Marquise escorted me past the bed to his sitting area.Blazing and Gunsbeamed on the screen. Arguing with him would wake up Jhae and Malcolm, something I wanted to avoid at all costs. I stood at the edge of the sectional watching him select the black controller.
“Marquise, I want to go to bed,” I announced.
He extended his hand toward me, and I stomped to the seat next to him. I motioned to sit, but he slid my body onto his lap. I tried lifting myself, but he gripped my waist.
“Relax,” he whispered his command in my ear with authority.
With one arm, he pulled me back into his body. Despite my size, he manhandled me with ease, nestling me between his legs. He shifted his body, extending one leg on top of the ottoman. I sighed as I rested my back against his chest.
“I’m pissed off right now. I can’t sleep,” he announced with calm anger
“Why?”
The game menu appeared on the screen, and he navigated his player.
“I came home and the person I wanted to see was at a party. You’ve been mean as fuck to me all week but dressed up for other men,” he said. “Erin, I don’t miss people, but I missed you. You not being here triggered me.”
Guilt pinched at me. When Tracy invited me to the party, I jumped at the opportunity to avoid a confrontation with him.
“You don’t miss people because you won’t emotionally invest,” I said.
He paused the game. “People are unpredictable. Like you showing out tonight.”
Sitting up, I folded my arms tighter, seething in anger. Marquise sat forward, causing my back to meet his chest again. He kissed my temple, but I shied away.
“Erin, I’m speaking facts. Don’t get upset,” he said, pulling me backward.
Another kiss landed on my temple. “Best friends don’t sit on each other and kiss, Marquise,” I said and moved to get up.
He tugged me backward, planting me back in the spot I tried to abandon.
“Stop inviting other people’s expectations into our friendship,” he said. “Relax.”
Fleeing was a losing effort, with him blocking my attempts to stand. I propped my feet on the ottoman to find some level of comfort.
“Now, back to what I was saying. I can’t sleep because my mind is racing,” he said.
“And playingBlazing and Gunsis going to help you rest.”
“No, but holding you will,” he said and prodded his head in my neck. “Erin, stop pretending to be upset. Let me calm down and we’ll get in bed,” he said.
“You don’t seem upset to me, Marquise.”
“Trust me, I’m pissed the fuck off. I wanted to flip those speakers off the platform searching for you.”
I didn’t respond, instead, I rested against his chest as he started the game.
Marquise
After the first planet, Erin had drifted off to sleep. The last four hours I’d been a shell of myself. I came home to no Erin and lost my shit. Ivey tracked her phone, exposing her location. I walked into the party with the intention of shutting it the fuck down, but she came willingly.
The entire ride home, I questioned everything about myself, including the arguments. I heard Pops’ voice telling me to slow down, but I couldn’t stop myself. Right now, I could punch a hole in the wall. I’m sexually frustrated, annoyed, but holding her in my arms was all I wanted to do for days. Pausing the game, I lived in the moment of her resting on me. Despite being visibly upset, Erin still left the party, trusting I wouldn’t hurt her. This woman got a hold on me, and I couldn’t understand why.
My phone vibrated, interrupting my thoughts.
Unknown number
You must have a girlfriend.
