“I pulled her over just outside of town for speeding,” I say bluntly. There’s a sharp pinch on my side, so I tack on. “But she had a good reason. Nothing more than that.”
Mae’s arm drops to her side, and her lips purse, like she doesn’t like my answer. She turns, and I swear, if I didn’t know the woman better, I’d say she was sulking as she walks back to the bar.
“Thanks, ass,” Eden mutters, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“I’d say you got me back. Those damn nails of yours are killer.”
The table is quiet, except for our muted voices. When I look over at Remi and Grace, I find them both watching us with unconcealed nosiness. I clear my throat and snatch up my burger. The last thing I need is for either woman to suspect something is going on between Eden and myself. I’m still trying to figure out the answer to that myself. Or rather, if I actually want anything to go on between us.
Do I want to fuck her? A big fucking hell yes. Should I fuck her? I’m not sure yet. Women are tricky. You fuck them once and they either treat the encounter as a casual fling or they cling to you like peanut butter in the roof of your mouth. I’ve got no desire to be like Trouble and marry and settle down. The stain of my past is too much a part of me. No way would I want to dump that baggage on a woman’s lap.
“How’s Emo doing?” Grace asks after a few minutes.
I drop the rest of my burger on my plate and wipe my mouth with my napkin. I lean back in the booth and drape my arm over the back again, this time keeping my fingertips away from Eden’s shoulder. Getting more comfortable, I spread my legs under the table. When my thigh bumps hers, I decide to leave it there. I’m surprised when
she doesn’t move hers away either.
“He’s doing alright. You know how he is.”
She nods, her eyes looking doleful. The thing about Emo is that he enjoys pain. He uses it when the darkness inside him becomes overwhelming. It helps calm him in ways that nothing else can. Except for doling out death and sex. Not just any kind of sex though. Emo likes it rough, both for him and his partner. There’re not too many women in Malus who could handle the kind of rawness Emo needs in the bedroom. Grace is one of the few and the woman he chooses to use the majority of the time.
I’ve suspected for a while that Grace has feelings for Emo, but the woman is smart. She knows Emo isn’t capable of giving her what she ultimately wants; a man who could love her unconditionally and take her heart in return without squashing it. Emo isn’t built that way. He’s much too dark for a woman like Grace. Even so, she’s still there for him any time he needs her, and for that, my brothers and I are eternally grateful to her.
“I was hoping he’d have contacted me recently. I haven’t… heard from him in a while.”
I keep my voice low when I tell her, “I’ll let him know you asked about him.”
She swallows and smiles tightly, reclaiming her fork and stabbing a fry.
No one speaks after that. Once everyone is done eating, I get up and pay for our meals. Mae’s still looking at me with inquisitive eyes as she hands me my change, and I know her questions from earlier won’t be the only ones she’ll have for me. She’s just biding her time and forming her attack. I have no doubt come Sunday, the day my brothers and I go to her house for dinner each week, she’ll regale me with more questions.
When I make it back to the table, I overhear Eden tell the other women she just shot Judge a message that she’s ready to go. I whip out my own phone and send my own message.
Me – Don’t worry about picking Eden up. I’ll walk her home and stay with her until you get back.
Judge – Got it. Shouldn’t be much longer.
“Come.” I offer Eden my hand. “I’ll walk you home.”
She takes my hand, scoots to the edge of the booth, and stands.
“Thanks. But there’s no need. I’ve already messaged Judge. He should be on his way.”
“He’s not. I sent a message and told him I’ll take care of it.”
She pauses for a moment before nodding and slinging her purse over her shoulder. I was right; her hair does reach her ass.
As I walk behind the women and watch the sway of Eden’s hips and the end of her thick braid bounce against her plump ass, I realize something.
I’m in big fucking trouble, because there’s no way Eden’s leaving here without me getting a very generous taste of her and have her in my bed. Over and over again.
AFTER LEAVING REMI AND GRACE at their places, which were on our way to Judge’s, we walk up the steps to Judge and Jenny’s house. All of Judge’s women have a place of their own. Most times, he’s with one of them, but every so often, he’ll stay in his renovated childhood home. When my brothers and I came back to town ten years ago, we all had our homes gutted and refurbished, not wanting anything from our pasts to invade our futures.
Eden stops at the screen door and turns to face me.
“Thanks for walking me home.”
Those metal bracelets she’s always wearing clink together as she grabs her braid and twirls the end around her finger.