Page 34 of Next Level
Cherry’s eyes look relieved.
Silence.
Fuck my heart starts racing.
“Look—”
Cherry cuts me off. “Level, it’s okay. We fucked. I understand you have a life to return to and women who are waiting for you. It’s fine. You don’t owe me anything.”
I snap my mouth shut.
Is she giving me a way out? No strings. No throwing a fit, making me choose. Just…it’s cool.
Irritation or maybe anger surfaces. I clench the steering wheel.
“What, no more Ray? It’s Level now. You good? Don’t want me anymore?” My voice is filled with hurt and anger, letting her know I’m upset. I kind of sound like a little bitch, to be honest, but I don’t care. I’m upset she’d just be cool with not beingtogether again. I thought these last few days were something different.
She chuckles, hiding her insecurities. “You don’t even know me—”
I cut her off, pissed. “Cherry, I’ve spent more time getting to know you these past few days than I have any other girl. Tamara and Tink are girls I just have fun with, and they both know it. I don’t take them out, and I don’t spend time with them. I fuck them when I feel like it. AND neither of them have I ever taken bareback.”
Cherry just stares at me before a whispered, “Okay” falls from her lips.
“Okay. Now let me go get my girl and sort this shit out,” I say as the police station comes into sight, and I pull into the parking lot.
I put the car in park and turn off the truck while Cherry stares out the front window. She takes a deep breath before responding, “ Yes, let’s go get this sorted out. I’ll deal with my brother while you deal with your daughter.” I’m waiting for her to say more, but she doesn’t. She just continues to look out the window with no emotion on her face.
With that, she gets out of the truck and shuts the door behind her. I’m so irritated, frustrated, and worried that I just scared her away or pissed her off. But the biggest thing I feel right now is that I’m confused about how this woman got her claws in me so fast. I should be worried about my daughter, but instead, I’m concerned about Cherry.
I take the keys out of the ignition and exit the truck, moving quickly around to the back, grabbing Cherry’s hand and pulling her to me. When she looks up in surprise, I say, “You mean something to me. Let’s sort out this shit, and then we’ll sort out us. Yeah?”
She gives me her emerald eyes, and the ache in my heart eases up.
I lean down and kiss her.
POLICE STATION
When Cherry and I enter the police station, there are people everywhere. An officer behind the desk asks how they can help us. I let them know I’m Samantha Amato’s father, and Cherry announces she’s Garrett’s adopted sister.
They instruct us to sit down and an officer will be with us shortly.
I get to hold my baby girl soon. My mind is racing with so many questions. When the door to the left buzzes and an officer leans out, I jump up.
“Marco Amato?” he announces.
I rush over, extending a hand. “That’s me, but I go by Ray.”
The officer extends his hand, shakes mine, and introduces himself.
“Hi, Ray. I’m Officer Wilkerson. I’ll take you to Samantha. Come this way.”
When he motions for me to follow him, he asks, “Is Mrs. Amato with you?”
I turn, forgetting Cherry was there, only thinking of seeing my baby girl.
She smiles and says, “No, go. I’ll wait to see if I can speak with Garrett.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
