Page 71 of Charger

“Hey, Mr. T. Thanks for being a better father to me than my own for all those years.”

He smirks. “You’re a good kid, Zach. We all make mistakes from time to time. It’s how we bounce back from them that makes us who we are.”

He heads upstairs but I fall back, needing a minute for his words to sink in. Can I do this? Be this man everyone expects me to be. I have to. I don’t know what’s going on between Jules and me, but I do know I fucking love her. I never stopped.

“Zach, I’ll be fine. I don’t need someone here watching me twenty-four seven. It’s not necessary.” After her parents left with Chloe, I tell Jules (with as little detail as possible) why she needs someone to be here keeping eyes on her. Of course, she fights me on it. She’s as stubborn as she always has been, thinking she can handle everything herself.

I hold her waist and back her up until she hits the wall. I claim her space, lean in and take in her scent. I watch as she flusters. Her mouth parts.

Wanting.

Needing.

She stares at me with such lust and desire; it’s so fucking sexy. The tips of my fingers trace the bare skin on her arms and I grab the back of her neck, bringing her in close to my lips but not quite making the connection. My dick presses against her stomach, ready for her. The little moans she releases are going to make me come right here.

“If I can’t be here, you will have someone watching you. It’s not a question; it’s going to fucking happen, get me?”

She bites her lip as she nods. Then she runs her tongue along her parted mouth. I press my chest and body into her. “Don’t do that, pretty girl, because you’re gonna make me drop you on this floor and taste that pussy right here.” She grips the front of my shirt with her hands.

“I think I might just quit and sell my bar right now if that’s a promise.” The right side of her mouth turns up.

I huff out air as I laugh. Damn, she’s sexy.

I back off, moving a strand of hair away from her face. “Get to work. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I kiss her cheek. Since when did I become so fucking soft?

“Zach, I, uh, I don’t think I can be friends with benefits with you. Like if you want us to see other people or whatever, I won’t be able to do it. It’ll destroy me.” The worry in her eyes tears right through me.

“Babe, I can assure you that whatever is going on, it isn’t just friends with benefits. And as for seeing other people, I can promise you that won’t happen. If another man so much as looks at you, let alone sticks his dick inside you, I’ll kill him.” I run the pad of my thumb to her chin and walk out. Friends with benefits? Seeing other people? Yeah, that’s not fucking happening. Jules is mine.

TWENTY-NINE

Jules

I stare into space as I fiddle with the same shirt I’ve been trying to fold for ten minutes. So, Zach doesn’t want to be friends with benefits. Thank God, the only thing is… now what? Obviously not being friends with benefits means we’re together, right? And he did say he would basically put any guy into the ground if he touched me… But I need those words to be said out loud. I need the words “yes, we are together” and “yes, we are dating” in order for me to believe it. Call me old school, but it’s how my brain operates.

“Fucking men.” I whip the shirt clear across the room in frustration. It’s not me being needy; no, I just like to have validation. My annoyance is carried over to the knock on my door. I swing it open, practically ripping it from its hinges.

“Woah, chick, who pissed in your Cheerios?” Angel and Tequila are standing with high-heeled pumps, leggings and black skinny jeans while dripping in leather. “Wait, lemme guess. Is it a certain man with dirty blond hair, killer blue eyes, and the type of body that makes you want to do bad things?” Tequila rolls her eyes and I cock my head to the side. “What? He might be your man, but I’m not blind.”

My man.

She pushes past me with Tequila following close behind.

“Actually…” I want to plead the fifth, but maybe talking about it will help. “You’re not wrong.”

Tequila sits on the sofa while Angel sits on the armrest, her legs crossed.

“So, tell us why he’s got your panties in a wad?”

“Yeah, call us like your therapeutic bitches.” Tequila blows a kiss with her red painted lips and chocolate flowing hair.

I fidget with the zipper of my hoodie. “Promise me you two won’t think I’m overthinking, or being dumb.”

“Nope, we can’t make that promise. Sorry.” Angel shrugs. “We offer truth and honesty.”

“Okay, fine. Zach and I kind of slept together.”

I swear I hear the sound of crickets fill the room as Angel raises a brow. “Hang on… one, his name is Zach? Had no idea and two, what do you mean you kind of slept together? You did or you didn’t.”

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