieked when she spotted me. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

  “I just…I just wanted to come out here.” I didn’t like looking at her. Her cheek was red and there was a burning cigarette between her fingers. She smelled weird. I couldn’t describe it.

  “Do not come out here without telling me first.” She grabbed me by the ear and painfully dragged me inside.

  “Ouch!”

  “Do you want someone to snatch you? Do you want someone to take you?” She dragged me all the way to my room and shoved me onto the bed. “Do as I say or you can find somewhere else to live.”

  “But Mommy…”

  She slammed the door then locked it from the outside.

  I pulled the covers over my head and started to cry.

  The dream changed and I was in the backseat of the car. I’d packed my things because we were headed to Disneyland. I’d never been there before. My friends at school told me about it, and they said it was the happiest place on earth. My bag was next to me, along with the few toys I had. I kept looking out the window, hoping to see something that would tell me how close we were.

  Mom pulled over on the side of the road. She was unusually quiet, and she already smoked ten cigarettes that day.

  I looked out the window but didn’t see anything worth stopping for. There was some kind of school to the right. There were kids playing outside along with a few teachers.

  “Arsen, I need you to get out.” Her voice contained emotion, like she was sad or about to cry.

  “Why…?”

  “I need to pick up something. Wait here for me.” She didn’t turn around and look at me.

  “Can’t I just come with you?”

  “No.”

  I looked out the window again before I turned to her. “How long will you be?”

  “Not long,” she whispered.

  “We’re still going to Disneyland?”

  “Yes.” Her voice became quieter. “Now get out, Arsen. And grab your things.”

  “Why do I need to grab my things…?”

  “Just do as I say,” she snapped.

  I opened the door and carried my things to the sidewalk. Mom never got out of the car.

  I stood there and waited for her to say something. I waited for something to happen. Impatient, I walked to the passenger window and looked inside. Mom was sitting behind the driver’s seat, but she didn’t look like herself. She wasn’t young and full of youth. Now her skin was weathered, her lips were puckered, and her hair looked like it lost all its color. She looked like a completely different person, someone I’d seen before.

  It was the woman from the shop.

  She slowly turned her face toward me, and her eyes were lifeless and full of fear. Finally, she spoke. “I’m sorry, Arsen.”

  My heart accelerated and I felt like I was falling. I was sweaty but cold at the same time. Shards of knives pierced every inch of my body. I tried to fight the pain in my heart. I tried to get away from something that wouldn’t stop chasing me. I flailed and screamed.

  “Arsen!”

  I opened my eyes and saw Silke on top of me. She was gripping me by the shoulders and shaking me. “Arsen, it’s just a bad dream. Wake up. It’s me.”

  I stared at her as I tried to catch my breath. My body was covered in sweat and my heart wouldn’t slow down. “That woman…”

  Her eyes darted back and forth as she searched my face. “What woman? What are you talking about?”

  “The woman from the shop…she’s my mother.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Conrad

  I was playing Candy Crush on my phone when there was a knock on my door. I quickly stowed my phone away then cleared my throat. “Come in.” I pretended I was reading something important on my computer.

  “Am I interrupting anything?” Skye peaked her head inside.

  “No, just reading a report.” I turned to her and ignored the screen. “What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to see what you were up to…” She stood in front of my desk but didn’t sit down. She shifted her weight awkwardly, like she was uncomfortable.

  I knew something was up. Skye wasn’t usually this tense. “Something on your mind?”

  “Yeah, I wanted to tell you myself…but now I’m nervous.”

  “Nervous?” I asked. “You never have to be nervous to tell me anything. Come on, remember who you’re talking to.”

  A slow smile spread across her lips. “It’s just…nevermind.”

  “Spill it.”

  “Okay.” She put her hand on her stomach. “Cayson and I are having a baby. There. I said it.”

  I froze in my chair and felt my heart skip a beat. “Wait…what? You’re having a baby? Like, you’re pregnant?”

  “Yes,” she said with a laugh. “The stork isn’t delivering it.”

  I jumped out of my chair with excitement. “This is huge! I can’t believe this.”

  Redness came into her cheeks.

  I came around the desk and hugged her, being gentler than I normally would be since I knew someone was living inside her. “Congratulations, Skye.”

  “Thank you. I’m very excited.”

  I pulled away and stared at her stomach like it might move. “Was that why you were having stomach problems?”

  She nodded. “The doctor gave me something to relieve the nausea.”

  I gripped my skull. “I just can’t believe this. I mean, it’s great. But I’m so surprised.”

  “I was surprised too. Our baby was an accident…but a good one.”

  “Man, I’m going to be an uncle.” The realization hit me hard. “Or…a second cousin. Great uncle?”

  “Uncle is fine,” she said with a smile.

  “May I?” I held my hand up.

  “Of course.”

  I rested it on her stomach. She had a very small bulge. I wouldn’t have even noticed it if she hadn’t pointed it out to me.

  “There’s not much going on in there right now…but they’re in there.”

  “This is amazing.” I shook my head in disbelief. “You and Cayson deserve this. No one deserves this more than you.”

  Her eyes softened in affection. “Thank you, Conrad.”

  I left my hand on her stomach for another moment before I dropped it. “Who else knows?”

  “Cayson’s parents and my parents. Oh, and Slade and Trinity.”

  “Wow…they must be really excited.”

  “They are,” she said. “Now I’m going around telling everyone else.”

  “Well, I’m glad you told me face-to-face. I’m not going to be able to stop smiling for the rest of the day.”

  “You’re one of my closest friends, Conrad. You deserved to know.”

  I looked away because the intensity was becoming too much. “And Cayson is excited?”

  “Actually, he doesn’t know.” She explained why he was out of the loop.

  “That makes sense,” I said. “But it must be hard for you to keep it to yourself.”

  “It is. You have no idea…”

  “When he sees you the second he comes home his head is going to explode…but in a good way.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15