17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
“You want to explain to me what that shit in the car was back there?”
I place my earrings on the dresser and slide off my heels. “Not really.”
“Too damn bad. We’re going to talk about this and squash this shit right now.”
“Maybe I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“The fuck? Where’s the attitude coming from?”
“What? You can dish it out to everyone, but no one is allowed to give it back as good as we get?”
“I don’t want to argue.” He steps toward me, and I take a step back.
“Yeah well. It’s good to want things,” I snap and step around him to shimmy out of my dress.
“Fuck, baby. You don’t fight fair.” His gaze moves up and down my body, checking me out in my underwear as I drop my dress to the closet floor. I ignore him and the heat flushing across my skin.
“C’mere, Gwynee,” he demands, all gruff and sexy, but I’m too pissed off to be attracted to him right now.
“No,” I deadpan and unhook my bra and let it fall next to my discarded dress.
“I’m not asking.”
I roll my eyes and grab a sports bra out of my drawer.
“Wasting your time putting that one when I’m just going to peel it off you.”
I turn around and shoot him a death glare. “The only thing you’re going to peel off anyone is your own pants to jerk yourself off because you sure as hell aren’t getting in my panties tonight.”
The bastard has the audacity to laugh. “You’re cute when you’re pissed. Maybe I should ruffle your feathers more often.” He grins bigger.
I jerk my leggings up over my ass and grab a pair of socks and my sneakers.
“Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“Don’t push it or that cuteness you’ve got going for you is going to wear off.”
“Ha. You’re real funny, big guy.” I pat him on the chest and grab my keys out of my purse.
“There’s a gym downstairs.”
“I’m aware, but I don’t want to use yours. I need time to think, and I can’t do it here when there’s always someone in my face.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Fine. I’ll get Kidd to tail you.”
“I’m an adult and I don’t need a babysitter.”
“It’s not up for a debate.”
“You’re not the boss of me.”
“No, babe. I’m not, but I damn sure am not going to let any woman connected to me to run around unprotected.”
My blood turns to ice. “Has someone threatened me?”
“No, but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t people out there who wouldn’t use you to hurt me.”
“Fine. Put a prospect on me.”
“Fuck, you’re being a real pain in my ass.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Sure, because this is a democracy,” I retort, yanking open the bedroom door.
He huffs out a sigh as I exit, heading for the stairs. “Gwynee, come back here.”
I’m not interested in having another argument with him.
“Kidd!” His gruff voice rings out behind me as I scurry down the stairs, nearly tripping as I race down them.
Kidd meets me at the front door. “Where are we going?”
“I’m going to the gym.”
“I could use a workout. I’m trying to build up some muscle.” He flashes me a crooked grin.
“You’re not joining me. You can’t protect me from my would-be kidnappers or whatever if you’re distracted.”
Big Daddy follows us out the door, leaving it open behind him. He’s wearing a strange expression on his face that I can’t quite read. Part of me wants to give in a little and kiss him goodbye. Only I know if I do, one kiss will turn into more kisses that will then lead to something more. Something I’m not in the mood for right now.
“Be back before it gets dark,” he calls after me, his voice just barely carrying over the loud music coming from the house.
“I’ll be back when I get back. Don’t wait up.”
Some of the guys drinking out by the garage stare at me as Kidd shadows after me, but they are wise enough not to comment. Inside the refuge of my vehicle, I take a moment to collect myself. I’ve never been more pissed at him than I am right now.
This isn’t how our relationship is supposed to be. We’re meant to be partners. Equals. Not him determining every aspect of my life and me simply going along with his plans.
I shoot off a text to Cecilia to see if she wants to meet me at the gym. She doesn’t respond right away, so when Kidd fires up his motorcycle, I start my car and turn up the stereo, hoping the music will drown and calm my racing thoughts.
The drive to the gym, I belt out the lyrics to the song, Fuck You , by Lily Allen . It can cure any bad mood I’m in.
I’m pulling into a parking space when Cecilia calls me. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Since when do you go to the gym?”
“Since now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why does something have to be wrong? Can’t a girl want to burn some calories?”
