Page 45 of Trust Issues
“Naima, let it go.” Max tried to reason with the woman but she ignored him. She was too curious now. The only thing I could think to do was toss the underwear out of the window but it was too far. She’d definitely catch me if I did. Her eyes were narrowed and focused on my hidden hand.
I stumbled backward when the front door opened. I leaned against a solid frame and looked over my shoulder.
Owen.
He was back and he brought my vacuum.
“Oh! Owen, grab what’s in Kyle’s hand!” Naima shouted excitedly. He did it too, even though Max was shaking his head no. I was no match for Owen’s strength as he pried his brother’s underwear from my closed fist.
“What is it?” Owen asked, stepping around me to roll the vacuum inside. He held the boxer briefs up and frowned, dropping them immediately. “You had me grab a pair of draws, Naima? What is wrong with you?”
“Wait…Max those areyourunderwear?” Naima shrieked with her hand on her chest like her heart would leap out at any moment. Owen’s surprised eyes snapped to mine then to Max’s.
Everyone was dead silent.
I could hear my heart beating ferociously against my chest. I was scared that it would break right through. I swallowed and took a step back. I don’t know why but I hoped that it would make the space bigger. I needed a much bigger space now that my dirty secret was out in the open.
“Wait so you two?” Owen pointed at me and then at Max.
“You two?” Naima reiterated with a chuckle. “Oh. My. God.”
I shot Max a look and he rubbed his forehead.
“We’re all adults here, right? This is between Kyle and me. We don’t need comments from the peanut gallery.”
“Oh, oh you’re getting all these motherfucking comments. You two always put on like you hate each other so much and truth is you couldn’t wait to smash! This is golden,” Naima roared with laughter and all I could do was sit there and take it with my arms folded.
“I can’t believe this shit,” Owen chuckled, shaking his head. “This makes perfect sense. You were acting so strange earlier when you called about playing ball. I thought you were torn up over Sadie but now I know Sadie was the furthest thing from your mind. You were thinking about Kyle.”
“Can we not?” I asked, flopping on the couch.
“Girl, you had me thinking you fucked Austin. I can’t believe that shit.”
“Austin? You believed her?” Max scoffed arrogantly. “As if Austin would ever give her that necklace as a badge of honor.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up, Max.”
“Gladly. I need to leave before I die from embarrassment. Kyle. Dinner. Tonight. Eight sharp.”
“Okay,” I said before I even had time to think about the consequence of my eager actions.
“Well, here’s your vacuum. It sucks like a charm. No need to thank me.”
“Thanks, Owen,” I said waving my hand. Once the Parker brothers left, I was alone with Naima. She sauntered over to the couch with her hand on her hip and Max’s underwear in her hand.
“So these belong to Maxwell Parker. The man you swore all out that you loathed. The man who gave you that honorable necklace as he so eloquently put it.” She pointed to the bruises around my throat.
“Yes. Okay? I fucked Max last night. We were both drunk and…it happened. Now you see why the hell I’m so confused.”
“You’re not that damn confused. Max practically ordered you to dinner and you didn’t protest once. You said okay and all but batted your lashes at him.” I couldn’t deny that. It was weird though. I liked how take charge Max was. I never had a man who made me want to follow his lead before.
Never.
No man was worth that.
Hell, I wasn’t all the way sure that Max was worth it. I just knew I wanted to follow the tingling sensation he conjured in the pit of my belly. It was sweet like milk and honey and I wanted to gorge myself on it.
I’d do whatever I had to do to keep that feeling alive.
