Chapter Thirty Seven No Tears
Chapter Thirty Seven
No Tears
B
ack at home, Arina and I waste no time. Music drifts through the living room as we weave between our rooms, catching glimpses of each other only long enough to twirl and model. Those sexy-ass brothers left a spark in us—and it’s obvious it’s still burning.
I’m halfway into my heels when I hear a familiar click that steals the air from the room. A slow, aching creak follows as the front door drifts open.
My smile dies mid-rise.
Arina’s gaze snaps to mine, her playfulness gone, eyes sharp with warning and confusion.
Levy steps inside, the morning light slicing across his face. His eyes drag over the room—me dressed to leave, the shimmer in my curls, the glow still painted on my skin. His stare hooks into me, certain, as if he can taste last night in the air around me despite the shower.
If there was ever a moment I didn’t want to face him, it’s now. But here he is—uninvited, standing in our doorway like he still belongs here.
I fold my arms, chin lifting just enough to make it clear. “You lost, Levy? Or you just forget how to knock?”
The second his eyes lock on me, I don’t give him a chance to speak. My sharp voice cuts clean through the tension. “I don’t even know why you’re here—unless it’s to pack the rest of your shit and finally leave.”
His brows jump, jaw clenching as panic rises in his face. “What? Jainey, wait—just listen for one second.”
“No.” I cut him off before he can try to spin another excuse.
My lethal voice slicing through his. “We’re done, Levy.
Completely done. Three days—you disappeared for three fucking days—and that’s all it took for me to realize I’m done with you.
You’re supposed to be my man, not out doing whatever the hell you want. ”
He blinks, stunned, the words obviously hitting harder than he expected. “You’re really doing this right now? After everything we’ve been through? Damn, Jainey, I was just with some friends. I told you, it’s not that serious—”
“Not that serious?” I laugh, the sound sharp and humorless. “You vanish without a word, and it’s not that serious? You’ve got some fucking nerve, you know that?”
From the corner of the room, Arina coughs pointedly to remind him he’s not just embarrassing himself in front of me, but he’s got an audience too.
He glares past me, jaw ticking, her reaction clearly pissing him off even more.
“Man, this is crazy. You always blowing shit up. I’ve been patient with you, but I didn’t come back home to get yelled at in front of your little cheerleader. ”
I take a slow step toward him, arms crossed tight, my glare locked on his.
“Patient with me? I’m the once who’s had to endured all your lies and cheating.
Maybe you should’ve thought about all this before you wanted to act like a damn ghost. You disappeared—left me here wondering if you were dead—but no, you were just too busy fucking around in Vegas to tell me where you were. ”
I laugh, short and bitter. “And let’s not forget how you lied about losing your job—because your baby mama went up there showing her ass.
Yeah, I know about that too. You’re a liar, Levy.
A manipulative, sorry-ass liar.” My voice shakes, not from weakness but from the fury clawing at my throat.
“And now you think you can just walk back in here like nothing happened?”
He doesn’t answer. Just stands there—lips parted, hands twitching at his sides—searching for words he clearly doesn’t have. The disbelief on his face only fueling me more.
“This was the last time,” I say, my voice steady and final. “You don’t get to treat me like this over and over again and think nothing’s ever going to change.”
For once, Levy’s got nothing. His mouth opens like he wants to argue, but nothing comes out. He just stands there, looking at me—searching for softness, for something left to hold on to—but there’s nothing left to find. Finally, with a stiff nod, he turns down the hall.
The quiet thud of his life being packed up echoes through the house while I stand there—heart pounding, yet utterly unshaken. Arina exhales beside me, shaking her head. “About time,” she mutters under her breath.
I stand in the hallway, arms crossed, watching him haul the first load to his car. When he comes back for more, I don’t bother holding back. “Hurry up,” I demand flatly. “I got plans—and you’re not in them.”
His eyes catch mine, holding words he knows he’s lost the right to say. He turns away, shoulders coiled tight, and keeps packing. Trip after trip until the door snaps shut behind him.
And just like that, the house feels weightless for the first time in months.
? ? ?
We fix our sundresses, the thin fabric skimming over my legs. No wonder Levy looked even more pissed on his way out.
Arina grins at her reflection, fingers sliding under her straps to readjust them. “They’re gonna lose their minds when they see us.”
