Page 39 of Salvatore

I flop back into my chair. “I know,” I say. “I’ve given a lot of thought to it. But his potential history of abuse reinforces why I should stay away.”

“But you like him,” she points out.

“Yes, I do. He’s very generous and he can be extremely kind.”

“Then don’t you think he deserves a shot?” she asks. “He wasn’t the one who hurt his mother, Aedry. And he couldn’t help the childhood he was given.”

“I realize that. But I’m a counselor. It’s what I do and love. I don’t want a lover I need to play therapist to. I’m not sure it’s healthy.”

“I get it. But how can I say this? Okay. Here goes. Your relationships have all sucked and the men you were with were total vaginas.”

“Vaginas?” I ask, chuckling.

“You know I don’t like saying pussy! ?Oh, hey, Dr. Marvin. . . . Yes, ma’am, I’m all over that . . . stuff.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit,” she mumbles again. “That woman is either going to fire me or promote me. Did I tell you she looks like Jane Goodall?”

“No.” But the visual makes me laugh harder.

“Well, she does. But like I was saying, your past boyfriends were ball-less little bitches . . . granted you didn’t turn them gay like I did, but all they cared about were themselves, getting laid, and what you could do for them. Salvatore can get into any woman’s pants.”

“Clearly,” I say, trying not to think about it.

“So why waste his time with you? Believe me, I’m not saying I like how he treated you when you were in his ride?in fact, I’m mortified on your behalf. But look at it from his perspective. He practically pulled your thong off with his teeth only to realize you were wearing a chastity belt with no freaking key!”

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Her voice softens. “My point is, if this dominant alpha male with hard as cinderblock ass cheeks and a face that could melt panties can have anyone he wants, why waste his time on you? He swallowed his pride and went out of his way to apologize, because he felt bad for being an asshole. I think that’s what you should hang onto, Aedry. It’s what makes me think he really likes you.”

“Maybe. But he comes with a lot of baggage,” I remind her.

“We all do, sweets. And it sounds to me like he’d benefit from therapy. From what you tell me, this guy doesn’t necessarily need a lover. But what he may need is a friend . . .”

Autumn’s words stay with me after she disconnects and long after my cup of soup gets cold. I’m picking up my trash when someone raps on my door. I lurch to my feet as Tamira hurries in and slams the door shut behind her. She’s not pregnant and she’s doing better. But you wouldn’t know it by how frightened she appears.

“What is it?” Her gaze shifts from side to side, as if unsure whether she should speak. “Tamira, tell me what’s wrong.”

Her expression is that of the tough city kid I know, but her quickening breaths reveal the extent of her fear. “Keon hit me.”

“What?” I move closer, my eyes sweeping over her frame to look for injuries.

“I’m all right, it didn’t hurt that much.”

“That’s not the point, he shouldn’t be touching you?”

“It’s because he saw me talking to Gianno Romero. You know him, right?”

My belly churns. I already know where this conversation is headed. “Did Gianno see him hit you?” Her lips seal shut, but she nods. “You need to give me more information than that,” I press.

“Gianno is nice,” she says. “He’s always been nice to me. He said something that made me laugh. Keon saw and grabbed my arm and pulled me into the boys’ bathroom. Gianno followed us in and saw him hit me. They’re going to the Block to fight.”

A sense of nausea fills me as I feel the blood drain from my face. “The Block” is an old basketball court on the worst side of the town. It’s where the local kids buy their drugs and settle disputes. Most fights end with someone in the hospital. But a fight over the summer resulted in a kid shot in the face and another left paralyzed.

“When?”

“They already left,” she says.

I snag my purse and coat. “Miss Aedry, don’t go!” she calls.

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