Page 119 of Rhet

“When you get there, Mr. Francis will direct you on what to do.”

She continues eating her pizza. “Okay, I’ll get there by 7:00.”

I continue to sip my soda, trying to stop myself from sounding like a fool.

“Do you want to watch Star Wars with me?” she asks. The light from the TV is hitting her face and hair and creates a halo effect.

“The force is strong in me. Of course, I do.”

Fuck I sound like a dork. Her eyes widen, I guess she does not expect me to know about Star Wars.

“You know about Star Wars?”

I chuckle and wipe my mouth. “My brother Trent was obsessed. I had no other choice but to fall in line.”

“You miss him?”

I stare at the front door like I’m expecting someone to come through it. “Every day.”

“I get it.” She says as she bites into her pizza.

“I think I am learning that life should be lived to the fullest. I don’t want live with anymore regrets.” I take another of soda. “I heard that before death everything is a regret.” She says.

She touches my forearm, her warmth spreads up my arm. I look down and she pulls away slowly.

“Okay so Star Wars,” she says jokingly.

Within the hour, Yoda is training Luke and boxes were levitating all around him. Meanwhile, Zeeta sleeps on my shoulder.

I lean in to smell her hair. I inhale the sweet aroma of cocoa butter and some other scents I can’t place.

Peace, that’s what surrounds me for the first time in a long while. I feel peaceful. I understand why my dogs are always here. This place—Zeeta has turned it into a mini refuge.

I look around and notice things I didn’t see before. She’s added some plants to the house, in the corner of the room, she has incense burning.

I inhale taking in the scent of lemon and something earthy and clean. The tan knitted sofa throw over her body looks soft and wooly. There’s a woven jute rug sitting under the center table.

The pool house has gone from mom’s she-shed to a spa.

It’s now a sanctuary. Honestly this what she has brought into my life in the past months, serenity. Don’t get me wrong, Julian is awesome and efficient, but Zee brings me peace. I want to stay and suck the soothing aura out of the room and into my body. God knows I need it.

This week alone, I saw a dead body, agreed to two murders, manipulated a senator, and coerced a spot in a bid—nothing there was peaceful. Here, with the door closed and her in my arms, the world seems far away, like life will just pass by and I would be fine with that.

Trent would have liked the look. As I think about my brother, I remind myself just how important winning that bid is. I will fulfill the dream he had for the Waterfront. I should get up and leave. I just need five more minutes for me to absorb some more calm. I don’t want morning to come yet. I need this tranquility to last a little longer.

ZEETA

Isnuggle deeper into the warm hard blanket surrounding me. It smells so clean and fresh. A heavy band around my waist pulls me closer. Then I feel it, that special poke settling in the middle of my butt. Someone reaches and adjust their penis and pulls me closer. A penis? In my bed. Slowly I twist my head to the side and I meet the gaze of two blue eyes. Both Rhet and I scramble off the sofa as if it was on fire. I unfortunately stepped into a half-eaten pizza slice and I slip and fall.

“Shit.” I rub to the side of my leg. Rhet gets up and reaches for me.

“It’s ok. I’m ok.” I stand and dust off my leg.

“Morning,” his voices sounds husky and rich, “Um this-“

“Before you sound like a broken record leave and have a good day,” I say, glancing over at his morning wood.

“Right see you later.” He turns and leaves through my front door. I have to confess that is one of the best sleeps I have ever had. It takes about an hour and a half to get to work at the Gala’s venue. Now I’m here, well rested and waiting for a Mr. Francis.

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