Page 61 of Big Red

Chapter Twenty-Six

BIG RED

Three weeks and Alice hasn’t spoken a single word to me. At first, I was sad and hurt, but eventually I became pissed. I know what I said was wrong, but she lied to me. We were both in the wrong.

To see how she just easily cut me out of her life like we didn’t tell each other we loved one another makes me feel like maybe none of it was real.

I went by her house day after day, trying to get her to talk to me just to have one of her roommates turn me away. She’s still maintained movie nights with the kids, and I’m grateful for that.

It's one thing to be angry with me, but if she took it out on Cindy and Colt, I don’t know how I would react. Every time they returned from her home, I could see the worry swirling in Cindy’s eyes. She’s afraid Alice is going to disappear, just like Chloe.

Not to mention, she’s carrying my baby. I don’t care what happens between us. I would never turn my back on my unborn child.

As angry as I am at Alice for not giving me a chance to apologize, I’m even more angry at myself for putting us in this space.

I took all my frustrations out on her, causing her to walk away from me.

I tried going by her house again today once the kids left to go over to Marco’s, just to be turned away again. I was pissed and defeated, which is how I ended up at the clubhouse drinking with the guys.

I haven’t really spent any time here outside of dinners since Alice and I got together. All the bunnies have been fawning all over me, boosting my bruised ego.

I did good about turning them away for a little while, but as the drinks increased, my resistance did the opposite.

Now I’m sitting on one of the sofas with a topless Diamond almost straddling my lap. Viper sits across from me, nursing a beer and shaking his head in disappointment.

He isn’t the only one. Even the single guys are side-eyeing me. I don’t get what anyone expects me to do. I tried talking to her. I tried apologizing. I tried to make it right, but Alice doesn’t want me.

So, why should I put my life on hold?

Diamond rubs her bare breast against my arm. “You wanna get out of here?” she purrs in my ear.

Against my will, my cock jumps in my jeans. It’s been a long three weeks, and my hand just isn’t cutting it. What I want is Alice, but I can’t have her. Turning to Diamond, I grab her hand, ready to lead her away.

“It’s not worth it, Red,” Viper speaks up.

Pinning my gaze on him, I sigh and shrug. “She’s made it clear it's over. So, as far as I’m concerned, I’m a free agent.”

Just as I’m about to get up and take Diamond to my room, Cara walks through the door. I drop Diamond's hand like it’s on fire. Somehow, I feel caught. Even though Alice and I aren’t together, I don’t want her to know about this. Diamond, on theother hand, does not get the memo. Cara squints her eyes at me and makes her way over to Viper.

“What’s up, Hellcat? What are you doing here?” Viper stands and pecks her lips, wrapping her body in his arms.

Cara's eyes still haven’t left me. “Honestly, I forgot. This bs right here just threw me for a loop.”

Grimacing, I scratch the side of my head. “I don’t know what you want me to do, Cara. Alice wants us to be single, and this is what a single Red looks like.”

Even though I’m trying to play it off as if I’m unaffected, I don’t want her mentioning this to Alice. I’ve already hurt her, and I don’t want to add to it.

Cara balls her fist and her eyes darken. I’ve seen this look many times. I never thought it would be thrown my way, though.

“You know what? If you want to settle for easy pussy, who am I to stop you?”

Diamond stands to her feet, her face screwed up in anger. Some of the guys snicker at her boldness. She should know better than to ever step to Cara.

“I don’t get what the problem is. Red is single and free to do what he wants.”

“Was I talking to you, hoe?” Cara sneers.

I'm not the least bit surprised at Cara’s response to Diamond. She has talked a lot of crap about Cara over the years to the other bunnies. She was best friends with two former bunnies, Candy and Ivory, who both got the boot at the hands of Cara. Diamond tries to play off her disdain for Cara in her presence, but when she's alone with other bunnies, according to most of them, she hates the ground Cara walks on. The only reason she’s still here is because she hasn't acted on those ill feelings. But if she ever did, she would end up just like her friends.

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