Page 52 of Dozer

“She’ll know that I respect her boundaries.” Did he need me to draw him a fucking flow chart? I was the variable in their equation.

Romeo slid out of bed and pulled on his jeans.

I lifted a brow. “Are you leaving, too, because that would be a dick move?”

“No, smoking a cigarette, then I’m getting back in bed with Pippa, which is where you should be.”

I cast a last glance at her asleep on the bed before I followed Romeo into the living room. I put on my shirt and tucked my gun into my jeans. I slid my arms into my cut and joined Romeo on the front porch for a smoke.

“I’m not bailing on her. Or you. I’m trying to give her what she wants,” I said tapping a cigarette out of the pack.

Romeo blew a stream of smoke into the night. “What is it you think she wants?”

I leaned my head against the house. “To laugh. To smile. I don’t make people happy. I won’t make her happy.”

He shook his head as he smoked his cigarette. “You don’t know shit, Doze. She hasn’t fucked me since you watched us at the playhouse. You’re so deep in her fucking head, she can’t think of anything or anyone else.”

In the pale glow of the street lamp, he stared hard at me.

“Pippa is cool and fun,” he went on. “Hot as hell. She’s not into me the way she is with you. Thank fuck, because otherwise I’d be out. I’m just taking her for a ride. Actually, more like she’s letting me take her for a ride until she’s done with me.”

I thought about the girl in the bed. She was different. Or maybe she just made me different because I’d never wanted to touch a chick while someone else still had their hands on her or their dick in her. Only after, when I could wrap a label on them. Like Bullet’s girls, it was easier when they already proved they just wanted sex.

I’d never wanted a relationship. I’d never leave myself vulnerable like my old man. That changed tonight with Pippa.

I didn’t hate sharing her with him. I wanted more of her.

He pivoted on the stoop. “You should stay.”

I stubbed out my cigarette. I wanted to stay, too, to believe she could want me the way I wanted her.

“You said you’re coming back later anyway. Are you going with her to meet her parents?”

I stilled. “You know about it?”

“She told me about her family shit. Meeting the parents is not my thing. I told her you would go if she asked.”

A knot twisted in my gut.Empty.

Fuck. I had to get out of my own head. Second fucking choice…again.

“I need to go.”

“Dozer—”

“Don’t worry about it, Romeo. I’m fine.”

Chapter Seven

Dozer

The sun was up before I was able to catch a couple of hours sleep. Not that I felt rested. No surprise. My life was shit. Being left alone was usually my salvation, but since Pippa had wrecked me, solitude had become my trial.

My phone pinged with a text. I rolled over in bed and grabbed my cell.

I must have been tired because I had a couple missed calls from my mom. Ignoring those, I checked the missed text messages.

Pippa: I miss you.

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