Chapter Twenty-Two
Passing by a police cruiser, yesterday’s shit show comes to mind.
Who the fuck does Troy think he is, sending cops after us? The fucking audacity he had to tell them that I was being held against my will. I had to stop myself from telling the cop I wanted to press charges.
For a split second, I contemplated it. I know the justice system doesn’t always work in one’s favor, though. Not only that, but the last thing I want to do is drag this out any longer than I have to or pay for a lawyer. What Troy fails to forget is, I know his weakness.
His father.
All the man wants to do is impress his dad.
Mr. Clayborn is one of those men who commands a room, and people gravitate toward him.
He tried to make Troy the same way, but not everyone is cut from the same cloth.
His son is probably one of his biggest disappointments.
He always liked me, though. Said he hoped I would get Troy back on the right track.
If he knew that Troy was harassing me? He would probably cut him off. That’s just the kind of man he is.
I hope, I pray it doesn’t come to that. I hate the idea of tearing a family apart, but if Troy doesn’t stop, I don’t know what choice I’ll have. I’m finally happy, and I won’t let him ruin it.
“Even if he does try, the guys aren’t going anywhere,” I murmur to myself as I pull into the zoo.
Levi, Walker, and Hudson would rather walk away from everything they have just to be with me. Or at least that’s how they make me feel.
A car pulls in next to me as I put my car in park. I look over and see Susie.
“Good morning,” I say as I get out of my car.
“Morning. I brought you tea.”
“You are a goddess,” I tell her, making her laugh.
“You know how to flatter me.” She winks.
I take the cup from her and take a sip. “Thank you, you don’t know how badly I needed this.”
“Oh, late night?” she asks coyly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumble, trying to hide my blush.
“Hey, wait up!” someone yells.
We turn and see Charlotte rushing to catch up with us.
“Sorry I’m late.” Charlotte huffs.
“If you’re late, then what are we?” I joke.
“No kidding,” Susie teases.
“So what were you two talking about?” Charlotte asks.
Susie bumps into my shoulder. “Esme here was just going to tell us why she’s so tired. What kept you up late last night? Or better yet, who?”
“Have you finally admitted that you’re seeing someone?” Charlotte asks, making me groan.
Susie laughs. “Come on, it can’t be that bad. I mean, we met Troy, for crying out loud. As far as I’m concerned, you can only go up from there.”
Charlotte crinkles her nose. “No kidding. That guy was a creep.”
“Wait, did he do something to make you uncomfortable?” I ask, frowning.
Charlotte pulls me to a stop. “No, he never stepped out of line. It was just…the energy he gave off. It was like he thought he was above all of us. The top of the animal pyramid.”
Susie scoffs. “When, let’s be real, he would be at the very bottom of it.”
“You’re sure?” I ask, pressing both of them.
“Yes,” they say in unison.
“Now tell us about the new guy, or girl if you swing that way,” Charlotte says as we start walking again.
“At the very least tell us if the person is taking care of you and if you’re happy,” Susie adds.
I contemplate telling them about the guys, but I hold off. Not because I’m ashamed but because it’s just a weird situation. One I’ll eventually learn how to navigate.
“I’m happy and taken care of,” I tell them.
The girls share a smile.
“That’s more than I thought you would tell us,” Susie says, making me chuckle.
An ad for a trunk or treat catches my attention.
“Are you guys handing out candy?” I ask, nodding at the banner.
Charlotte nods. “Yeah, I think I’m going to decorate my trunk to look like the mouth of the Cookie Monster.”
“That would be awesome,” Susie says.
“Your car is the right shade of blue for it too.”
“Exactly, what about you?” Charlotte asks, looking at Susie.
“I was thinking of doing a Where’s Waldo theme, but I don’t know if I can pull it off,” Susie tells us.
“That would be new for sure,” I tell her.
“I think you should try it,” Charlotte tells her.
“Maybe I will. What about you, Esme?” Susie asks.
“I haven’t decided yet, but I have a couple of ideas.”
“Tell us,” Charlotte demands.
“Well, I thought about doing the spooky graveyard thing with spiders and headstones. I thought about doing a bug theme with fake bugs pinned into frames, but at the same time I think it would be really cute to do a Wizard of Oz theme. I don’t know, I’m all over the place.”
Charlotte whistles as Susie shakes her head.
“You always go over the top,” Susie says.
“Which one would be easiest? That’s the one I would do.” Charlotte laughs.
“Right?” Susie laughs.
“I love Halloween.” I shrug with a small smile.
I’m used to people thinking I’m over the top. I’ve dealt with it my whole life.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Charlotte reassures me.
“But you better decide which theme you want to do. We’re getting down to the wire,” Susie tells me.
“I know. I will.” I sigh.
“Charlotte, hurry up and put your stuff in your locker. You’re with me today,” Spencer, one of the workers says as we enter the employees-only area.
Susie and I wince as Charlotte groans.
“I fucking hate that guy,” I tell them.
“Me too,” Susie says.
“Same,” Charlotte says. “Okay, I will see you ladies later.” She starts walking backward. “Oh, and Esme, I think you should bring your lover with you to the trunk or treat. I can’t wait to meet them.”
I smile when she says “them,” trying to be inclusive, but little does she know it fits because there are three of them.
