Page 31 of Stripping Keys
This is what happens when I’m distracted by everything else. I lose focus. I’d blame it on Keys and his work of art cock, but I can’t this time. It has to do with the fact that my brother is dropping a huge bomb on me.
I can’t say I’m not happy for him. I really am. West is my best friend, and he deserves to be happy. He deserves someone who is going to put him first.
Maybe Marshall will do that. Considering the way he’s going all he-man, I’m guessing he surely will.
Clearing my throat, I find my voice to answer Keys’s question. “My brother is just explaining to me how he’s been fuckin’ my best friend.”
Keys raises a brow and looks to the other two at the table, then back to me, but before he can speak, I keep going.
“I didn’t need to know that part, obviously. But as long as West is happy, I’m good.” Twisting to look at my brother, I narrow my gaze. “I don’t care that you’re with West. I’ll be happy for you, but fuck anything up and I’ll take my knife to your gut, do you understand? Doesn’t matter whether we’re siblings or not. West is more than my best friend, and I’ll protect him as he protects me.”
Marshall looks like he wants to say something but stops himself and instead nods, saying, “You got my word, Mar, I won’t do anything to fuck things up.”
“Good.” I nod back. “Then I won’t have to kill my own brother.”
Keys snorts and takes a seat next to me.
To my surprise, when the door opens, in walks Marley, being guided by Griz. It shouldn’t surprise me, though. I mean, her man is a member of the club, so of course she’d be around.
A part of me thought she’d storm over here and start in on me again. Another part of me wanted her to, so I can go at her as well. Yet a surprisingly small ounce of me wanted to talk to her and explain things.
No. That won’t happen.
“Mar,” Marshall calls my name, regaining my attention. “The other thing I want to talk to you about?—”
“If you’re gonna ask me about?—”
“Let me finish,” he says, interrupting me, interrupting him.
I snap my mouth shut and wait. I don’t want to get into it with him. My emotions were still uncontained, and I didn’t want to show them to him. To anyone.
I didn’t even want to share my emotions with Keys, but there was no keeping him out. I know that. He’s my kryptonite, my weakness. I would give him anything he wanted without question, which scares the living hell out of me.
“What I want to talk about is. . .” He pauses, takes a breath, releases it, and shakes his head before looking at me once again. “I’m sorry for being hard up on wanting to know what the hell you’re into. I won’t apologize for wanting to know everything, but I will for the way I spoke. I’m your big brother. It’s in my DNA to want to protect you, and without knowing, I can’t do that. Same goes for the way I am with Marley.”
“You can’t protect me, Marshall. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself,” I tell my brother.
Keys’s hand comes to my knee and gives it a squeeze. I glance at him to see he’s watching me, not my brother.
“You should share, baby,” he murmurs.
“No,” I whisper. “That won’t happen.”
Keys holds my gaze for a moment before nodding. “All right.”
I’m surprised he doesn’t try to force my hand. I’d given him my most darkest secret. He knew some of my others. I knew he wanted me to share with my family. Yet, he’s not forcing me. He said what he had to say and is still backing me on my decision.
The wall around my heart crumbles the rest of the way, leaving me exposed to being hurt. However, I have a feeling that he’d never hurt me. Not physically or mentally. Or he wouldn’t do it intentionally.
There’s still so much the two of us have to talk about. We’ll have to find time to do it, but right now isn’t the time. There’s enough going on.
Well, there might be enough going on, though I still want to know more about Keys’s past. I only know the parts he’s shared with me so far.
I give him a brief smile and return my attention to smile at West and Marshall. I was truly happy for them. The news of them together is shocking, but not in a bad way. I wanted them to be happy.
West leans toward me a little, “You know I’ve got your back on everything you do,” he starts.
Oh hell.
