Chapter 2 #2
"You mean like the time I let Jessup walk me home from school, and you damn near ran him over with your truck? Or what about when Billy Rae bought me ice cream after the football game? You came in there and flipped it in his face. Or—"
"Alright, alright, damn."
Colt laughed, realizing he really had shown his ass during their last year in high school.
Since then, they'd worked side by side at the mechanic shop, but if she had an itch that needed to be scratched, Colt was the official scratcher…
with condoms, of course. Because he knew that, he felt he had a shot to make things official, and for good.
"I'll admit I was being an asshole, but you did enjoy the chase by those niggas." He smirked, angling his head when she grinned.
"Well," she sang, fluttering her hazel eyes, "I did kind of like Jessup."
"Pfft. If you liked him so damn much, what happened?"
"I don't know." Air escaped her lips as she looked away. "For some reason, I guess I couldn't get over you. Still can't."
She lay down, giving him her back as a huge grin stretched across his face.
He pumped his fist, then calmed down as he scooted behind her.
When she allowed him to spoon her, he closed his eyes, his nose buried in her hair.
She smelled good as he inhaled the infamous lemon scent.
She felt even better as his hand slid over her stomach, enveloping her inside his arms. Silence rested between them, a little too long. He was used to her taking jabs at him.
"Star, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Colt."
She was emotional, mostly from what she had heard earlier, and then from Colt showing up with his usual pleading for another opportunity, even though being unfaithful was in his nature. When she sniffled, Chevy hopped up, barking like he was ready to attack.
"Damn, Chevy really does hate me."
Star smiled, dabbing underneath her eyes. She was tired of crying but also tired of fighting. If nothing else, Colt was still her friend.
"He doesn't hate you. He just feels what I feel. It's crazy my pup has more emotional intelligence than the men in my life. Go figure."
"Ouch, Star. Tell me how you really feel."
"I just did."
"Again, I'm sorry, Star." Colt pushed his thumb, wiping her tears away when she faced him. "I was—"
"I know." She halted him, shaking her head. "I heard enough already. You don't have to keep reminding me what you've done."
"I do if that's what it takes to get you back. So tell me." He leaned closer just before his lips could graze against hers. "You know men think with their dicks."
Not the men she saw out and about, madly in love. Not her father, who once doted on her mother so much, her cheeks hurt from smiling as she took peeks at them cuddling when they thought she was asleep. In fact, she hadn't seen that light in her father's eyes since before her mother was diagnosed.
Instead of a response, a heavy silence greeted Colt as he studied Starlah's sad, hazel eyes.
They were eyes that once lit up at the sight of him.
He had no clue what he had when her heart once belonged to him.
It had been so long since that was a reality, and it pained him to know he was the source of that sadness.
To lighten the mood, he fished his cellphone out of his pocket, then tapped on the Spotify app. Instantly, Swan's "No Air" boomed in the air, and her eyes grew to slits, her lips forming a tight smile.
"You are so not playing fair."
"I'll never play fucking fair when it comes to you."
It was their song, the one that they danced to at their senior prom and the one that stayed on repeat when he deflowered her, being the first and only man to be inside of her.
"When it's just me and you and the sky is all blue, it don't get much better. I can't get any better. When I look at—"
Chevy howled, overpowering Colt's poor rendition of one of Swan's infamous love ballads. Chevy wasn't having it when he hopped up and howled like coyotes or some kind of danger was nearby.
"Okay, okay," Starlah sputtered, covering her mouth. "Enough, Chev!"
His howling stopped, but he glared at Colt before he made his way back to his doggy bed and plopped down. Colt laughed, but one thing he knew was Chevy didn't play about Starlah, but neither did he. He may have fucked her over, but he'd kill a motherfucker behind Starlah Steel.
"Shoot, now I feel bad. Look at him," she whispered, Chevy's low whimpers clawing at her heart.
"I see. I was almost his next meal, but I know what to do. This was my damn entry ticket to get in this room." He grinned and sat up, digging in his pocket. "Here you go, boy!"
He tossed another doggy treat, but this time out the door, causing it to tumble down the hallway. Off Chevy went, leaving the two of them alone.
"See how those come in handy?" A mischievous grin appeared as Colt had outsmarted her precious pup.
"He passed his limit already, Colt," Star fussed.
Her narrowed eyes greeted his when he gently pressed his lips against hers. When she didn't shove him away, the kiss deepened before she moaned in his mouth. He grunted, his dick hardening, but Starlah wasn't giving in. He'd have to do more than sing and bring treats to get inside of her.
"Nope." She shoved him back. "And you're going to give him the runs."
"Stop putting limits on shit like Chevy's Scooby snacks." He tugged on her chin. "Straight police activity."
She rolled her eyes before he lightly nipped her skin on her shoulder.
"You know, you don't have to mark me, Colt."
He grinned, admiring the reddened skin. Skin that smelled of summertime, picnics in the grass and all, as he dragged his fingers across her waist and pecked her lips when she shoved him yet again.
"Stop it, Star. Now you're just being mean."
"Because I won't let you play games?"
"Because you're continuously punishing me. You know what I did comes with the territory after being with the same girl since what, thirteen?"
"Funny you should say that because I was thirteen, too."
