Dakota
What the fuck is she doin’ here?
Cassie’s Ford Escape sat parked in my garage as if it were a week ago and she was actually supposed to be here.
I grabbed my keys and my phone.
I need to clean up this glass.
After closing the garage door, I walked in the side door. I was already pissed off about what happened at Jace’s house and even more annoyed now that I have to deal with her.
“Cassie!” I bellowed, my voice echoing off the hardwood floors. She walked out on the second-floor balcony wearing a black robe. “! You’re home!”
I am home. You are not and you need to go.
“Come down here, Cassie,” I ordered. Even from the ground floor, I could see that she wanted to argue but decided against it. She came down the stairs quietly, her gaze locked on her feet.
“Didn’t I tell you to have your stuff out before I got home? What are you still doin’ here?
She fidgeted with her hands. “I needed to talk to you.”
“It would be impossible for me to overstate how little I care about anything you have to say.”
She smirked. “Okay, you win. No talkin’.” She dropped the robe, revealing her completely naked body underneath. She was tanned, toned, and curvy in all the right places.
And yet, I’ve never been more turned off in my life.
Bending over, I picked up the satin robe and wrapped in around her. “Can you please try to find a shred of self-respect?”
Pouting, she batted her long eyelashes. “You know you want me, . You’ve never been able to resist me,” she purred, sliding her hands across my chest. I caught her by her wrists.
“You’re right, Cass,” I agreed. “I’ve never been able to resist you.”
She smiled triumphantly, moving closer to try and press her body against mine. Leaning down, I pressed my lips against her ear. “But there’s a first time for everything and you and your community cunt need to get the fuck outta my house.” Dropping her wrist, I turned and walked towards the door. “I’m goin’ to take Lena her stuff. When I get back, you better be gone.”
The last thing I heard before slamming the door was her calling my name. I backed out of my garage, my tires spinning on the gravel.
I have never wanted to leave my own damn house until this moment.
“Hey, Siri,” I summoned. “Call Loo.”
The ringing came through my truck’s speakers.
No answer.
She better be napping.
Deciding on a last-minute change of plans, I turned off the main street into the back parking lot of the fire department. Some of the guys from my shift were out there shooting hoops. After parking in the lieutenant’s spot, I climbed out, careful to avoid shards of glass. All at once, I was swarmed with first bumps and one-armed hugs, the guy’s faces painted with sympathy.
Carter spoke up first. “You look good, DK. How you doin’, buddy?” He slapped me on the shoulder.
“Doin’ good.”
They all exchanged looks
“Don’t do all that. I’m good, really,” I promised. “He did me a favor.”
The rookie, Dedric, who I had grown rather fond of, gave me a bear hug. “More fish in the sea, dawg.”
I nodded. “Is Chief inside?”
Zeke sunk a perfect swish. “He’s in there. He’s making his five-alarm chili.”
“Aight, I’ll be back.” They resumed their game as I walked into the truck bay.
“How you holdin’ up, Lieu?”
What? Lena’s here?
I looked around quickly.
Ben Dakes walked out from behind one of the engines.
He was talkin’ to you, dumbass.
“One day at a time.”
“I heard that. Holler if you need anything!” He fist bumped me.
“Will do. Thanks, man.”
I found the chief in the station’s kitchen chopping up peppers to put in his chili.
“DK! I didn’t know you were back. How are ya, kid?”
“Good, good, Chief. I just needed to talk to you a minute.”
He scraped the diced peppers into a pot of sauce.
“I’m always here to listen, but you know I can’t choose sides between two of my best guys. I don’t agree with what Jace did at all and I’m going to tell him my piece when I see him, but I won’t get involved beyond so long as you two don’t do anything stupid.”
Well, it might be a little too late for that.
“I understand that. I just wanted to let you know it won’t affect me on the job. I know Reynolds was supposed to move from B Shift to my rotation next week.”
