Disbelief?
Hope?
Maybe both.I can’t quite place it, but it’s not matching thefuck-offvibe she is trying to radiate. We’re standing, locked in a silent battle of wills.
Tim notices the tension and chimes in from behind the counter where he’s standing with Tally, “Sloan, just take the damn hoodie. It’s freezing, and the dickhead won’t stop bothering you until you do.”
Sloan shoots Tim a look of annoyance but eventually snatches the hoodie from my hold. “Fine,” she relents as she puts it aside, trying to maintain her defiant stance. “But I’m not wearing it.”
I grin, victorious. “You’ll change your mind when you realize how cozy it is, Siren,” I promise, my persistence finally paying off as I take a step back, giving her some space.
She rolls her eyes at me and turns to walk away, her tone dripping with annoyance. “I’m gonna mop the toilet floor.”
I watch her beautiful ass sway as she goes, my thoughts momentarily stuck in the gutter, only to be pulled back when Tally cackles. “Wow, how the mighty have fallen. That girl would rather mop piss from the floor than talk to you, Nash.”
I join Tally, standing beside her and leaning my hip against the counter. “Oh, Tally. Sweet, naïve Tally,” I singsong, a mischievous glint in my eye. “My girl is punishing me, and that’s fine. I deserve it. I’ll take every lashing and bad word that falls from her plush lips because soon enough, it will be my name they’re moaning again.” Tally slaps the back of my head, and it’s impressive, considering she’s so much smaller than me. “Ouch, woman,” I grumble, rubbing the spot she slapped.
“Don’t talk about her like that. It sounds like you’re only out to fuck her again,” Tally scolds while gently stroking her belly.
“What? No, of course not. I’m done playing. I’m for real. I want her. Losing her was the thing that opened my eyes,” I tell Tally, trying to convey how serious I am about this.
“Hallelujah,” Tim utters, but Tally jabs her elbow into his side, making him push out an “ugh” and scrunch up his face.
“Not hallelujah. He can talk about being reformed all he wants. Did you hear what he just said? He wants her back so she canmoan his name. Wow. I can really feel the love and how it’s not just about sex.”
I furrow my brows, crossing my arms over my chest. “What are you saying?”
Mac’s deep voice comes from the kitchen as he sets down his knives and walks over to us. “She’s saying that all your flirting and innuendos will do shit for getting Mouse to believe you want her for good,babyJones.”
I don’t like that nickname, but I let it slide since I want to hear what he’s saying. “I’m flirty, that’s my fucking personality. I would never stop flirting with her, even when we’re in a retirement home.”
“True, and you shouldn’t. It’s cute,” Tally admits.
“What’s the fucking problem then?” I ask, still not getting their point.
“The problem is that you never told her she’s more to you than…premium pussy,” Tim shares, emphasizing the last words.
“Wait, he said that?” Tally asks Tim, furious on Sloan’s behalf and already reaching out to slap me again, but I step back. She points her finger at me instead. “You! Calling her shit like that, talking about getting a second ride, fucking her when she’s drunk only to disappear from her bed and ask her to be friends with benefits. And you think bringing her a hoodie and telling her she’s pretty will make her think you’re serious after all of this on top of you guys kicking her to the curb?”
Fuck, it sounds terrible when she says it like that.
“I wasn’t the one kicking her out,” I defend myself, albeit weakly.
“Yeah, but you weren’t the one to pick her up from the ground either. That was me.” Tim glares at me.
I’ve felt guilty for the last few days. Right now, I feelashamed.
Ashamed of everything I did to her, how I acted around her like a horny dog, how I used her for my comfort but didn’t give her the same courtesy.
“Fuck,” I deflate, my eyes cast downward, feeling lost about what to do now.
“It finally sunk in.” Mac chuckles, reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder with such force that it’s literally slapping me, making me groan.
That’s going to bruise.
“You’re not a bad one,babyJones, but not good enough for her either.”
“I can change,” I defend myself, knowing I’ve already changed so much for her.
