Page 118 of Past Due

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Marley’s terrified scream pulled Besian from a happy dream. He shot out of bed and snatched the Ruger from the top drawer of his bedside table. Not bothering with clothes, he raced out of the bedroom, ready to kill if necessary.

When he slid to a stop in the living room, he found Marley glaring at Sinnamon who stood just inside the front door. The dancer held one of his shirts, and he grimaced at the very awkward conversation that was about to take place.

“Put some clothes on!” Marley screeched, her face turning red as she wildly gestured at his naked body.

“Sweetie, I’ve seen all that before,” Sinnamon said with a careless wave of her perfectly manicured hand. “Up close and personal.”

Oh, fuck. Besian wanted to die. He wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. He wanted to be anywhere but right there, naked in his living room, watching his long-term friend with benefits and his wife face off.

“How nice,” Marley replied through gritted teeth.

“I’m sorry, honey,” Sinnamon apologized. She wasn’t trying to be patronizing. That was simply the way she was with everyone, calling them pet names like sweetie and honey. Marley, however, bristled, and Besian waited for the shit to hit the fan.

“Sorry for telling me that you have a sexual history with my husband or for barging into my house without knocking?” Marley asked.

“I have a key,” Sinnamon said, holding it out as proof. “I’ve never had to knock before, and I didn’t even know you were living here yet.”

“Where else would I live?” Marley snapped.

“Well, honey, I don’t know. You two got married so fast. Who knows what kind of arrangement you have?”

“I’m starting to wonder what kind of arrangement you two have,” Marley shot back, this time focusing all of her ire on him.

“Nothing serious,” Sinnamon assured her. “We were two friends having fun. That’s all.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s all,” Marley replied sarcastically.

“Look, sugar, I didn’t come here to start a beef.” Sinnamon walked toward Marley and held out the items she had brought with her. “I came to return his shirt and wedding ring. He left them at my place.”

Marley stared at the wedding band on Sinnamon’s palm. She shook her head. “You know what? Keep it.”

“Marley,” Besian hurried to explain. “She didn’t mean her house. She meant—”

“I don’t care,” she said and shoved by him.

Panic gripped his heart. “What the hell are you doing?” he growled at Sinnamon. “Why would say that?”

“Say what? The truth?”

“Your place?” he repeated. “Your station in the dressing room, Sinn. That’s where I left it.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not my fault she’s so touchy.”

“This isn’t a game, Sinn. That is my life. You and I have been friends a long time, but you can’t come into my home and start shit with my wife.”

“Boss, if she can’t handle one of your old girlfriends swinging by with a shirt and your ring, she’s not cut out for the life you lead.”

“If you pull this shit again, you won’t be cut out for work anywhere in this city,” he snarled and grabbed his ring and shirt from her. “Give me the key.”

She handed it over with another roll of her eyes. “You and I both know I’ll be getting that key back in a few weeks when Mary Sue over there realizes she’s not woman enough for a man like you.”

“Get out!” He marched her to the door and slammed it shut behind her. After locking it, he rushed back to the bedroom where Marley was already dressed and throwing her things into her suitcase and backpack. His stomach dropped, and he desperately tried to explain the situation. “I got into a scuffle with a patron last night.”

“Uh-huh.” She avoided making eye contact and stuffed her dirty clothes into her backpack.

“I got blood on my shirt. I went into the girls’ dressing room to clean up and change. Sinnamon’s place is closest to the dancers’ bathrooms so I dropped my ring there where I knew it would be safe. I was in a hurry and then the police came. I forgot to go back and get my things.”

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