"Damn, Chevy really does hate me."
Star smiled, dabbing underneath her eyes. She was tired of crying but also tired of fighting. If nothing else, Colt was still her friend.
"He doesn't hate you. He just feels what I feel. It's crazy my pup has more emotional intelligence than the men in my life. Go figure."
"Ouch, Star. Tell me how you really feel."
"I just did."
"Again, I'm sorry, Star." Colt pushed his thumb, wiping her tears away when she faced him. "I was?—"
"I know." She halted him, shaking her head. "I heard enough already. You don't have to keep reminding me what you've done."
"I do if that's what it takes to get you back. So tell me." He leaned closer just before his lips could graze against hers. "You know men think with their dicks."
Not the men she saw out and about, madly in love. Not her father, who once doted on her mother so much, her cheeks hurt from smiling as she took peeks at them cuddling when theythought she was asleep. In fact, she hadn't seen that light in her father's eyes since before her mother was diagnosed.
Instead of a response, a heavy silence greeted Colt as he studied Starlah's sad, hazel eyes. They were eyes that once lit up at the sight of him. He had no clue what he had when her heart once belonged to him. It had been so long since that was a reality, and it pained him to know he was the source of that sadness.
To lighten the mood, he fished his cellphone out of his pocket, then tapped on the Spotify app. Instantly, Swan's "No Air" boomed in the air, and her eyes grew to slits, her lips forming a tight smile.
"You are so not playing fair."
"I'll never play fucking fair when it comes to you."
It was their song, the one that they danced to at their senior prom and the one that stayed on repeat when he deflowered her, being the first and only man to be inside of her.
"When it's just me and you and the sky is all blue, it don't get much better. I can't get any better. When I look at?—"
Chevy howled, overpowering Colt's poor rendition of one of Swan's infamous love ballads. Chevy wasn't having it when he hopped up and howled like coyotes or some kind of danger was nearby.
"Okay, okay," Starlah sputtered, covering her mouth. "Enough, Chev!"
His howling stopped, but he glared at Colt before he made his way back to his doggy bed and plopped down. Colt laughed, but one thing he knew was Chevy didn't play about Starlah, but neither did he. He may have fucked her over, but he'd kill a motherfucker behind Starlah Steel.
"Shoot, now I feel bad. Look at him," she whispered, Chevy's low whimpers clawing at her heart.
"I see. I was almost his next meal, but I know what to do. This was my damn entry ticket to get in this room." He grinned and sat up, digging in his pocket. "Here you go, boy!"
He tossed another doggy treat, but this time out the door, causing it to tumble down the hallway. Off Chevy went, leaving the two of them alone.
"See how those come in handy?" A mischievous grin appeared as Colt had outsmarted her precious pup.
"He passed his limit already, Colt," Star fussed.
Her narrowed eyes greeted his when he gently pressed his lips against hers. When she didn't shove him away, the kiss deepened before she moaned in his mouth. He grunted, his dick hardening, but Starlah wasn't giving in. He'd have to do more than sing and bring treats to get inside of her.
"Nope." She shoved him back. "And you're going to give him the runs."
"Stop putting limits on shit like Chevy's Scooby snacks." He tugged on her chin. "Straight police activity."
She rolled her eyes before he lightly nipped her skin on her shoulder.
"You know, you don't have to mark me, Colt."
He grinned, admiring the reddened skin. Skin that smelled of summertime, picnics in the grass and all, as he dragged his fingers across her waist and pecked her lips when she shoved him yet again.
"Stop it, Star. Now you're just being mean."
