CRASHOUT
“Kong.” Phoebe’s firm tone stopped him when he reached the bottom of the large, winding staircase of their family home.
He was dressed for this whole date thing with Ayla, very casual, but still debonair.
“What’s up?” He paused mid-stride and faced her.
“Nay told me what happened at the park today.” She locked her fingers together in front of her.
“What that got to do with you?”
“That’s my daughter.” Her brows cinched together as her eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “I want what’s best for her, and I thought you did too.”
“Look, this was never some exclusive relationship, and she knew that. I told her I wasn’t ready for that.”
“Oh, but you’re perfectly fine allowing her to take space in your bed when it’s convenient for you?” Phoebe surmised.
“She’s a grown ass woman. I never led her on or made her believe anything was coming from this. I fucked her. Maybe I fucked her a little too good if she’s this delusional about what this is.”
Phoebe’s mouth split open at his harsh revelation, and she let go of a sharp breath.
“She has been nothing but a friend to you while you sat around here brooding over that… basic little wife of yours! Don’t talk about my daughter like that!”
“If you ever want to step foot in this house again, don’t ever mention my wife!” Kong barked, making her flinch.
“Kostner!” Audiemar bellowed from the doorway to the kitchen.
Bringing his bottom lip between his teeth, Kong’s dark eyes never budged off Phoebe as his father approached.
“Phoebe is a guest.”
“I live here too. She doesn’t get to come in here and talk about anything she doesn’t know shit about.”
“And you don’t get to use my daughter then toss her aside when you find something else to play with!” Phoebe spat venom at him.
Ayla. That’s what this was all about. Nayelli was feeling the heat of having another woman so closely to Kong and his children lately. It was obvious she was carving a space in their home, and Nay couldn’t stand it. It was bad enough he had children; she didn’t want to share him with the help too. Twyla being out of the picture meant that they finally had the chance she thought they deserved. Kong wasn’t in that same space, or he hadn’t gotten there yet. Seeing him slowly lower his guard with a stranger left Nay scrambling for his attention, using sex as her primary weapon.
“I’ll head out and pick up the food we ordered.” Phoebe cut her eyes in Audiemar’s direction, grabbed her purse from the hanging hook near the entrance, and let herself out. Kong’s pulse raced with anger.
“What was that about? I thought you were a little more grateful than that, Kong.”
“She don’t get to come in here and speak on my wife because her daughter got her fucking feelings hurt!”
“Are you telling me you haven’t been using Nay to ease your pain?” His father suggested.
“So what if I have?” Kong shot back with a hard glare darkening his features. “I didn’t lie to her. She wasn’t left unsatisfied. What the fuck else am I supposed to do with that? Have her believe some fantasy that one day I might be ready, so she can hold on to some delusion?”
“Looks like she’s already living one,” Audiemar summed up.
“And that ain’t my problem.”
“I warned you. I’ve always told all of you, don’t put your dick in these girls if you’re not prepared to deal with the emotions that come after. I don’t care if you both agreed it was just physical. Sex changes everything, and if you can’t take accountability for how you make a woman feel, you need to fall back.” Audiemar poked his shoulder, and Kong’s nostrils flared.
He knew he was right. It was why it took him almost a year back in this house to fuck Nay. She was throwing it at him every chance she got and eventually caught him in a moment of weakness. It was never supposed to turn into anything else, and he’d allowed himself to get comfortable with her. Now that he wanted or needed to nip that shit in the bud, things were complicated. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took a breath.
“Now what’s going on with you and Ayla?” His father pressed.
“Nothing.” Kong was quick with his answer.
