She looked up at me in tears. I kissed each one that fell. “Stop crying. You’re Chevy tough. You should go and—” I paused, “—so should I before they see I’m missing.”
She gripped me tightly. “Dio, don’t leave, please,” she cried.
I leaned down and kissed her lips so softly. “I love you, Mars the fucking Star,” I mumbled in her mouth.
I forced myself to pull away and walk out the door. A tear slipped from my eye as I made my way back to my ride. I knew there was only one thing left before I lost my best fucking friend completely.
CHAPTER TWENTY- FIVE
PRESS PLAY
The sun peeked through the crack of the dark curtains. Phoebe had finally fallen asleep after crying all night in my arms. I didn’t even know what to say after hearing about her brother. All of it seemed more than complicated. It made sense that she was hurting so badly. I couldn’t even be mad that she threw me in the fire because it was clear that I was mixed in the fuel that had ignited it.
However, that shit she had with Syior was dead. I could tell by their interaction that things were bigger than her sleeping with him, and I had questions that needed answers, but until she was up to it, I decided to hold off.
Seeing the weight of her actions and bottled feelings made my problems seem minuscule. It showed me how I often took small things for granted. It also showed my lack of love for my brothers, which kept me distant and led me to use them as an excuse for anger, cheating in school, and preventing us from simply being brothers and supporting each other. I hadn’t dedicated time to understandingMison during his depression, and I relied on Jalen for help with something I could handle on my own.
If it were me in her shoes and I lost either one of my brothers, the honest truth was I would’ve probably committed suicide. When we weren’t sure of Mison’s fate when he was hit by that car, it felt that way. Phoebe needed someone to be there for her during her time of mourning because it was obvious she hadn’t given herself the chance to grieve. She needed more than her parents; she needed someone who was going to stick beside her during her dark days, and I knew that was me. I couldn’t walk away from her, knowing the moment I turned my back, she would spiral. It was a tough role to play, but a nigga had never been one to back down from a challenge. It was possible that the chemistry we’d built wasn’t meant to blend perfectly, but rather to counteract each other and create our own version of perfection.
She curled further into my arms, leaving me no choice but to hold her tighter. I kissed her forehead as she peacefully slept. Pulling my head back to take her in, I found myself falling deep. There was no question that I liked this girl, but the bigger question was, could she be my forever person?
“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered.
Her head slowly rose so her eyes could meet mine. “How do you feel?” I asked.
“Hurt, but I know it’s going to be okay. I’m sorry you had to see me like that. I want to explain what happened because I’m not a murderer.”
I shook my head. “Nah, you don’t have to explain. I heard enough.”
She curled her bottom lip into her mouth. My tongue slid across my bottom lip. I was trying to fight it, but I couldn’t. I kissed her. I didn’t rush. I wanted this to be slow. She accepted my offering, allowing her tongue to intertwine with mine. The shit was damn nearperfect. Knowing I taught her made me feel good. My hand moved down her side, fingertips softly gliding over her smooth skin before settling in her thick, curly hair. Our lips stayed together as I rolled on top of her.
Eyes on her.
“I want to make this shit work. Whatever you had with that nigga needs to be done. Phoebe, I can’t promise you forever, but I can promise you I will be here for as long as you let me. I got you,” I said barely above a whisper.
Her white teeth peeked from her lips as she formed a gentle smile. “I want you for as long as you let me. You know, like energy and time or electric and magnetic fields or—”
I laughed. “Nah, little Einstein. Like your heart and my feelings. Like what we’re doing now.”
I eased her shirt off before taking mine off. I kissed her cheeks, neck, nipples, and belly. I pulled off her pants and used my teeth to pull off her panties. My lips traveled up her legs slowly.
“Oooo,” she blew out a steady breath.
Usually, we got right to it, but in this moment, I wanted to enjoy what I was feeling. Each time I kissed her, energy passed, and I couldn’t lie; it was better than a nut. When I reached the scars on her upper thighs, I ran my tongue over every single scar and followed it with a kiss. I knew this wouldn’t heal her pain, but maybe the feelings I was putting into it would temporarily get her through.
“I need you to heal, baby.”
Lick, kiss.
“It doesn’t have to be today, but you’ve got to heal,” I mumbled.
Lick, kiss.
My face was now greeting her pretty pink center. I didn’t even use my hands, but rather my nose, then my tongue, to part her pussy lips. I spoke one-on-one with her clit. I made sure the conversationwas slow with long pauses as my tongue flicked at her clit. Her hand pulled at my locs while her pussy and I got more acquainted.
“Ah! Mm!” she cried.
The more she gripped my hair, the deeper my tongue went inside her. For every moment I thought about her trying to find peace on her thigh, my tongue stroked to heal it. I had gotten so lost in eating her pussy that I hadn’t realized that she had cum. I came out of my shorts and stood on the side of the bed.
