Chapter 2
After Star had eaten a bowl of Brunswick stew, she crawled into bed with Chevy, whose mouth rested at the foot of her bed. His eyes fastened onto hers, and he whimpered as he wanted to be closer to her.
"Fine." She sat up and patted her mattress.
Chevy immediately lifted his head, leaping up and making his way to her. Lucky had already warned her about spoiling him, saying he wouldn't make for a good guard dog, but she didn't want him to be one. She wanted to keep him for herself and be her companion.
"No slobbing," she warned before her cheeks hiked when he barked as if he understood her.
It was pointless because she knew by morning, he would have fallen asleep, which included him slobbing all over her spread. She'd go through two, sometimes three a week if he slept with her without Lucky catching him.
"Now, let's see what I can find."
She was into medical television shows like Resident or Doc and sci-fi movies like Hunger Games. She found both exciting, even more than tinkering on motorcycles, trucks, or cars all day, leaving her with oil smudges on her skin and under her nails.
"Oh, I didn't know this started."
She sat up when the series Halo appeared as an option.
Just when she pressed play, she heard a tap on her window.
Chevy's head immediately shot up, followed by a series of barks.
She tried to ignore it. She knew if she had, Chevy would have their Anatolian Shepherd dogs, Rocky and Rhoda, gnawing through the fence to get to their house.
"Should I ignore him?" she asked, knowing who it was. Chevy happily wagged his tail, causing her to snicker.
"I knew you liked him."
She rubbed Chevy's head as he barked once. Truth was, he tolerated Colt because of what he usually came with — doggie treats. When she pulled the curtain back, Colt grinned and lifted a bag labeled Barks and Meows. Chevy immediately leaped off the bed and ran to the window, barking excitedly.
"Fine, but you can only eat one." She held up one finger with an elevated brow. Chevy barked twice, causing her to giggle. "Is that doggie talk for two?"
"Star, come on," Colt whined, watching her debate with her dog. "Are you letting me in or not?"
She sighed, mostly because he'd rather climbed through her bedroom window than the front door. It gave sneaky vibes when they were, at one point, very much the relationship many girls wanted with him.
She caught enough grief over the years as the tomboy who snagged the town's pretty country boy. Colt didn't have much growing up, but once his body filled out, his voice deepened, and his dick grew, so did his following.
It was a reverse Cinderella story in the making when Lucky Steel's only daughter fell for him, even advocating for him to work at the mechanic shop.
Although his cheating ways led to their breakup, she'd protected him.
She never told Lucky or Creed, but only because, at one point, they were best friends long before lovers.
"Star, baby? Please."
Air escaped her mouth before she lifted the latch and slid the window open. With excitement, Colt quickly crawled through. She stood there, frustrated with crossed arms, mostly with her heart that leaped at the sight and smell of him.
Colt had smoked on his way. His forest-like musk scent blended nicely with the potent earthy plant she sometimes indulged in.
He stood, gazing at her with his hooded, dark-chocolate orbs that complemented his peanut butter skin.
His tongue slid across his lower, thick lip, causing her pussy to jump.
Luckily for her, he'd have to do more than bring doggie treats to get back in her good graces.
"What do you want, Colt? We just saw each other at the shop a few hours ago."
"Seriously, Star. You're busting my balls, and I've been on my best behavior."
"Such as?"
"Meaning, I haven't fucked another girl in months," he replied like the idiot he was. Star's eyes narrowed when he gripped her waist, pulling her in. "You shut me out, remember? What was I supposed to do?”
"Oh, so we had a spat because you're cheating, and then you keep cheating because we had a spat?"
"Ugh, so fucking frustrating. You confuse me, Star."
"I guess that means when we're so-called off, I can have sex too with other men," she suggested, and he growled. "Exactly."
"I didn't come to fight. I came bearing Scooby snacks for Chevy." He held up the bag again when Chevy repeatedly barked, eager to rip the goodies out of his hand. "Then I have this for you."
Colt reached inside the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a second bag. It was Misses Smith's infamous peppermints that came in all colors and flavors.
"Your favorite. You don't want them?"
Chevy barked, growing anxious. He'd practically begged the two of them to get over themselves when he leaped up, placing his paws on Colt's chest.
"Aye, boy. I got you. Tell your mama to quit with all her bullshit."
Chevy looked at her and barked, causing Colt to chuckle.
