Page 32 of Ex- Factor
He walked out still grinning, leaving me there—glaring, and way too turned on to function.
Chapter Eighteen- Silas
I wasn’t playing cards. That’s what I was supposed to be doing, but instead, I was watching her.
Eshe.
She was drunk off tequila and whatever else she and Angel could find. They were on the makeshift stage in my backyard, leaned into each other on the mic, screaming out “Not Gon’ Cry” like it was a personal testimony. They were off-key, too loud, but having the time of their lives. I just smiled into my drink like a man too far gone to care. Eshe was it for me. There would be no other women. I didn’t want to love anybody else. Didn’t even see the point in trying.
She knew it, and I felt like she was playing with my feelings a little bit. She knew how I felt but wasn’t giving in fully. She took what I gave her—attention, protection, comfort, maybe even sex—but kept her heart guarded.
Watching her dance around how I felt stung a bit.
But I still gave her what she wanted when she asked. I didn’t throw parties. I liked other people’s parties—fucking up their shit, leaving messes for them to clean. But Eshe asked me to with that mouth of hers, and I could never say no because of what she could do with it. I groaned low in my throat.
Now my house was full of people, some I barely knew, music shaking the windows, and Eshe glowing in the center of it all.
“You’re staring at her again.”
I turned. Naomi was back—smudged lip gloss, crooked ponytail, with a woman standing behind her in all black and a scowl. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where.
“Who’s this?” I cut in before Naomi could ramble.
“Me and Jonas were leaving,” she slurred, jerking a thumb toward the door. “And she was just… there. Knocking. Demanding to talk to the owner.” Naomi rolled her eyes. “So I brought her to you. You’re welcome.”
I looked at her again and immediately knew why I recognized her.
Sinica.
Eshe’s ex-best friend. The one who married her ex.
I snorted. “We’re neighbors?” Of course we were. Life loved its little jokes. I knew she was there to complain. I could see the Karen all over her face.
Sinica smiled like she tasted something bitter. “A few houses down. I was going to call the police about the noise—”
I cut her off. “It’s nine o’clock. Ordinance says no noise complaints until after eleven on Saturdays. Look it up. Go home, lady.” I waved her off.
Her mouth twitched. “Rude.”
“To you? Correct.” If Eshe didn’t like her, I hated her.
Sinica sucked her teeth, spun on her heel, and stalked off.
Naomi laughed, glassy-eyed, and walked off behind her.
Not two minutes later, she was back. This time with Donte. Tall. Smug. Dressed like he’d just stepped out of a magazine shoot in a polo and tailored pants. I ground my teeth.His eyes locked onto Eshe first, and for a second, his face flashed with emotions. Hunger. Regret. Fury. Love. Hate.
I was on my feet before my brain caught up, the alcohol in my veins burning off like fog under a blowtorch. My tipsiness dissipated.
“Rolling in the deep,” Eshe sang loudly.
“And you had my heart inside of your hand,” Angel sang even louder.
I stopped in front of Donte. He looked me up and down. And then he shoved me. Just like that. No words. No reason.
Big mistake.
I lunged forward, shoving him so hard he stumbled into a table. Cups toppled. Someone yelped.
