16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Remi
I had Echo's house key on my keychain. It felt damn heavy.
I'd thought about dropping it off in her mailbox but then decided against it. I liked having a key to her place. All week, I'd been tempted to use it, and all week, I'd had to stop myself. That key had made me stay away from her Monday night when I usually went to see her for dinner. I didn't even leave a note or text her saying I wouldn't come over. I didn't show up. She didn't text or call to check up on me. She knew the score.
She and I had made no commitments. So, that was that. Did I feel like a jackass for standing her up? Yeah, I did, but I didn't want her to get any ideas. What the fuck was she thinking giving me her house key?
It felt like a commitment. I regretted not leaving the key at her place. But I hadn’t been able to. It was a gift and felt precious. I was so fucking conflicted, it wasn't even funny. Somewhere down the line, my fuck buddy had become more than about the fuck or the buddy.
I'd even wanted to text her to ask her if she was free Friday night. I could take the evening off and spend it with her, which is what I'd prefer to do rather than sit here in the VIP area of my club with Tommy, Marina, Lani, and the crew.
"I saw Echo at Dr. Bean's today," David mentioned. "I thought she'd be here."
"Oh, please tell me you didn't tell Miss Poopy Pants about tonight?" Lani lamented. "She's such a leech."
"Speaking of Miss Poopy Pants, you won't believe what I saw," Marina squealed.
"I wish you'd stop calling her that," I ground out. "You're not in high school anymore, Mar."
"Whatever."
"So, what did you see?" Petal asked all curious ears.
Kate snuggled into Kenneth, her fiancée's embrace. "Please tell me it's something juicy 'cause I'm so bored."
Marina looked around to make sure that she had everyone's attention. "So, I was at the CVS on Union, and who pops in but Miss Poopy Pants. She goes to the pharmacy desk, and she doesn't see me," she raised her voice excitedly. " She asked for a Plan B ."
My heart stilled. Fuck! I didn't use a condom with her the last time we were together. The time when I stayed the night with her. Fucked her half asleep. It was some of the best sex I'd ever had. It had been magic. I knew in the morning when I took a shower, I didn't use a condom. Like a gentleman, I wanted to ask her about it, but like a coward decided she was a grownup, and she could figure it out. Apparently, she had and with Marina in the audience.
"Who do you think she's sleepin' with?" Lani's eyes were huge.
Fuck! Did anyone know? Had anyone seen me at her place? That would be a fucking nightmare.
"You think it's Dr. Martin?" Marina wondered.
I don't fucking think so. The guy touches her, and that's the last thing he'll touch.
"Why the hell are you so curious about who she's sleeping with?" I scolded. "Why the fuck are we even talkin' about her?"
"Oh, stop it, Remi," Lani waved. "You think she's a hanger-on. You always say so."
"And you think she's fat," Marina accused me.
She's not fat. She's curvy and sexy as hell. She has the best tits in the world, and her ass is heaven.
"So, she's plump, big deal," I evaded.
"Ooohh, you have a thing for her?" Marina asked maliciously.
I can't sleep for wanting her.
"Oh, Marina, that's disgusting," Lani chortled. "Like Remi would want someone like Echo."
"I don't know why y'all have a problem with Echo," David snapped. "Petal, I can't hang with your friends anymore, babe. This whole bashing of other people is fucked up."
"Oh, get off your high horse, David," I ground out.
I should be the one defending her, motherfucker, not you. I'm the one she's in love with, not you.
I'd known for a while that Echo loved me. I felt it. I knew it. It made me feel amazing and guilty. I should let her go. But I didn't want to stop feeling the way she made me feel—safe and secure. I didn't have to be anyone but myself when I was with her. I didn't need to be cocky or smooth or strong. I could tell her I was scared. I could tell her I was worried. I could tell her I was tired of pretending to be a Drake. She never judged. She just let me be me. In my world, that was a fucking luxury.
"You too, Remi?" David rose, shaking his head in disgust. "I expected better from you."