"Great, now Chevy's turning on me. Go figure." It didn't surprise her because she'd learned a long time ago that a man's best friend was indeed a dog — her dog.
"I knew you'd be happy to see me, even if she wasn't," he spoke as Star smirked. "Here you go."
Colt then tossed a steak-flavored milk bone across the bedroom, and off Chevy went.
"Bribing a dog to get in my bedroom is definitely a desperate act, even for you." She rolled her eyes before securing her window. "You know, one day, someone is going to think I enjoy being taken advantage of by shooting you in the ass."
"Pfft, like that shit would ever happen. The fuck would come in here besides me, Star? You really want me to fuck someone up about you." Colt tucked his lips, taking in her thick thighs that her cotton pajama shorts barely covered. "And what's up with the pajamas? Pussy sitting up just right."
"Move." She shoved him and sat on her bed. "I was preparing for bed. Lucky and Creed stepped out, so it's me and Chevy."
"I see, but we all wanted to hang out, go for a ride up to the lake. Thought you heard when Cassie and Reggie mentioned it today at the shop."
She wished she were up for it because Chevy loved water. He'd sit by the lake under the moon and relax, but in the daytime, he'd be the first to jump in.
"Like you said, they mentioned it in my presence. That's not exactly an invite."
She was already upset with Lucky and Creed, stewing in her feelings when they still hadn't returned, especially because she knew they weren't at Jake's playing bingo or cards.
"That's because you always say no, Star.
Come on, it's Friday. We have a cooler full of beer.
Cassie and the girls already have the hot dogs and burgers to toss on the grill.
Figured you'd want to unwind, do something besides drool over Harry Potter," he jested, taking a seat on the edge of the bed when Chevy approached him.
"Oh, here you go."
He dug in the bag and tossed Chevy another doggie treat. Off he went, his teeth sinking into the steak-flavored bone. Starlah smiled, watching him eat as if he hadn't already had a bowl of dog food earlier, before Colt showed up.
"No more, Colt. One was enough."
"Cool." He shrugged, but he brought enough to buy him as much time as possible.
Earlier that day, he kissed her in the breakroom. When she smiled, as soon as he was off work, he put his plan into motion.
"Anyway, I figured I'd let Cassie, Russia, and whoever else shows up have you to themselves. You know, I always wondered why the girls hate the girl the guy still wants while still giving that same guy the pussy."
"Shit, look at me," he jested, and she punched him in the arm. "I'm kidding." Chevy wasn't, who growled, impatient as his mouth salivated.
"That's absurd but riddle me this. Work is one thing, but after work is another. Why would you want me there anyway?"
Colt's brows dipped in the middle of his forehead, feigning confusion.
"Because you're my fucking girl, even when you call shit off. Everyone fucking knows that."
"And that's exactly why I'm not going. They supposedly know that but still fuck you. See, I'm sooo lucky."
"Don't start that shit, Star. You seriously think I want Cassie or any of those other bitches?
" he asked, pretending he hadn't screwed Cassie just a few weeks earlier.
"Why would I want her, Star? And her best friend, Braelyn, is dating your brother.
Remember? I fuck Cassie, and Braelyn would pillow talk with your damn brother. "
"Pfft. Braelyn's your next-door neighbor, too, and one who probably holds all your secrets. Oh, and the fact that you won't cheat because you think it will get back to me through my brother is pathetic. How about not cheat, Colt Shaw?"
Chevy barked two times, then whimpered while staring at his doggy bag. He couldn't believe they were holding out when they were within two feet of him. He was big enough to knock Colt down and take them, but he also knew he risked being put in his cage.
"I guess it's because I'm not the finest or the prettiest. Hell, I don't even dress like them, but one thing I do know is my worth."
"See, that's where you're wrong. You're beyond the finest, and especially, the prettiest." Colt tugged on Star's ginger-colored tendril before she smacked his hand.
Chevy immediately dashed toward them, barking as if he'd hit Star. They both laughed when Colt wagged his finger at her four-legged friend.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd want my girl."
"Your girl? Why do you keep saying that?"
"Yeah, Star. You'll always be my girl. Shit happens, and I ain't saying it's right.
I am saying that you're the only girl I even see me spending the rest of my life with.
We started out young, and while that ain't no excuse, it's the truth.
Hell, there were times I wanted to let you have your fun, but I couldn't let another nigga brag about having the baddest girl in Pellum on his arm. "