"I will. Just need to let him clear his head, sleep it off."
As "Easy Whispers" by Eli, a new artist from Louisiana, came on, Whistle softly sang in her ear. He knew Contessa was pissed, but he had to keep her at bay before she detected his bullshit.
"Mhmm. That's what Lucky needs. Poor Endea chases that fool so much. She called me earlier, and I couldn't even tell her we were coming here for drinks. Lucky's just dragging her along."
"He likes her. Just won't give her what she really wants."
"Then she needs to put her foot down like I do with you. After whatever this is going on, we need to revisit what the next year or two looks like. We may not have children, but I want to traveland create memories and all with you, but I barely can because the farm comes first."
"Wait a minute, now. It's the same farm that takes care of our needs. I'm a lot of things, but a quitter ain't one of 'em. If you're about to start that shit about Lucky coming first, let me know. He's been good to me and you, Tess. Say I'm lying?"
She rolled her eyes, tears welling up when she shrugged.
"Tess, I love you, sweetheart, but trust me. When it's time for me to retire, we'll retire, and I'll take you anywhere you want to go. You hear me?"
He leaned over, turning her face to his by her chin and admiring her beauty. Deep down inside, he knew Contessa loved Lucky and his children just as much as he did, but love had no conditions. He couldn't give up on them, and he prayed she wouldn't either.
"I hear you, and I love you, too." He peppered her face with kisses, causing her to squeal and giggle. The sound of her laughter was exactly what Whistle needed. "But you owe me a nice foot rub later and a back massage."
"Can I massage the pussy, too?" he asked when her eyes bucked.
"Fuck, there's Endea," she muttered, seeing her enter the tavern. "We talked her up, and now she's going to know I lied."
"Nope. Let me handle it. The last thing I need is for Lucky to come out, and they have an argument, and he says something stupid because he's already screwed up in the head."
"I don't think you can avoid it," she whispered. "Look at her."
Endea's pinched lips were an indicator that she had come prepared to fight. As soon as she made dinner at his place, he agreed to eat, then come by her place later to put up some bookshelves she had, then watch a movie. Later turned out to be never when, hours later, she saw he'd ditched her again. Endea took a ride around town and was immediately pissed when shecaught a glimpse of both Lucky and Whistle's trucks at Jessie's Tavern. Once parked, she angrily burst inside, then pushed past a sea of patrons dancing, when she noticed Whistle and Contessa, who was her so-called friend.
"Not a word to her, understand?"
Contessa sat up, issuing a fake smile when Endea stood in front of them.
"Oh, please, Contessa. Don't. I know if you had to choose spending time with me or sitting with this lying piece of shit, it would be him every time."
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused." Endea tossed her purse down on the table and took a seat, looking around. "Where is he? And before you lie, I already saw his truck outside and his empty shot glasses right here unless you're both working on being drunks."
"Well, hello to you, En," Whistle greeted.
"Don't, Whistle. I'm sick of it." She sat with pinched lips, on the edge of her seat, waiting for Lucky to appear.
"You know I get you're upset, but Whist was nice. I may not be if you speak to him again, and any dick I sit on is my choosing," Contessa spewed when Whistle gripped her arm. "No, baby. If she wants respect, she'd better damn well give that shit."
Contessa understood everyone was under a lot of pressure, even upset with their state of life, but what she wasn't about to do was sit around and allow Endea to speak to Whistle as if the bone she had to pick started with him, friend or no friend.
Endea roughly swiped away a tear, then extended her hand to her friend."You're right, Tessa. I'm so sorry. Can y'all forgive me?"
Contessa sighed, taking her hand."I will this time, but you gotta figure it out. I like Lucky, but don't let him run all over you."
Endea nodded, then looked at Whistle, her peepers misty.
She'd done all she could to win Lucky over, from running errands, cleaning his home, cooking, even fucking him when he called her over while completely inebriated. One night while muttering in his sleep, he rolled over, cradled her legs in the crook of his arms, and rammed himself inside of her.He'd never been so passionate, so eager, so hungry for her until he released his seed inside her walls and called her a name she felt she'd been competing with their entire relationship — Dolly.
"I forgive you, but Lucky's a complicated man," Whistle advised. "He means no harm, though."
"I just don't know what else to do. I'm trying to be there for Lucky, but he's so… distant. I even?—"