I grin, sliding in my earrings, pulse kicking at the thought of seeing those sexy-ass brothers again. “Good, let them. They should thank us for gracing the place with this kind of fine.”
Arina smirks at me through the mirror. “I don’t know about you, but I know King’s gonna be thanking me later.”
I snort. “Oh please. I’m about to have four hands clawing at me. And knowing them, they’ll try to take me right there. The sex is amazing—like out of this world, but I’m not getting served on the table like an extra entrée.”
Arina laughs reaching for her nude lipstick.
“Thankfully, our reservations are later because if Levy would’ve made us late, they’d definitely make us pay for that shit,” she murmurs, gliding the color on.
“And honestly? You acting surprised they’d take you on a table is hilarious.
Those men look at you like furniture is optional. ”
“Seriously girl, and I really don’t want to have to lie to them already.
Trust me, I know. I’ll be surprised if they don’t try to fuck me in the bathroom or something.
” I grin as I slide my phone out of my bag.
“I’m calling Saint to make sure they’re ready.
I hope they know better than to have us waiting. ”
The phone barely buzzes twice before his rough voice comes through.
“Hey, pretty. Been waiting on you to call.”
My lips curl slow, almost against my will, Saint’s voice running down my spine like a warm fingertip. Arina sees it happen and shoots me a knowing look that only makes the heat worse.
“Miss me already?" I tease, adjusting the strap of my dress now.
Saint chuckles, a low rumble that hits me straight in the stomach. “You have no idea. King and Cairo are with me—we’re already heading to the restaurant. Hope you and Arina didn’t make us dress up for nothing.”
I roll my eyes, though the grin doesn’t leave my face. “Please. We look better than all of you in that car.”
Arina smirks, mouthing exactly as she fans herself dramatically.
“Then don’t keep us waiting,” he says, voice dropping into something more suggestive. “The sooner I see you again, the better my day gets.”
The line goes quiet with a click, leaving me flushed but grinning as I slip my phone into my bag. “They’re already on the way,” I say, and Arina’s brows rise like she’s been waiting on that update.
“Good,” she says, grabbing her bag. “The monster in my stomach was about to start eating itself.”
I slip my purse onto my shoulder. “Same. Let’s go before the boys start blowing up my phone again.”
? ? ?
We slide into Arina’s car, the morning sun spilling in through the windshield, catching the glitter still dusted across our skin from Teasers, and soon we’re laughing like last night never ended.
The amount of glitter used in strip clubs needs to be studied.
“Girl, be serious,” Arina says with a grin. “I don’t know how you’re handling both of them. If it were me, I’d need an intermission. Guess I rubbed off on you too hard—my wingwoman’s out here getting more action than me.”
I snort, nearly choking on my own laugh. “You know I’ve always been like this,” I say. “But I don’t know, bitch—maybe it’s that, mixed with some other shit too. I don’t know what they see in me, but I hope they never stop drinking my water.”
“Well whatever it is, they obviously love it. I heard the way they were talking to you last night, they’re already fighting over you. ”
“Oh, I know—I was there,” I roll my eyes, a grin straining my cheeks.
As the laughter fizzles out, I let my words spill without warning. “You know what, bitch? I think… I want to be a stripper.”
She damn near swerves into the next lane, an old lady honking like her life depends on it. I’m pretty sure if we were any closer, she would’ve died from the anxiety alone. “Wait—what?” she blurts, eyes wide. “Say that again—you’re serious?”
I grin, unbothered. “It’s just about last night that I can’t get out of my head.
Watching those girls—money flying everywhere, men eating out of the palms of their hands.
And girl... all that power? I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
I’ve got the attitude for starters—the look and the body… so I figure why not?”
For a moment she just stares at me thinking I’ll change my mind, then her lips curl into a wicked smile. “You know what, you’re right. You’ll have these men risking mortgages. Husbands, baby daddies, preachers—anybody would fold with just one look at you.”
I hide my face, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. “You’re insane.”
“And you’re perfect for it,” she fires back, smacking my thigh. “You’ll be the main attraction. I just know it. And you also know I’ll be front row every damn night I don’t work, throwing the first stack and screaming your name like a groupie.”
“I know I always say this, but I really don’t deserve you. Let’s keep this between us for now—before I make any final decisions,” I say, confident she understands exactly what I’m asking.
“Of course, girl.” Her warm smile eases the pressure sitting heavy in my chest.
Maybe she’s right.