Chapter 21
Having sex without eating pussy is like opening a yogurt and not licking the lid.
—Text from Quincy to Hollis
HOLLIS
“Hey,” I heard Quincy’s deep voice call from the other side of the bed.
Ididn’t blink open my eyes, barely even registering him as he had a quiet conversation right next to me.
Iwas nearly back to sleep when he hung up, rolled over, and placed a kiss on my cheek. “Gotta go.”
“Bye,” I muttered. “Be safe.”
Hegot out of bed without another word and was gone without turning on a single light.
Iheard him close the front door, then lock it, before I drifted back to sleep.
WhenI woke up again, it was light out, and I was in Quincy’s bed alone.
Iknew as soon as I woke that today was going to be total shit.
Itwas only six in the morning, and I was awake.
Whywas I awake?
Becausemy uterus hated me.
Oncea month, I was reminded that I wasn’t God’s chosen one.
Why?
Becausemy uterus hurt so bad that it nearly doubled me over in the bed.
Likemother nature always did, she fucked me over on my day off.
Igroaned when I got out of bed and immediately saw the mess I’d made of the sheets.
Strippingthem off the bed and hoping beyond hope he had some good stain remover, I piled them into a tight ball and placed them on the floor next to the bedroom door before heading to his bathroom to hop into the shower.
AfterI was cleaned up and dressed in my own clothes, with a huge stack of toilet paper lining my panties, because God forbid I remember to pack a freakin’ tampon in my purse or my overnight bag, I headed to the laundry.
Which, of course, was overflowing and had both semi-wet clothes in the dryer, and mildewy smelling clothes in the washer.
Afterremoving both loads from the washer and the dryer, I threw everything on the floor and got the sheets started, luckily finding stain remover.
Iwas out the door ten minutes later, heading to the closest Walgreens that happened to be five blocks over.
SinceQuincy lived in a better part of town, I didn’t question the urge to walk. I just did.
Arrivingat the Walgreens, I paid for the box of tampons, and immediately went to the bathroom to take care of business.
AsI walked out of the store a few minutes later, I looked over my shoulder, wondering if it was normal to always feel like someone was looking at you.
Imean, I was in downtown Dallas, after all.
Itwas as I was looking around, trying to spot if I was actually being stared at, when I spotted it.
PieHard.
Frowning, I wondered what the place was, and found myself crossing the street to get to the front door.
WhenI arrived, it was to see straight into the coolest looking bakery I’d ever seen in my life.
Thetheme for the bakery was ’80s rock bands.
Andon the wall was the biggest looking AC/DC-esque lettering for ‘PieHard’ that I could imagine.
Iloved it.
Walkingthrough the door, it was to find a beautiful woman standing there, looking eager.
“What can I get you?” the wide-eyed lady asked, practically bouncing on her toes.
Ilooked from her to the bakery display and back again. “I have no clue.”
“Would you like help?” she asked.
Inodded. “Absolutely.”
“Well, let me start off by introducing myself. You’re my first customer!” she said. “I’mMavenBrumfield, and I just opened this morning!”
Itook a bite of the Danish she’d offered me and saw heaven.
“Oh my God,” I said as I gasped. “This is…”
“Everything?” She placed both of her hands together in excitement, bouncing on the tips of her toes. “Is it good?”
“Is it good?” I laughed. “It’s great. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything so good before in my life.”
Sheclapped excitedly. Then her eyes danced as I ordered so many cookies and other desserts that she had to restock her shelves.
Ipulled out my phone and texted Ande as the bakery owner filled my boxes, knowing that her social media reach might very well do the new business owner some good. Ande and I had started after the dinner with Quincy at his family’s place,
CircusHouse, Keene’s family circus, had the largest social media following I’d ever seen, and I knew that was courtesy of their sister, Hades, who was some social media guru.
Me:
Hey, can you ask Keene, or one of your sisters-in-law, to go check this place out? I think they’ll love it, and this girl is just starting out. She’s fantastic, though, and gave me like three free cookies because she wanted me to try them.
*PhotoAttached*
Ande:
ScrewKeene. I’m going right now. Those cookies look fantastic! Also, I’m a verified user on the account, I’ll post my own stuff on there. Then bring it to the show tonight.
Grinning, I had just put my phone back into my purse when another Carter caught my attention.
“Well, hello there, Hollis.”
Ilooked up to find Gable standing there, looking curious.
“Hey,” I grinned. “Are you working?”
Heflicked his uniform shirt and said, “Maybe.”
Irolled my eyes, surprised he didn’t say ‘does it look like it?’
Allof the Carter men were so freakin’ literal sometimes.
“Do you want a cookie?” I asked, holding up the box.
Helooked at the multiple boxes I was holding, and his brows rose. “You going to an event or something?”
Ishook my head, widening my eyes at him. “Nope.”
“Then why do you have three bakery boxes?” he wondered.
“Well,” I said as I pointed at the first one, “this is a wedding cake sampler. This one is a box of cookies that looked really good, and I couldn’t decide on. This one is a box of muffins, scones, and other bakery delights that I couldn’t decide on.”
Gablecame up to me and glanced down into the box.
Hishand came out with the one I wanted to try—the snickerdoodle Snickers one—and took a bite.
Hegroaned. “Holy shit.”
Isnapped my fingers at him. “Break me off a piece so I know whether I need to get another one.”
Helaughed and handed the whole cookie to me. “I’ll go grab my own.” He glanced at the place. “Is this new?”
Inodded.
“Wait for me, and I’ll walk you back since I don’t see your car,” he ordered.
Idid, waiting for him to finish up inside, and laughing when he came out with a box that looked very similar to mine.
“You got a lot,” I pointed out.
“I got everything she had ready.” He shrugged. “I’ll take it back to the station. Did you talk to Quincy yet?”
Mybrows rose. “He got a call at like o-dark-thirty, and then he left.”
“He went to Kentucky.” He smiled. “Ask me why.”
Myheart hurt a little bit. “Kentucky?”
Whyhad he not told me that he was leaving?
“He’s probably just about to land,” he said. “You’re not asking me why.”
Heartaching, I asked, “Why?”
“BecauseTaiteDeRosa was seen at a hotel in connection with his murder case,” he whispered.
Mymouth fell open. “He what?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “You heard me right.”
Iwas shocked.
Imean, I knew he was a bad guy but…
“Is he dumb?” I gasped.
Hethrew his arm around my shoulder, and then he guided me back toward Quincy’s place.
Itwas only as I arrived at the door that I said, “I forgot to ask for a key… or the code.”
Gablequickly got me inside, then let me into Quincy’s apartment.
“Man, he’s really got this place cleaned out.” He shook his head. “Did he show you the house?”
Thehouse? “What?”
“The place that he’s building,” Gable expounded.
“Um, no,” I said, trying to hide the fact that there was so much about Quincy that I didn’t know.
Oh, and the hurt that he hadn’t at least left me a note saying he was getting on a freakin’ plane.
What else was he hiding?
Andwas I even allowed to be hurt by him not telling me?