Page 12 of Dali: The Demolisher

“Well, I’m going to shower when I’m sure my legs work again.”

Kassadee giggled. “No, I mean… with us. Like… How are we going to make a relationship work with you being in college? I know your schedule is going to be packed but—”

The heavy sigh he released caused her to stop speaking. Dali turned on his side and rested his weight on his elbow.

“Kas… I didn’t think you thought this meant we were going to be together.”

Her head tilted as she processed his words. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, we agreed that we’d give each other our virginities before I left for school and before my eighteenth birthday next month, but things are going to be even crazier for me. I don’t think us starting a relationship right now is a good idea.”

Sitting up, she allowed her back to rest on the headboard. “Oh, so I was worth your virginity but not a real relationship?”

She scoffed as he tried to take her hand into his, but Kas pulled away.

“Come on, baby. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying I will have classes, work, and the wrestling team. This is about to be a huge adjustment for me. I don’t want to not be able to give this my all.”

“No, you’re lying. You don’t want to be with me because you want to whore around with college girls.”

As she hopped out of his bed, Kassadee ignored him calling her name.

“Look, I swear that’s not what this is. I even told your brother I wanted to be with you and he agreed that we need to focus on school… at least for our first year. I don’t want you to feel like I’m not giving you my time.” Dali stood and took her hands into his. “I won’t be living up the street from you anymore, Kas. I’ll be on campus only coming home for the holidays. Are you really going to be okay with that?”

Nibbling her cheek, Kassadee avoided his eyes as hers watered. “I wish you would have told me that before. Now, I feel like I wasted my virginity on you.”

Dali’s shoulders slouched and mouth hung open. As her tears fell, he wiped them away before pulling her into his arms.

“That broke my heart, Kassadee. I hate that you feel like it was a waste because I don’t. I’m sorry if I didn’t communicate better, and I hope you know I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

Without responding, Kassadee put her clothes on as her tears rapidly poured. She told him she was ready to go home and remained quiet on the drive there.

“Kas, baby, I—”

She hopped out of the car quickly and rushed inside of her home. After checking the time, she realized she only had two hours left before her brother got home from work. If he saw thedistraught state she was in, she wouldn’t have to worry about distance keeping her and Dali apart because Ken would.

7

Dali

It tookeverything inside of me not to punch that nigga’s lips and teeth down his throat when I saw him kiss Kas. I stepped outside, needing to calm myself down. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her. Ken and I had triggered her enough last week.

Both Kassadee and I dated over the years even when we had those moments where we flirted and expressed our feelings for each other. I never felt possessive of her in an insecure way that made me want to act out or get violent. This was the first time I saw her with a man, and it actually affected me negatively.

In the past, there was a part of me that felt like, regardless of what happened between them… Kas was going to be mine. Between her saying she didn’t know how I felt about her and Ken warning me that her feelings might change because she was unsure of mine… I wasn’t as secure as I used to be when it came to Kassadee.

Just the thought of her moving on had me feeling weak in the knees, but I regained my strength when I saw the man who’dtainted her lips with his leaving the bar. Unable to stop myself, I followed him to his car. When he opened the door, I slammed it and stepped in front of it. He looked at me as his brows wrinkled and mouth opened slightly in confusion.

“You know who I am?” I confirmed. His head bobbed. “Then you know what I can do to you, right?” He nodded. “If you want to keep your face structured the way it is now, you’re going to stay away from Kassadee and never come to this bar again.”

“But I—”

“If you kiss her again, I’m going to hit you so hard your jaw will be permanently wired shut. You won’t be able to move that motherfucker to kiss anyone else. Do you understand me?”

He nodded and swallowed hard as he took a step back. I opened the door wide enough for him to get inside as I said, “Good, and don’t tell her about this conversation, or I’ma have you walking around looking like Martin when he stepped in the ring with Tommy Hearns.”

“Y-Yes, sir,” he stuttered, quickly plopping down in his seat.

If I wasn’t still slightly irritated, I would have laughed. I waited until he drove off to make my way back inside the bar. Instead of going back to my table, I went over to the bar and sat down. When Kassadee’s eyes landed on me, she smiled.

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