“We both know you hate going to the gym. Save yourself the trouble of paying for a membership you will never use and come over. We’ll drink some wine and watch some trash reality tv.”
“That sounds like more fun. Let me ditch Kidd and I’ll be on my way.”
“Why do you… you know what? I don’t want to know. Just get your ass over here.”
“Give me twenty minutes.”
“Grab a fruit tray or something. I haven’t done my grocery shopping.”
“Anything else?”
“Maybe some chocolate.”
“I got you.” I unclip my seat belt and look at Kidd’s reflection in my rearview mirror. He’s parked on the opposite side of the street, sitting on the curb smoking a cigarette. I wonder if he’s even old enough to smoke. He has such an innocent baby face about him.
I exit my car and dash across the street. “Change of plans. You have the night off.”
“No can do, Gwynee. Big Daddy gave me my orders. Wherever you go, I go.”
“You can and you will. I’m going to Cecilia’s for a girls’ night in. No men or boys allowed.”
“I’ve got time.”
“Ugh. Whatever. Suit yourself, but the street she lives on is boring.”
“Then I guess just for tonight I’m one of the girls.” He snuffs out his cigarette and shoves the butt in his pants pocket.
“Only because you don’t litter.”
“Oh my God, he did not say that,” Cecilia shrieks through her laughter as we sprawl on her couch eating white chocolate covered pretzels.
“He did. And I can’t believe I didn’t slap him for it.”
“Girl, you’ve got yourself into a mess with him,” Cecilia admonishes gently, pouring us another round of wine.
Kidd shakes his head at us, but I can tell he’s secretly enjoying our antics. We took pity on him and invited him in when the rain started a torrential downpour.
Thunder cracks in the distance, followed by lightning. A loud boom pops off like a gunshot and the power fails. Cecilia and I scream at the same time as a large shadow passes by the living room window.
“Kidd,” I hiss. “There’s someone out there.”
Three heavy knocks sound against the front door.
“I’ll check it out,” Kidd says and then we hear him curse under his breath when he knocks into the coffee table.
I feel around for my phone and turn on the flashlight function.
Kidd cracks the door open, and Big Daddy shoves his way inside, sopping wet. “This doesn’t look like the fucking gym.”
“Plans changed. You didn’t expect me to work out in a storm, did you?”
“I expected you to be where you said you were going to be.”
“I’m not a child. I don’t need to ask for permission.”
He crosses his arms over his broad chest, taking up most of the space in Cecilia’s small living room. “You could have been anywhere. What if someone grabbed you?”
My laugh comes out more bitter than I intend. “Is that what you came here for? To scold me about my whereabouts? Or did you miss me?” I shoot him a challenging look, though he probably can’t see it. The light on my phone provides very little light.
“What are you doing here?” Cecilia asks.
“Big Daddy doesn’t trust me to go anywhere alone.”
“It’s not about trust, Gwynee.”
“Then what?” I cut him off before he can finish his sentence. “Because right now this feels a lot like control.”
“You know that’s not it,” he grunts, raking his fingers over his wet head.
“How did you know where I was? Do you have a tracker on my car?”
“So what if I do?”
“Maybe we should give them some privacy,” Cecilia murmurs, pulling Kidd toward her kitchen.
“That’s unnecessary,” Big Daddy’s voice comes out low and tired, sounding defeated. “Let’s go home, babe. Talk about this in private, yeah?”
“I’m not going anywhere until you apologize.”
“Not going to apologize for protecting what’s mine.”
“So what? Are you going to thump on your chest and throw me over your shoulder?”
“If that’s what it takes to pull your head out of your ass.”
“That’s nice. You can go home and sleep alone for all I care. I’m spending the night with Cecilia.”
“Baby, I don’t have to sleep alone.”
“Ouch,” I whisper as a tear rolls down my cheek. “Don’t let me stand in your way.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
“Sure didn’t sound that way.”
“I’m sorry. All right. Can we go home and talk about this?”
“No.” I stomp my foot and he stalks toward me until I’m falling back on the couch and then he’s scooping me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
When he slaps my ass and spanks me, that’s when I truly lose it on him.