He growled, then flipped her over on her back, causing her to yelp. Chevy immediately dashed back into her bedroom, his tongue hanging out of his mouth as his eyes darted back and forth between them. Colt was indeed the one feeding him treats, but his loyalty would always lie with his Starlah.
"I'm fine, Chevy."
A guttural sound from his throat was emitted when he lowered himself into a launching position.
It was natural to him because Anatolian Shepherds were known to be protective, fighting off prey.
He didn't have much practice outside of Starlah because his parents, Rhoda and Rocky, the two oldest canines the Steels owned, guarded the farm's livestock.
"Okay, okay. Say no more." With a flick of his hand, the last treat was tossed as Chevy dashed out the door.
"Ugh, you better take him outside for a shit before you leave, too." Starlah huffed.
"Who says I'm leaving? Besides, I smell food. You cooked?"
"Nope, Endea did, and bribing a puppy is an all-time low, even for you."
"Whatever it takes, including getting you out of these pajamas," he teased, then tickled her mercilessly. The sound of her laughter made his heart race. Even her skin had red undertones from all the giggling.
"Stop, Colt!"
"Nope, not until you tell me you love me."
"Nooo," she whined. "I'm about to wet myself. If I do, I swear I'll never speak to you again."
He went in one last time, gripping her belly when she curled into a ball on her side. He fell behind her, pulling her body into his as she panted, fighting to catch her breath. As they both lay there, he gently massaged her scalp, his lips peppering her skin with kisses.
"Forgive me, Star."
"I did," she softly confessed, trying to catch her breath.
Colt enjoyed it when she laughed. Staring at her smooth skin, he slid his fingers down her thigh.
She sighed but didn't move as he pushed his dick against her back.
He didn't want pussy, but he damn sure wouldn't turn it down if she gave in.
He also didn't care if she didn't. He'd had plenty of pussy. What he wanted was her heart.
"I'm serious, babe."
"I did… a long time ago." She slowly turned over, facing him. "You already know I can't hate you, Colt. How, when at one point, you were my everything… my friend, my lover, my confidant."
"Then why don't you want me? I can still be those to you."
"I never said I didn't. I just don't…" She grunted, thinking about how Lucky had treated women over the years. She never thought in a million years that Colt would be like Lucky. Outside of that, Lucky was the perfect father until she remembered what she'd heard earlier. "I just don't trust you."
Colt gulped, feeling the weight of his actions as guilt washed over him.
"Look, I don't need an answer tonight, but I'm not giving up. Just know that one day, I'm going to make an honest woman out of you, give you my last name, and have you carry all of my big-headed ass babies."
"That would require a proposal and the acceptance of said proposal," she sassed with pursed lips.
"It's coming, but in the meantime, can you at least feed a nigga? Even Chevy's full. Look at him." He'd crept back into the bedroom and lay on his doggy bed. His eyes fluttered as he fought not to fall asleep.
"The hell did you put in those doggy treats?" she sputtered, sitting up.
"Nothing. He's just tired, Star." He sat up and gently pecked her lips. "Stop thinking the worst of me. Now I can eat? I'm ready to get some sleep like Chevy's ass."
Star glared at Colt, hoping he wasn't trying to have sex.
"I'll be good." He lifted both hands. "See, I'm not even going down to the lake. I want to be here with you."
"Fine, but keep your hands to yourself," she warned him.
After Colt had eaten two bowls of Brunswick stew and several helpings of cornbread, they cuddled up in her bed, where sleep found them after three episodes of Halo.
Colt didn't think he'd be into sci-fi shows, but that's one thing that set Starlah apart from the other girls. She never ceased to amaze him.
In the wee hours of the morning, Starlah's cellphone rang back-to-back. She didn't realize how hard she'd been sleeping until she felt Chevy licking her face.
"Ugh. Enough, Chevy. I'm up." With eyes still closed, she fumbled around until she found her cellphone. "Good morning." She yawned and tried to stretch, but had little success as Colt's arm was wrapped around her body.
"Wait, what did you say!" Her eyes flew open, and she almost pushed Colt off the bed. "Come to Jessie's Tavern?"
It was Logan Randolph, her father's attorney and family friend.
"Yeah, Starlah. Something's happened. I'd rather not tell you over the phone."
"Like what?" She panicked, looking around for her shoes. She had to get there.
Logan felt horrible, calling her and hearing her stumble over whatever was in her room.
"Matter of fact, stay put. I'll send someone to come and pick you up."
"No, I'm coming!" She shoved Colt. He sat up, confused, rubbing his eyes.
"Colt, we have to leave!" He glared at her, watching her put on her sneakers and a hoodie over her head, but still in her pajama shorts.
"The fuck are you going like that? You know how niggas are."
Star was immediately disgusted. Colt was the last person with the right to question her when, clearly, something had to have happened to Lucky. She couldn't believe she'd almost fallen for his bullshit again.
"No, but I know how you are," she spewed, tossing one of his sneakers at him. "In fact, get the fuck out of here, and don't come back."
Chevy's growl was different this time, saliva slowly descending from his mouth as he took steps toward Colt.
"And trust, I won't call him off. Get the fuck out now!"
Logan had long hung up. He had no clue who was at the house, but he couldn't take any chances if Starlah had gotten herself in a bind during an already tragic time for her and her family.