“Maybe I will.” I laugh.
Maybe I will.
Pixie: Just pulled up.
Leaving the office, I head outside just to watch Esme step out of her car. When she looks up and sees me, she smiles, making my heart race.
God, she’s beautiful.
“Hey, you,” she says as she bounds toward me.
“Hi.”
Once she’s close enough, I pull her into my arms. When I lean down to her and kiss her, she relaxes into my arms.
It feels just as good holding her now as it did when I first met her.
“How was your day?” she asks breathlessly when I pull away.
“Better now that you’re here. How was yours?”
A beautiful smile covers her face. “It was good.”
“Play with any animal babies today?” I tease.
I’m finding it easier and easier to come out of my shell around her. I used to not speak much, but I can’t help but use my voice when I’m with her, if for no other reason than to keep her talking.
“I wish. Every day I go in, I cross my fingers, hoping the baby giraffe will be born while I’m there.”
“Who knows, maybe it will be born on Halloween.”
Her eyes light up at the thought. “That would be awesome.”
She shivers in my arms, reminding me that we’re still outside.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
With her hand in mine, I lead her in. As soon as we step through the door, Levi walks out of the bathroom and looks up.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming over,” he says as she goes to him.
I watch as he pulls her into his arms, kissing her. While most men would be jealous watching their girl kiss someone else, I’m not. Not a hint of jealousy in me to be found, and I fucking love it.
“I hope it’s okay that I came. Walker told me to,” she says when he lets her go.
He looks over her shoulder and smiles at me. “Sometimes the quiet ones have good ideas, huh?”
I roll my eyes at his joke. “So funny.”
“I am, aren’t I?” He smirks.
Esme laughs. “Where’s Hudson?”
“He ran out to get some ice. He will be back soon,” Levi tells her.
“Is it weird that I just assumed you had one of those big ice makers where you guys have a bar here?” she asks.
“We do, but we needed dry ice,” Levi tells her as we sit down.
“For?” she asks, raising a brow.
Reaching over, I grab her from where she sits between us, placing her on my lap.
“Seriously? She was already right next to you.” Levi sighs.
“I like holding her.”
Some people have comfort items. Like a weighted blanket, a childhood stuffed animal, or a favorite spoon. Mine happens to be my girl. So sue me.
“Dry ice,” Esme says, getting us back on track.
“It’s for Halloween. Every year we have a party,” Levi tells her.
Her eyes light up and then dull almost just as fast.
“What’s wrong?”
“So you guys are busy on Halloween?” she asks quietly.
Levi and I share a look. Are we busy on Halloween? Fucking swamped, but if she wants us for something, we will make it happen.
“Not too busy. Not until later at least, and even then I just plan on handing out candy. Why?”
Before she can say anything, I cut in. “We are hoping you’ll come to the party too. I hope you know that.”
Her body relaxes into me. “I would love that.”
“Do you have plans that night?”
“Well, since it’s on a Friday this year, we are doing trunk or treat at the zoo the day before Halloween on Thursday.” She takes a deep breath. “I was hoping you guys would like to go with me.”
“All three of us?” Hudson asks, letting us know he’s back.
“Of course, well, only if you want to.”
“We would love to,” Levi tells her.
“Let us know what you need from us,” I tell her.
She looks at me and smiles. “I just need you guys to show up. Then I have the rest under control.”
“You’ll let us know if you change your mind?” Levi asks.
“Of course.”
“Esme, come over here! I want to introduce you to someone,” Joy, one of the old ladies, says.
“One sec!” She smiles at her before turning back to Hudson. “Do you need help with the ice?”
“Between the three of us, we have it. Go have fun,” he tells her.
Reluctantly, I let her go, and she runs off to join Joy. I can’t help but smile as I look at the two of them together. She looks so right here. Like she belongs.
“She’s fucking amazing,” Hudson says, with awe in his voice.
“Isn’t she?” Levi says as we get up.
We follow behind Hudson and head outside.
“Speaking of how perfect she is, I never told you about a conversation she and I had the other morning,” Levi says quietly.
“Tell me.”
He looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “I decided to check in with her and make sure she was good with everything she saw the other night.”
He doesn’t need to say it out loud. I know he’s referring to things between him and me.
“And?” I ask, heart racing.
Will she put a stop to it or did she like what she saw? Fuck, I’d do a lot of shit for her, but I don’t know if I could willingly give Levi up. Not in any way.
“Relax,” he says, reading me.
“Just tell me.”
“She asked if we could ever play with just the three of us.”
An image of him fucking her as I fuck him pops into my mind, making my cock twitch.
“I swear to God, Levi, if you didn’t tell her yes, I will suffocate you on my cock,” I mutter quietly, making him laugh.
“Like I’d say no. I about fucking came in my pants when she asked. Now we just need to make it happen.”
“We got lucky with her,” I say, running a hand over my mouth.
Shit, I need to make this happen. When is too soon?
Hudson whistles, catching our attention. “Are you two done fucking around and going to help or what?”
“Why did we become friends with him again?” Levi sighs.
“Who fucking knows.”
“Come on, let’s get this shit done and get back to our girl.”
Our girl. Who wants to be shared between us. I can’t fucking wait.