Page 14 of Euphoria
I siton the countertop with my cuffed wrist while Phoenix stands but leans back on it for support while watching Jeremy and his crew move everything in.
“Did you hire them?” Phoenix asks while replying to messages on his phone.
“Yes,” I answer. “Can you take off these cuffs?”
“No,” Phoenix snorts. “You deserve this and so much more, deer.”
I roll my eyes, pulling at my left cuffed wrist and cross my arms over my chest. “This is ridiculous.”
Phoenix looks at me from the corner of his eye, “Your tits are bigger than I remember. Used to be bee stings before.”
“What?” I look down at the back of Phoenix’s hand that’s sitting nicely on my breast. I pull my arms apart and roll my eyes again.
“You must want me to make this worse for you all in a day’s work. Keep rolling your eyes at me,” Phoenix threatens.
How the hell would he know what I’m doing if he’s not even looking at me? Phoenix maneuvers his right wrist around and clasps his fingers, intertwining them with mine.
“I’m confused,” I admit out loud, staring down at our joined hands. “What are you doing, Nix?”
“Shut up. You don’t get to question me on shit.”
Before I can reply, Jeremy walks over to us. I try to remove my hand from his but Phoenix tightens the hold, making it unbearable. My lashes flutter.
“Miss Vasquez, I mean, Bambi. We’re almost all done here. Two guys are setting up the things in your bedro—.”
“Tell them to get the fuck out of our bedroom. I’ll put the shit together,” Phoenix says without looking at Jeremy.
“I, err, umm, well Miss Vasquez paid for the whole setup including the delivery.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Phoenix says and finally looks up at Jeremy. The cheeriness that Jeremy just had is gone. “Mrs. Moralis-Hanlon is good. Take your men and go before I put you all out.” Phoenix smirks. “You don’t want that, trust me. I’m already on edge.”
“Moralis-Hanlon?” I repeat and as if I’ve conjured him up too Bowie walks in looking like he’s just stepped out of the magazine. How did he even get in here?
“Are you questioning your last name, little lamb?” He asks.
I open my mouth to talk, but I choke on my words. I clear my throat and try again as he eyes Phoenix up and down. “What, what are you doing here?” I ask.
“It’s moving day but you didn’t even contact your husbands to help you move?”
“I don’t nee—” I stop just as Bowie walks right up in between my opened legs and places his palms flat on the counter, trapping me in his space.
His anger is so pronounced I whimper. “Finish that fucking sentence, Bambi and I’ll correct you in the worst way. Just fuck it up once so I can show you just how angry I am with you.”
I breathe hard. Him being so close to me, I involuntarily inhale his scent, earthy and fresh, like he’s just come out of a shower. His lashes are long, and they touch his cheek every time he shuts his eyes. His bushy brows are the only imperfection on his face yet they’re perfect to me. Everything about him makes me want to cry because I missed him. My heart feels like it’s being ripped out of my chest. Nothing else matters to me. I don’t think as I wrap my arms around Bowie’s neck and hug him. “Please don’t go,” I whisper.
Bowie’s body is the first sign that he’s uncomfortable. He stiffens and tries to pull away but I won’t let go. I wrap my legs around him and hold on even tighter. “Let go, Bambi, I don’t need this shit,” he grits through his teeth.
“No, please just a minute. Just… I thought you were gone. I thought you both left me,” I confess.
Bowie is silent for a minute and then he wraps his arm around my waist pulling me even closer. He rests his head on my shoulder and I feel his lips on my neck as he turns into it. “Fuck,” he says.
“Fuck is right,” Phoenix states.
* * *
After Jeremyand his guys leave, I glare at both men with the meanest mug I could muster up. “What is going on with you guys? You both left for a week and now you’re back with orders?” I say calmly.
Phoenix continues on his phone like he doesn’t hear me. I sit quietly and wait. I know him; he doesn’t function like a normal human being and neither do his thoughts. While nagging would be fun, it’s exhausting for me and as for him, it won’t change his demeanor right now. As for Bowie, he’s hanging back against the wall leaning towards it like he’s ready to bolt and never see me again. He tilts his head and looks at me.
