He dug in the bag and tossed Chevy another doggie treat. Off he went, his teeth sinking into the steak-flavored bone. Starlah smiled, watching him eat as if he hadn't already had a bowl of dog food earlier, before Colt showed up.
"No more, Colt. One was enough."
"Cool." He shrugged, but he brought enough to buy him as much time as possible.
Earlier that day, he kissed her in the breakroom. When she smiled, as soon as he was off work, he put his plan into motion.
"Anyway, I figured I'd let Cassie, Russia, and whoever else shows up have you to themselves. You know, I always wondered why the girls hate the girl the guy still wants while still giving that same guy the pussy."
"Shit, look at me," he jested, and she punched him in the arm. "I'm kidding." Chevy wasn't, who growled, impatient as his mouth salivated.
"That's absurd but riddle me this. Work is one thing, but after work is another. Why would you want me there anyway?"
Colt's brows dipped in the middle of his forehead, feigning confusion.
"Because you're my fucking girl, even when you call shit off. Everyone fucking knows that."
"And that's exactly why I'm not going. They supposedly know that but still fuck you. See, I'm sooo lucky."
"Don't start that shit, Star. You seriously think I want Cassie or any of those other bitches?" he asked, pretending he hadn't screwed Cassie just a few weeks earlier. "Why would I want her, Star? And her best friend, Braelyn, is dating your brother. Remember? I fuck Cassie, and Braelyn would pillow talk with your damn brother."
"Pfft. Braelyn's your next-door neighbor, too, and one who probably holds all your secrets. Oh, and the fact that you won't cheat because you think it will get back to me through my brother is pathetic. How about not cheat, Colt Shaw?"
Chevy barked two times, then whimpered while staring at his doggy bag. He couldn't believe they were holding out when they were within two feet of him. He was big enough to knock Colt down and take them, but he also knew he risked being put in his cage.
"I guess it's because I'm not the finest or the prettiest. Hell, I don't even dress like them, but one thing I do know is my worth."
"See, that's where you're wrong. You're beyond the finest, and especially, the prettiest." Colt tugged on Star's ginger-colored tendril before she smacked his hand.
Chevy immediately dashed toward them, barking as if he'd hit Star. They both laughed when Colt wagged his finger at her four-legged friend.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd want my girl."
"Your girl? Why do you keep saying that?"
"Yeah, Star. You'll always be my girl. Shit happens, and I ain't saying it's right. I am saying that you're the only girl I even see me spending the rest of my life with. We started out young, and while that ain't no excuse, it's the truth. Hell, there were times I wanted to let you have your fun, but I couldn't let another nigga brag about having the baddest girl in Pellum on his arm."
"You mean like the time I let Jessup walk me home from school, and you damn near ran him over with your truck? Or what about when Billy Rae bought me ice cream after the football game? You came in there and flipped it in his face. Or?—"
"Alright, alright, damn."
Colt laughed, realizing he really had shown his ass during their last year in high school. Since then, they'd worked side by side at the mechanic shop, but if she had an itch that needed to be scratched, Colt was the official scratcher… with condoms, of course. Because he knew that, he felt he had a shot to make things official, and for good.
"I'll admit I was being an asshole, but you did enjoy the chase by those niggas." He smirked, angling his head when she grinned.
"Well," she sang, fluttering her hazel eyes, "I did kind of like Jessup."
"Pfft. If you liked him so damn much, what happened?"
"I don't know." Air escaped her lips as she looked away. "For some reason, I guess I couldn't get over you. Still can't."
She lay down, giving him her back as a huge grin stretched across his face. He pumped his fist, then calmed down as he scooted behind her. When she allowed him to spoon her, heclosed his eyes, his nose buried in her hair. She smelled good as he inhaled the infamous lemon scent. She felt even better as his hand slid over her stomach, enveloping her inside his arms. Silence rested between them, a little too long. He was used to her taking jabs at him.
"Star, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Colt."
She was emotional, mostly from what she had heard earlier, and then from Colt showing up with his usual pleading for another opportunity, even though being unfaithful was in his nature. When she sniffled, Chevy hopped up, barking like he was ready to attack.
