Page 57 of His Daggered Heart

I scoff. “Or in hell, whatever God’s will is.” We both laugh and then she slaps her hand over her mouth.

“We are going to hell.”

“So now, tell me about you and Levi. We need some happiness in our lives. Is he gonna be a step-daddy?” I pry.

“Alex. Stop,” she groans.

“What? I need to know because if he isn’t, I’m gonna make him.”

She giggles, her cheeks pink as she starts to tell me how much she likes him and wants to take the next step, even though it’s too fast. It feels good having this time together, like a girls’ day.

She ends up getting a pedicure while we wait, her toes her signature ballerina pink, to my black.

Crystal finishes blow drying and curling my hair. She spins me in the chair and hands me a mirror. “Oh my fucking god, Crystal!”

“What?” she squeals, covering her eyes with her hands. “You hate it?”

“No, I freaking love it! The placement, the color, everything, thank you.” I get up to hug her and say our goodbyes. Cora follows me out and we climb into her car, heading to Texas State to face my future.

Chapter 36

Kohen

LeviandIaresitting in the front row of the auditorium, since we are Alex’s only family, and take our places in the reserved seating. I get to see my girl up front and center. Excitement is radiating through me. I love watching her dance.

Cora finds us and takes her seat in between us. Levi hands her the Oreo cheesecake he brought her so she wouldn’t be too mad that we ate at one of her and Alex’s favorite places without them. Olive Garden is number one and Cheesecake Factory is number two. I won’t lie, I bitched out and brought Alex one, too. She hates actual cheesecake but she will eat the celebrations one from there. It’s the only exception, so I got it for her.

The lights dim and music begins to play. Group after group performs their piece and I’m getting impatient. I just want to see her. I begin to stand, hoping I can sneak backstage and just give her a kiss. Then I hear it. The music she plays in the restroom, the gym, the bedroom, all day every fucking day. Now I know why. A spotlight turns on and I see her. She looks so fucking hot. Her hair is different, blonder?

“Holy fuck,” I say out loud without meaning to and I whistle, the sound ricocheting off the walls of the huge auditorium. Several people laugh around me but I don’t fucking care because pride swells in my chest at the sight of her. Powerful.

She is wearing a bright red corset top that cinches her waist, tight leather shorts hug every curve, and the fishnet tights have little diamonds. Her makeup is flawless, bright red lips to match the top and I imagine them around my dick later. My mouth waters as the spotlight moves up and down her body. Her curvy body moves with the music, the girls behind her helping her tell a story. Her eyes are on me for a moment and something stirs inside me. She darts them back to the judges and I’m suddenly jealous of every motherfucker up there that’s staring at my girl.

Before I even know what I’m doing, I’m standing. Drawn to her, Cora grabs my hand, pulling me down. “Kohen,” she whispers. “You’re going to distract her. Sit down and pick your jaw up off the floor.”

I listen to my little pregnant bestie and plant my ass on the theater seat.

Alex bounces from side to side, her curves like waves in the ocean.Didn’t I tell you that I was a savage?Her body winds, hips bobbing up and down, hands in her curly hair, then she drops into a split, and my heart drops with her. She crawls towards me, stopping on her knees and I’m hypnotized. She has her thorny vines wrapped around my daggered heart, filling it with her pretty poison, her toxin, and it beats only for her. Confetti surrounds her and the crowd explodes with a standing ovation. I am so fucking proud of her. That’s my fucking fiancée.

Alex

I race backstage, eyes watering, chest heaving, and my heart is pounding. That was such a rush, and Kohen’s eyes on me made it more intense. I rush to my dressing room, people congratulating me and voicing their excitement for me, and it has my eyes watering. I worked hard for this all year, juggling dance and school and the roller coaster that is Kohen and me. I put it all into this performance. These last few months have felt like years. I finally reach my vanity and I see a huge bouquet of roses.

Kohen must have left them in here before taking his seat. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I can’t believe this is the life I’m living. Every dream I have ever dared to have for myself is coming true. Happiness and love for my best friend and me, a man who cherishes me and loves every broken piece of my heart, putting it back together with tender care.

I cut him in the process, I cut him deep. Yes, he had to take a step back but only so Levi could step in and be the glue that only he could be. I would have never been able to trust Kohen fully, not really. Not until Levi showed me not all men have an angle. Everything happened as it was meant to. This journey isn’t over but the path I’m on right now is one I’m proud of. I’m working fucking hard.

If nothing comes of my dance career in the next couple of years, that’s okay because what I’m walking away with is so much better and so unexpected.

I hear commotion in the hallway and turn to see my little family walking over the threshold. My heart swells with love.

“Angel!” Kohen shouts with his hands raised in the air. I smile in response. His arms wrap around me and he looks down at me. “You did so fucking good, baby. You looked so sexy and strong. I was like goddamn, I wanted to run up on stage and fuck you right then and there.”

“Yeah, we know,” Cora agrees. “I had to tell him to sit the heck down, he is crazy!” she laughs.

Levi is quiet, so I look over at him and he is crying. “Oh yeah, Levi has been bawling this whole time, he hasn’t said a word.” Kohen takes a step back and Levi practically knocks me over as he steps in the space, hugging me.

“I am just so damn proud, sweetness,” he sniffles, “the way you have overcome everything in your life, to be standing here, doing what you love.” He pauses “ Look, I know I haven’t been here long, but I feel like it’s been a lifetime. And before you punch me, I mean it in the best way. You’re my lil sis, and I’m just a proud big brother.”

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