He looked surprised. “I was just goin’ to leave him where he was at for now. I know you are both professionals, but it just seemed like the best option right this minute with everything goin’ on.”
“I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we won’t allow any of this to impact our professional relationship.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll think on it and speak to Jace when he comes back.”
I absentmindedly stirred the chili. “Yes, sir.”
He began chopping jalapenos. “How is Lena doin’?”
I exhaled. “She’s okay, I think. Back at her parents.”
“I imagine Brett is relieved to have her home.”
“I’m sure he is. Speakin’ of that, I gotta head over there now. I picked up her stuff from Jace’s and I need to drop it off.”
“Tell her I asked about her, will ya? Tell her she better not be a stranger around here now. This will all sort itself out in the wash.”
“I’ll tell her, Chief.”
After telling him I’d be back tomorrow for my shift, I headed to Lena’s house.
Jolene
“Lee Lee?” Mama shook me gently.
I opened one eye to squint at her.
“ is downstairs,” she spoke gently.
“Actually, is upstairs,” he called out from the doorway. “Mr. B gave me permission!”
Mama and I both laughed.
It was a well-established rule in our teens that boys were not allowed upstairs for any reason. Because both Jace and knew better than to test my daddy so neither of them have ever been in my room.
I yawned. “Hey, Dak.”
“Hey, Lena Loo!” He greeted me cheerfully. “I have your stuff.”
“You went to Jace’s and got her things?” Mama questioned him.
“Yes, ma’am. She said she didn’t want to see him, so I told her I’d go.”
Mama patted his arm appreciatively. “Thanks, . You likely saved Ole Brett from an assault charge.”
Dak laughed. “It was no trouble at all.”
Mama walked out into the hallway. “Y’all behave… or don’t.”
That’s subtle, Mama.
I rolled over in bed to face him.
“Hey buddy.”
“Hey pal,” he responded, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
“Uh oh, Brett gonna get yo’ ass for bein’ on my bed,” I teased.
“I’ll take my chances.” He kicked back against my headboard. “I see you actually listened.”
I did?
“If I did, it was purely by accident,” I assured him.
He rolled his eyes. “You took a nap.”
“Oh yeah, I did. Felt great, too.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. I still haven’t even showered yet.”
What has he been doin’ all day?
“Damn, it must have taken awhile to grab my stuff. I’m sorry,” I apologized.
He shook his head. “Nah, it only took about thirty minutes. He had it all packed up in totes.”
How considerate.
“I’m kinda shocked. I didn’t expect either of them to do what you asked.”
“Well, you’re half right.”
You can’t be half right. You’re either right or you’re wrong.
“Half right, how?”
“After I got finished at Jace’s house, I went home…” he trailed off. “Cassie was at the house.”
Ahh, half right about them listening.
“Still packin’ her stuff up?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Not exactly.”
“She hadn’t packed? Was she hopin’ you had changed your mind and decided to let her stay?”
“She tried to convince me to let her stay.”
Shocking.
I waited patiently for him to explain.
“When I got home,” he began, “she didn’t have on anything except a silk robe… which she dropped…and, yeah.”
And…yeah? And, yeah what?
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah.” He stood up. “I’m gonna go grab your stuff outta the truck.”
I was irritated for reasons I couldn’t explain.
After all this, he slept with her because she was wearin’ nothin’ but a robe?
I knew the robe he was referring to. I was with her when she bought it.
“I can come help.” I pulled back my covers. “Just let me get on some pants.”
I stood up wearing only a huge T-shirt and a pair of panties.
“No, I’ll get it. You stay here.” he ordered, never taking is eyes off the bedroom door.
He didn’t even look at me when I said I didn’t have on pants.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t mind helping.”
He waved me off. “I’ll be back.”
Within seconds, I heard him clopping down the staircase.
“Why is he actin’ completely different than he was actin’ in the mountains?” I said softly to myself.
And why is it bothering me so much?