“Since you see me sitting right here, you know she’s with her man. You real bold coming over here saying anything to Eli like Iwon’t knock your ass the fuck out over the way you treated her.” Falcon laughed. “And don’t tell me you here withher.”
I looked in the direction Falcon’s head bobbed in, and the sight of Natasha looking like a deer caught in headlights only further irritated me. She talked all that shit about wanting me to hear him out, yet here she was on a date with him. All I could do was laugh and shake my head. They weren’t worth my anger or hurt at this point. I wanted to feel literally nothing for either of them.
“Look, I’m only with her because you won’t give me another chance,” Justin said to me. “I’ve been calling you?—”
“Why exactly would I want anything to do with you when I’ve not only moved on but moved on to someone so much better? Leave me the fuck alone before I make my brother beat you up again.”
“He don’t have to,” Falcon countered, tossing one arm around my shoulder while he set his gun on the table. “Get the fuck on, loser.”
I didn’t mean to laugh, but Falcon was so calm and unbothered, even when he was giving threats and getting active. He’d gotten into three fights on the field, so I knew what he was capable of. I was surprised Justin even came over. Maybe he thought us being in public would keep him safe, but Falcon was just as crazy as my brother, just not as loud.
My head shook as Justin walked back over to the table he was sharing with Natasha. She looked at me with pleading eyes, but I had no words for her. I wasn’t the type of person that gave people multiple chances to hurt me or show me they didn’t mean me well. Regardless of how close we were and how much I loved our friendship, I’d never talk to her again.
“I just wanna say I love spending this time with you,” I declared, shifting the energy. “I know this won’t last forever, but this is the best relationship I’ve ever had. That’s sad, huh?”
“Not sad. I’m glad to finally give you what you deserve.”
When he leaned forward to kiss me, I giggled. “For you to have never wanted to kiss women, you sure love kissing me.”
“Yeah, that shit is wild. I keep trying to slow down my feelings for and attachment to you, but that’s proving to be easier said than done.”
“It’s gonna be easy for you to walk away in September, isn’t it?”
His head shook, but he didn’t respond right away. “I thought it would be, but the more time we spend together, the more I’m not sure. I’ve never wanted to be in love with a woman. Never wanted to feel attached. But I don’t know, Smiley. The more time we spend together, the more I want you.”
“I don’t think we thought this through well enough.”
“Too late now.”
We focused on our paintings, and I was grateful for the distraction. I didn’t want to think about ending things with the best man I’d ever been with—even if the relationship was fake.
Chapter
Fourteen
Falcon
One Week Later
Isaac was lookingat me like I was speaking a different language. It was time for us to take our annual spring trip, but I’d made a few changes since I was in a relationship. Anytime we went to Miami or Vegas, we spent more time in strip clubs and lounges than anything else. I used to fuck a lot of women and not give two fucks about the shit. This past year had been slower and more relaxed for me. Being with multiple women had gotten played out. Plus, knowing I had access to Eli made me not want anyone else. The relationship might have started out fake, but my feelings for and loyalty toward her were definitely real.
“So let me get this straight,” he said, putting his hands in prayer position. “You think we finna go to Miami and not fuck on no fine shit?”
“I don’t think; I know. I’m not fucking no other women while the world thinks I’m with your sister. Why would you even want me to?”
“Aw hell. I forgot about that. How long is this supposed to last?”
Chuckling, I shook my head before taking a sip of my coffee. I never drank it before, but getting it for Eli had me trying a few new things.
“Until preseason. We technically will announce that we broke up in September though. The contract is over in August.”
“Lawd have mercy. This is about to be the most boring summer in life. I’m about to start hanging with other people because your fake commitment to my sister is not about to have me depressed as hell.”
“Boy, you’on need me to have fun,” I teased, but I knew what type of time he was on because I was the same way. Nine times out of ten, if I wasn’t doing it alone, I was doing it with Isaac.
As he grumbled under his breath and let me know he was about to get ready to go, I chuckled.
“Don’t even worry about bringing your ass to Miami, bruh. I’ma tell Steve and Mario to come. You stay your boring, committed ass here.”
