Chapter 17

Paisley

London is tired of dealing with Blake, and she loves the idea of getting something new to wear for tonight. I’m thinking something red is in order.

“Hey, girl, what’s wrong?” I ask her.

She looks at me with sadness clouding her eyes. This isn’t usually how she is. She’s changed over the last couple of weeks since the guys came back to town.

“Honestly, I don’t know anymore…like seriously. I’m hot and cold… I just don’t understand it.” She sighs.

“How about we make tonight about us? We’ll take some much needed girlie time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Seriously? Of course, I’m sure. C’mon let’s have a look and see what we can come up with.” I wink, and we head into the store.

I grab about fifteen different items. This is going to be one hell of a fashion show. I want to look good.

London has an armful, too, and right as we’re about to head to the dressing area, I spot a teal dress.

London and I play a game when we shop together. We pick one outfit we want the other to try on. I’ve bought some of my favorite items this way. London has a great eye.

“Okay, this one’s for you. Try it on,” London tells me.

I laugh at her and take the little red number she’s picked out for me, then with a big cheesy grin, I pass her the teal dress. The only thing that could possibly make this better would be a music montage to highlight our runway walks and wardrobe changes.

Closing the curtain around me, I try the red number.

The smooth fabric hugs my body like a second skin and accentuates my curves. A little more of my breasts show than I would like…but damn, I look hot.

My phone beeps alerting me to a text.

Zeke

Baby girl, I’m touching myself right now thinking about you. I can’t get enough of you. You’re a drug I’m not sure I could ever quit. The memories of touching you, drive me crazy with need.

My heart pounds, and my body aches with need—the need to have him caress every square inch of my body. My fingers tremble as I reply.

Paisley

The anticipation is killing me! I can’t get enough of you, the way you work my body blows my mind. One look at you makes me quiver. I’m ready for you. X

I suck in a deep breath, fanning my too hot and flushed face.

I call out to London, “Okay, I got the first one on!”

“Me too!”

We step out at the same time.

My mouth falls open when I see her in the teal dress I picked out.

The sweetheart neckline leaves very little to the imagination, and the bodice shows off her curves before flaring out in a mini A-line skirt.

“Wow,” we say at the same time.

“Jesus, Pails, you’d turn a gay dude straight and a straight girl gay.”

“I could say the same about you… Now we need shoes.”

Running across the store, we head to the shoe department. I spot a pair of black pumps that will make the dress pop. At the same time, we reach for the same shoes. They work just as well with her dress.

We make our final purchases, then head out.

Coffee is next on my to-do list.

One of my favorite coffee places is tucked away in a small alleyway. We’ve been here a thousand times, so we aren’t vigilant.

We’re lost in the cellular world, walking with our heads down, enamored by the words scrolling with a single finger touch, until I slam headfirst into someone.

“Well, well, well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? I wasn’t sure if it was even you. Then Troy here showed me a picture, and I fucking knew it. I remember when a debt has been paid.”

Frozen in place, I watch as the two men come toward us.

London has a vice grip on my arm, but it does nothing to keep me calm. That voice has plagued my dreams since the first time I heard it, since my Daddy…

Images of waking up and being surrounded by a pool of bright red blood come flooding back to me—the smell of copper burning my nose, my mother’s cries drowning out the screams…

The paramedics shouting orders, trying to help…my father’s lifeless body covered with one of the white pieces of fabric that originally decorated the pews…everything rushes back into my mid at once.

“I think somebody might have told me a fib. I was told you are quite…how did you say it?” He turns to the man next to him, the one I can only guess is Troy. “Ah, yeah. Mouthy.”

My eyes widen. He’s right. I am mouthy. I’m someone who fights back, no longer a pushover or the little innocent woman who didn’t have a clue about anything.

“Wh-why are you here?” My confidence fails me.

“Pails, let’s go.” London tugs on my arm, and I’m all for going. I want to go more than I want to take my next breath, but I just can’t seem to make any of my limbs move.

“Oh, don’t let me keep you, little one.” He steps to the side and waves his arm in a flourish. “I just wanted to see for myself if it was really you. I must say, you really have matured into a…”

He licks his lips, and I cringe. “Masterpiece. Yeah. I wouldn’t mind trying you out.”

As I finally convince my feet to move, he closes the space he’d opened earlier and steps toward me. I manage to move back.

My heart pounds, and London uses the momentum to pull me away.

“Don’t get comfy, pretty girl. I’m coming for you,” he calls out with a laugh.

The further away I get, the easier it is to breathe.

“Who was that?”

We jump into the first available cab. We slam the doors and tell the driver to step on it.

“An honest to God boogeyman.”