“Yup.” She takes a sip of her water and sits back. “So, is that why you kissed me? To show me my worth?” she jokes, sort of.
“Nah. I kissed you because I wanted to do more, but I know that’s not going to happen. Not right now.”
“How can you be so sure that you want more? You barely know me.”
I shrug. “A gift, I guess. I just know.”
“And what about Vaughn?”
“He trusts me. And he’s attracted to you, too.”
“Well, I have to say, I’ve never had anyone tell me that two fine-ass men want me. And so casually over breakfast. But since it can’t be more, why tell me?”
“I’m gonna say something and I don’t want you to think I’m being condescending.”
“Okay,” she laughs. “Go for it.”
“When it comes to men, you have options.”
“Oh, I know. That was never the problem. I need viable options, Shaw. I wanted to be loved. And I mean loved. Like, loved the fuck up on. Just loved, loved, loved. Then I need, like, a few hours to get my hair done, visit with my sister and my nieces, but the moment I come back, it’s time to love up on this bitch again. It took me thirty-five years to find someone who I thought really loved me and then to have him taken away and to find out it was a lie? Let’s just say, you can kiss me, but it’s going to take a while before I can field even the most serious requests for my love and affection.”
I smirk and shake my head, digging back into my pancakes before they get too cold.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You know you never told me what you needed last night. Neither did Vaughn. Other than answers and a fast-forward button. What do you need emotionally?” She draws out the word like she needs to add levity.
Corrine liked to add innuendo to every situation. Everything out of her mouth was about keeping me and Vaughn hard. Every waking moment was making sure we knew she was wet for us. I miss it. Well, some of it. The parts that weren’t a lie. I don’t hate the silly way Brook carries herself, though. It’s refreshing. She tries, in her way, to clear the heavy air out of every room. I take another bite as I consider her question. She waits patiently, watching me before she picks up her fork and toys with that last piece of bacon.
“Vaughn is a walking heart. I’ve never met anyone who loves the way he does.”
“Hmm.” I can tell she’s trying to picture what that looks like coming from him.
“If you knew his mom it would all make sense. She’s—that woman is so full of love and she really passed that on to Vaughn. The man is a lover. I can see Corrine getting sick of my shit, but not Vaughn’s. He’s the real thing.”
“Don’t tell me that. I already feel terrible for you guys.”
“Look. When he told me he was going to find you, I told him he should fuck you for good measure. Don’t feel bad for me.”
“Shaw!” she laughs.
“I was upset, aight. At the time, I figured if Josh could fuck our girlfriend, we should be able to fuck his fiancée. Street justice and what not,” I say, throwing her a humorless wink.
“You’re kind of a pig, aren’t you?”
“Not where it counts.”
“So, I don’t have to worry about your voting record?”
“Hey, I’m not the one who is two steps away from being a Fed.”
“Damn, dude! You know how to cut deep,” she laughs. “Also, I work in special victims. I’m one of the good guys who actually wants to stop real bad guys. Not send young people away on minor drug charges.”
“I know. I’ve seen all twenty seasons.”
“Anyway.” She rolls her eyes. “What did Vaughn not-the-total-pig say when you told him to hit me with that payback dick?”
