Page 7 of Sunshine & Sinful

“We aren’t doin’ this,” I whisper-hiss, shaking my head. “I don’t know what the hell you two are up to, but wearen’tdoing this.” I shove Sunshine in the stomach, his hard, muscular stomach, to push him away. He moves a quarter of a damn inch, which is maddening. “Move.” I push him again, and this time, he releases a sigh and does as I say, long enough for me to wheel around and throw open my stupid front door to find my ex-husband panting on my steps, arms crossed over his thick chest, glaring past me at his father standing in my living room.

“Get. Out.” He two-finger points to the older, silver-haired version of him.

Squaring his shoulders, chin held in defiance, Sunshine’s nostrils flare. “Fuck. No.”

Wiping my eyes, I drag a palm down my face inexasperation. “We are not having a pissing contest in my house.”

Dark steps onto the threshold of my doorway but doesn’t break the invisible barrier. “Outside, old man.”

“Why don’t both of you leave so I can go to bed? That sounds splendid.” I sweep my hand toward the exit, hoping Sunshine will do as I say.

Unfortunately, no dice when he slowly unlaces his boots, toes them off, and throws them into a heap by the door to prove some macho point to Dark, all the while staring daggers at his son.

I can’t believe this is happening.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was in the middle of an insane, drug-induced dream. But here they are, giving off some pissed-off-murderous vibes at three in the morning.

“Can’t you take this to Dark’s house?” I reason. “You can tussle like big idiots there.”

They ignore me, and the glaring persists.

Knowing I’m more likely to get through to Sunshine than Dark, I spin around and approach him—like he’s a wild animal—slow and patient. When he finally breaks his stare on Dark and drops his eyes to me, his warm smile is enough to make a woman’s ovaries explode. Taking it further, I cup Sunshine’s unshaven cheeks and force him to maintain eye contact.

Dark curses up an ugly storm at the doorway but doesn’t enter.

“I need you to leave,” I beg.

“Sweets.”

“You shouldn’t be here. This isn’t okay. I… I don’t forgive you. Please leave. For me.”

Sunshine holds my hands to his face, his palms warm and clammy. “But I’m sorry. I…fuck… I’m sorry.” His eyes squeeze shut as if he’s in physical pain. “I can’t do another day, let alone another fuckin’ month. Not like this.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“Let’s go to bed,” he pleads, grabbing my wrists and stepping back, trying to draw me toward my bedroom.

Digging my heels in, I refuse to yield. “No…” I shake off his hold and drop my hands to my sides. “I need you to leave.” To drive my point home, I look over my shoulder toward the exit, where Dark remains, swallowing what little light peeks through the doorway with his hulking form.

Sunshine rubs his forehead. “Sweets. No.”

“Get out of her fuckin’ house, Pops!” Dark roars. If he doesn’t keep it down, the neighbors will call the cops. They don’t like Dark as it is.

Ignoring his son, Sunshine gathers my hands and puts them back on his face. His eyes lock on mine, delving into my soul, blotting out the world around us. “I miss you. I can’t live like this.” His throat bobs.

“You can’t show up here whenever you want, demanding I forgive you or acting like what happened never happened.” My voice is soft.

“Then talk to me, goddammit. Let me fix it.”

“No.”

“Kali. Please. I’m begging you.”

Dark slaps the doorframe. “She doesn’t want you! Ifuckin’ told you that already! Get out of her fuckin’ house!”

Why are they here? Why… justwhy…

Dropping my hands from Sunshine’s face, silent tears trickle down his cheeks as he nods once out of respect, sidesteps me, and collects his boots by the door. Before he leaves, he casts me a single broken glance over his shoulder and sets his spare key on the table by the door, next to the raven with the smudge stick in his mouth. Frowning, Dark bids me a single nod, turns the lock from the inside, and pulls the door shut, effectively locking me inside and protecting me from them as they leave.

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