"What the hell does that mean? Echo is a fuckin' leech. We tolerate her 'cause she grew up on the estate in the servant fuckin' quarters. She's Dad's charity case." My hands were clenched into fists.
"I don’t think she's anyone's charity case, considering she's a scientist," David leaped to Echo's defense, again .
Stop talking about my woman, you asshole.
"She's a servant's orphan niece. Her mama was a crack whore," Marina scoffed. "You should be appreciating us for how tolerant we are that we even allow her to be around us."
I downed my drink, feeling fucked.
She took a Plan B? Damn it. I should've gotten it for her. That would have been the decent thing to do. I'd let her handle my fuck up. It was my job to protect her, and I hadn't.
"And Echo—" Lani began.
I roared, "For God's sake, can we stop talking about that fat bitch? What's it with y'all? You can't seem to have a conversation without bringin' her up. I'm sick of listenin' about her. She's a fucking nobody. Move the fuck on."
"Oh Lord!" Kate gasped at the same time Petal did.
Lani's face went pale, and Marina smirked.
The scent of freesia hit me. I closed my eyes. I knew who was standing behind me.
I turned and saw Echo. She looked beautiful in a yellow summer dress that was striking against her skin. It cupped her beautiful breasts, nipples I had suckled on, breasts I'd fucked. Her hair was soft around her shoulders.
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
I didn't know what to say. I felt small. Disgusting.
David was next to her. "Echo, I'm so sorry you heard that."
Fuck! How long had she been here?
Echo smiled, and I could see the heartbreak in her eyes. "Lani, lose my phone number, yeah? Never ever call me again."
"Echo, we were only jokin' and—"
Echo cut Lani off with a wave. "I may be the help's niece, but y'all are horrible people. I educated myself and am a fuckin' scientist while you, Lani, do fuck all at your daddy's company, same as you, Marina."
She took a step toward me and looked me in the eye. "And you are the worst of all of them. I'm not a leech. I have taken nothin' from y'all or y'all's family. My aunt earned her livin' workin' hard for your parents. I was headhunted by several companies, and I agreed to work for your father's because he asked me to. But don't worry about that; I'm going to quit. I've never taken anything from any of you." Her voice dropped, and only I could hear her when she said, "Can you say the same, Remi?"
She turned around and, with her head held high, walked out of my club.
I felt like I was standing in a war zone, one I had created by setting off a million bombs to crush the kindest and most loving soul I'd ever met.
"Well, that was—," Marina began.
"Shut Up," I bellowed, cutting her off. "David is right, and so is Echo. She's no leech. She's a hardworking, smart woman who has built her own life. Can you say that, Mar, Lani?"
"Take it easy, man," Tommy chimed.
"You need to shut the fuck up, Tommy. And next time you're fucking Mary Anne Coulter, do it somewhere else besides the country club 'cause I and ten other people saw you doin' her." I knew I was out of control, but I didn't care. I was in the wrong here. I was completely in the wrong. I'd hurt an innocent woman because I was a stupid little bitch who was stuck on appearances.
"Tommy?" Lani exclaimed.
I put a hand on David's shoulder. "I'm sorry, David. I'm gonna try to…." What? Fix this? Like it was fixable.
David looked surprised. "You okay, Remi?"
I shook my head. "No, man. I ain't okay. I have to go."
"Where?" David asked.
I ignored the screaming match between Tommy and my sister and Marina's snipes.
"I got to go see Echo."
David frowned.
My eyes filled with tears as I recalled how hurt she was, how I'd hurt her with my words and, if I was honest, my actions. I had wounded her every step of the way because I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I'd kept her my dirty secret when, all along, she was the most honest relationship I'd ever had.
"You want me to come with you?" David asked, concerned.
I shook my head. "No. I need to go make this right." But he knew just as I did, that I'd never be able to make this right. Echo would never forgive me, never get past this. I couldn't blame her, I didn't deserve her forgiveness or her mercy.
I found Alex by the bar and told him I'd be out for the rest of the night, and he could call me if there was anything urgent.
I then got on my bike and drove to see the woman who I'd just destroyed.