Page 21 of Storm

“Ahh…” I trail off, not sure what else to say. I’d love to have her alone for a few minutes because Ireallyneed to talk about what happened this weekend. Not only is she one of my only friends, but she’s got three damn boyfriends. If anyone would understand the difficulties of this type of scenario, she would. Well, aside from the “boyfriend” part. They’re men I’d never entertain dating. Turns out, I don’t need to be paid to date someone.

With a pleading look toward Chester, I ask, “Do you think you two could run out and grab some more drinks for the house? I’m sure Susu would appreciate it.”

Thankfully, Chester isn’t an idiot and can tell I really need a minute, so he simply nods. Pressing a kiss to Susanna’s temple, he murmurs something in her ear, causing the corner of her lip to tip up. Grabbing his keys from the side table, he waits a moment, staring at the back of Theo’s head.

“Teddy,” Susanna’s soft censure has Theo frowning. He hadn’t moved from the couch after my request. His arms are stretched out across the top cushions and legs jutted out to the middle of the living room. The guy is massive, but he’s my favorite to spar with verbally.

“I don’t see why I can’t stay. We’re all family now. Isn’t that right, Miri? Your problems are our problems.” He pauses,then tilts his head to the side in thought. “Well, unless they’re women’s problems. I want no part in those unless they’re Susu’s.”

Snorting out a laugh, I shake my head at him. “It’s definitelywomen’sproblems,pendejo.”

“Well, I’m out.” Smacking his hands on his thighs, he jumps up and heads to his girl. Leaning down, he presses a hard kiss to her mouth, then a second one after tilting her chin up to check her over. “Text if you need something else while we’re out. Not you, Miri,” he calls over his shoulder. “Love you, carebear.”

Finally, I can’t hold back my gag. I flip him off when he glares at me, returning the gesture before leaving our apartment. As soon as the door clicks shut, I whip my head toward my friend and blurt everything out.

“I lost my virginity this past weekend to four men, and I’m apparently a whore. My vagina is sore as fuck, which I’m not even mad about, but I went to see my family and I’m so pissed at them, I could scream.Todos son unos pendejos desagradecidos y flojos.”

Raising her hand, Susanna is wearing a gentle smile. “Back to English, my friend.”

“Sorry,” I sigh in resignation. “I just said that they’re all lazy and ungrateful assholes.” Scrubbing at my eyes in frustration, I fall into the spot on the couch Theo vacated. “When I got there, the whole kitchen was a complete dumpster fire and smelled like moldy rinds and rotten feet. I spent hours cleaning it, bought dinner for everyone, atenothing‘cuz they’re selfish, then woke the next morning to fighting and my father completely disconnected from everything.”

Smoothing out the throw blanket spread over her lap, she picks at a thread, most likely carefully choosing the few words she wants to give me. “Your family is not your responsibility.They’re dicks, and until they can appreciate and respect you, I say leave them to clean up their own shit.”

“It’s just hard when some of them are still so young, especially Damián. I feel awful for moving out and they all know it. They give me a reminder every time one of them calls.” My guilt has been eating away at me since the moment I left, but I know it’s undeserved. I have a right to adult and do all the adult things.

Nodding in agreement, she leans forward. “So, four men?”

“How are you feeling?” I ask instead, feeling so fucking stupid for putting myself in that situation with strangers. While it might be one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences, it was incredibly unsafe and idiotic.

With a wave of her hand, she disregards me. “I’m fine. Men. Tell me.”

“We’re coming back to you in a moment,” I say, pointing my finger at her. “Rememberel capitán?”

“Captain Cooper?”

“Yeah, also known as Kevin. That guy.” Pent up energy is coursing through my body with no place to go. Crossing my legs, I try to get comfortable, but it’s not working, so I stand up to straighten my clothes, then sit back down. “So… he’s something else, right? Kind of intimidating?”

“What happened, Miri?”

Susanna’s question is simple, but it makes me want to cry. I amnota crier. Blinking quickly, I look away from her to settle my thoughts. Inhaling slowly, I blow out my breath in a rush.

“Long story short, after I left during your stay at the hospital, he offered to drive me to my family’s home. Things were talked about, and I was offered an opportunity to spend the weekend with him and his friends to just let go of life for a few days, experience new things. I took him up on it.”

Flicking my eyes over to see her reaction to my vague explanation, I can tell she’s confused. I drop my head into my hands and mumble the rest out quickly.

“It was a weekend of sex. He and these guys get together to just have a sex filled weekend, and I was the willing participant. Before I snuck out, I overheard them talking about how I needed to leave and who was going to pay me.Pay me, Susu. They thought I was there to be paid for sex.”

I’m not ashamed of having sex with multiple men over a weekend. It’s my body and my choice, but Iamashamed by what they thought. It’s fucking embarrassing and I’m better than that. They made me feel cheap.

My friend is silent for a minute or two, opening her mouth, then shutting it again to mull things over. While I wait to hear her opinion, I fuss with my phone, flipping it over and over again in my hands nervously.

“Are… are you okay? What did you say to them?”

With a dismissive shrug, I look down at my phone. “I texted them that I wasn’t a whore and they can all fuck off for thinking I was there to suck their dicks for money. Then I blocked every one of their numbers.”

Susanna nods sharply. “Good. They can all fuck right off. You deserve better.”

Finally, the tears begin to well, and I quickly swipe at them. I’ll be damned to let a single one fall for those bastards. “Need anything from the kitchen?” I ask as I stand, passing by her. I need a minute to compose myself.

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