Page 53 of Don't Break My Heart
I consider her, loving the smile that’s already back on her face. “I’m not sure yet. Leave it with me.”
“But I can be one of the first to play?” she asks, a little more desperate.
“You can be our experiment. If you want?”
“Yes, I want.” With a cheeky-as-hell smirk, she takes off across the room toward the bar. She says something to Asher that has him raising a brow in my direction. Oh God, she didn’t just go straight over there and tell him, did she? I turn away from them, not wanting to get involved in the drama of it all. Poor Myriah has no clue about men at all. But who am I to talk, with the mess I’m in.
I scan my card into the VIP lounge, the rhythmic beat of dance music hitting me as the door opens.
Asher falls into step beside me. “Hey, what is Myriah going on about? You’re not going to let her play this game you’re planning, are you?”
I raise a brow, wondering why my brother cares so much about this. “What’s it to you?”
“I… I don’t know.” He scrubs a hand down the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “She’s just a nice girl. I don’t want to see her get hurt with some dude who’s out to use her.”
I huff out a laugh. “Asher, do you really have that little of an idea about women?” I grab hold of his shoulders and look him dead in the eyes. “You have got to stop waving your dick around and putting it in everything that moves. You’re the one hurting nice girls. You’re not some fucking Casanova. You sleep with them, they fall for you, and when you move on to the next cute thing, you hurt them.”
He stares back at me blankly like he had never considered this was even a possibility before. “Oh. I didn’t think.”
From the bar I find Erica watching us. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” I smile at her. “You need to use that big brain of yours a little more often and your dick less, big brother.” I tap him on the head.
“How come you get to have three boyfriends and a husband?” he asks like it’s unfair.
I can’t help but burst out laughing. “You want that much trouble, Brother? Try it. Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. And for your information, I’m not married.” I show him my hand. “He asked for a divorce after just a few weeks with me. Guess I’m just as good with dudes as you are chicks.” My heart shatters all over again as I say the words. I shouldn’t care, I’m off the hook. Free, as Orlando said. But I don’t feel free. I feel trapped, chained to all of them even though I’m trying not to be.
“I’m sorry, Sis. For what it’s worth, he’s an idiot.”
“Yeah.” But even as I say it, I know why Orlando asked for the divorce. For me. He wanted me to have my freedom. I thought that was what I wanted as well. It was what I harped on about the wholetime I was with him.Take me back to my life, as soon as IcanI’m going back there. No wonder he shipped me off home first chance he got. Maybe Cruz is right, maybe I am the asshole.
Chapter 24
It’slatewhenatap comes at my front door. I’m exhausted but still can’t sleep, so I have made a bed for myself on the sofa with a fluffy blanket and pillow and started the second season ofWestworld. I flick it off with the remote and hop up, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders. What fresh hell will I have waiting for me on the other side of the door?
Cruz comes out from the spare room, his hair sticking up everywhere from where he’s been sleeping. I’m not sure why he’s staying here, I haven’t asked, but I’m glad he’s around. He helps keep me and Jagger from killing each other. “Go back to bed. I’ve got this.” I wave him off, checking the peephole. An instant smile crosses my face.
“Harley,” I practically scream her name as I open the door in a rush.
She’s adorable, in a shirt dress and tights, her baby bump more of a watermelon than when I saw her last. “Where the fuck have you been, girl?”
Ricky stands behind her, and he looks me over with curiosity. “Sloane.” He tips his head in greeting.
“Ricky. Couldn’t let her come down the hall alone?” I snip back.
“What if she goes into labor?” he says more seriously.
“I’ll call you, Doc.” I smirk.
He looks unimpressed. Then he kisses her cheek. “Call me when you need me to walk you home,” he tells her, and I hurry her inside and close the door before he changes his mind.
Cruz has wandered off back to bed, leaving the two of us alone. “What the fuck, girl, start talking,” she says.
“You want some ice cream first? It’s a long fucking story.” I roll my eyes for emphasis.
“I’m eating for three, of course I want ice cream.” She laughs, rubbing her belly. She looks so damn happy I hardly want to bring her down with my shitshow of a life.
With a heavy sigh, I move into the kitchen, grab two bowls, and fill them with vanilla ice cream. I top mine with whiskey and look over to her. “I have chocolate syrup. It’s not the same but still good.”
She smiles, her pretty face lighting up. “That would be perfect. I would kill for a drink about now, though.”
