Page 50 of Reckless Hands

“He told me everything I needed to know,” Lucas tells me.

Perry goes to cut him off, but he doesn’t get a chance because I raise my gun and shoot him directly between the eyes. His head lolls back, blood and brain matter splatters everywhere, and Lucas swears. He shakes his head because he was an idiot for standing too close.

“Next time, don’t bring dipshit when he hasn’t gotten laid,” Lucas says to Keir before he walks off, leaving my brother and me standing there with Perry’s lifeless body.

Kier looks at me. “You better come back from this fucking holiday ten times better.” He shakes his head and walks off the same way Lucas did, throwing over his shoulder, “And fuck your damn wife.”

TWENTY-TWO

ADORA

We boarded a private plane this morning to take us to our destination. I can’t say I’ve been on one until today. Joey has hardly spoken to me, and we’re already hours into our flight. It’s awkward. He didn’t come home again last night, and this time I didn’t sleep on the couch, instead choosing his bed. And when I woke, his side wasn’t even touched.

I had heard the door slam early this morning and then his heavy footsteps as he entered the room, still dressed in the outfit he left in yesterday.

“Do you plan to talk to me?” His eyes are closed in his seat, but I know he’s not asleep. “Not sure how this vacation is meant to go if you plan on not speaking to me.”

“Do you like cock?” His eyes open, finding mine already on him.

“W-What?” I stutter, completely caught off guard by the question.

He’s asking me this now.

“Do you like cock or… is it only pussy that does it for you?” I realize I still haven’t answered him as his eyes search my face for the truth.

“I’ve been with both men and women if that is what you’re asking.” He doesn’t blink, doesn’t even move, he simply stares at me. “Did you think I don’t like cock?”

“It’s hard to see how you can like cock when the only person you look at with interest is a woman.”

He isn’t lying, I can see why he would think that, at least since he’s known me. But I also look at him with interest, but he’s too stubborn and blind to see it. His anger clouds everything, and I guess I’m the reason he’s angry in the first place.

Maybe I need to try harder, which is a difficult thing for me to do, but I have to be willing to try.

“I find you attractive,” I admit, but it doesn’t seem to soften him any. He blinks at me, and blinks again, as if he doesn’t quite understand what I’m saying. “I can’t say I would’ve given you a chance, Joey, if this thing wasn’t forced on us.” I wave my hand between us, taking a deep breath before I continue, “I would either be single or with Becca right now. I’m not gonna lie to you and say I don’t have feelings for her because I do. But I’ve also told her that we can’t be together because I have to try with you, but you’re not making it easy for me to try.”

He pinches his bottom lip before his teeth come out and scrape it. His eyes are still locked on mine, and I’m waiting for his response. For some reason, this conversation is making me anxious.

“If I ask you a question, will you answer it truthfully? “

He gives me a simple nod in reply.

“Do you find me attractive?”

At first, I think he’s going to ignore me and not answer. He takes a moment to rub the scruff on his chin. It’s only a few days old, but it gives him an edgier appearance, one that I quite enjoy looking at.

“I like my women with a bit more meat on their bones.” His words shock me, but they shouldn’t really because he’s mentioned this fact to me before. I just didn’t think he’d be so blunt and cavalier about it, not after what I just shared.

I turn my face away from him, not even bothering to say anything else, but then he speaks again, “Yes, Adora, I do find you attractive, despite how much I hate you.”

My mouth wants to lift in a smirk. He could’ve lied, and I’m not even sure if he is really telling the truth, but I have a feeling he is.

“Thank you.”

“You’re not welcome.”

The plane flies over crystal clear water and beaches with white sand, and I wonder what it’s going to be like over the next few days stuck on an island with a man who thinks I’m attractive but who can’t stand me.

I guess I can try to work with the attraction thing for now.

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