Page 54 of West Bound

Her face turns red and her eyes burn with rage. Here she comes…angry Tink. “Uuurraaaaahhhhhh! I’m going to kill you, Phoenix West!”

She lunges at me but CeCe grabs hold of her by the waist and tugs her back into her tall body.

“Oh, Tink. Killing me is the last thing you want to do. And I’m sorry if you think I was trying to sabotage you. I wasn’t. Really. I was just trying to thank you for helping me throw my best game ever. I think it was your pus–”

“Oookay. That’s my queue to leave, party people. Viv, call me later.” CeCe backs away then turns and does a speed walk that could rival any granny mall walker.

“Cecilia Desai. Get your ass back over here and help me break his arm!” Vivian screams after her, but that only encourages her to walk faster until she has disappeared back into the building.

“Babe, please don’t say things like that. I don’t want to have to call the police and tell them you’re threatening a national treasure with such violence.”

“A national…you are unbelievable. First,” she says, ticking off a finger. “You man-doze me with your-your Sasquatch body and assault me.”

“Nuh uh uh. You asked me to. Don’t you remember?”

Her nostrils flare and she curls her lips, baring her clenched teeth to me. “Like I said before, that statement was made under duress and should not be allowed as evidence. Two–”

I step closer to her and run my fingers through her strands of fiery red hair, pushing some behind her ear.

“Come home with me tonight, Peaches. Let me make it up to you.”

“I…” I’ve stunned her and curbed her ability to speak as she just stands there with her mouth hanging open and a look on her face like she doesn’t understand the English language.

Her mouth finally closes and she cocks her head to the side, staring at me like a complex puzzle that just doesn’t make sense. And I’m staring at her like she’s the only woman who could fill my loneliness with joy.

My hand trails down her arm until I reach her hand and entwine our fingers. She doesn’t make a move to pull away, so I slowly start to walk her towards my truck.

“Wait,” she protests, freezing in her tracks. “No. No no no. Are you insane? This is deja vu.” She presses her palm into her forehead and lets out a sigh. “And I am not one for reliving my mistakes. I’m not going home with you, Phoenix, so just let me go.”

I shrug. “Okay. That’s cool. I’ll go home with you. Just FYI, I’m staying the night and I didn’t bring my jammies, so I hope you’re okay with me sleeping in the nude.”

“Phoenix! What is wrong with you? I. Hate. You. Leave. Me. Alone.” she says, clapping her hands between each word.

“Peaches! No. You. Don’t. I’ll. Never. Stop. Chasing. You.” I answer back in the same manner.

She grows quiet, breathing heavily in and out, while her eyes look deep into my soul doing what I assume is trying to read me. Deciphering the meaning behind my words. I hoped and prayed that she would see the sincerity, the honesty, in my words and my actions.

I want this woman more than I’ve ever wanted anyone else. I wanted her the first time I saw her when I was that punk college kid who thought the world would worship at his feet. I wanted her even when I told myself I would never settle for one woman. I was a fucking professional athlete and the idea of having a different woman every night was a dream any man would pray for.

At least I thought it was the dream. Now, all I see is a future with a woman in my life who is there to stand by my side through the good and the bad. A woman who isn’t in it for the money I have or the things I can buy her, but one who truly loves me and supports my successes. I want a woman who will kiss me with all the tenderness when I’m low and need help getting up off the floor. I want that same woman to know when I need something raw and animalistic. I want passion. I want desire. But most of all, I want love.

And I think Vivian Kelley is that woman. She is all of that and more in one fiery, feisty, smoking hot little package.

She lets out a breath and lets her arms hang at her side, like they’re too heavy for her body.

“Why?” she asks. “Why are you insisting on pursuing me? Is this like, the second part of your plan? Get the virgin to fall for you then break her. Check. Next up, reel her back in and throw her out more broken than the last time.”

I cup her face gently in my hands and lean in. “I was an idiot last time. I really did like you, but I let my ego and my reputation as a ‘badass baller’ get in the way of what I wanted. I’ll forever regret the way I acted. It took me a lot of years, full of mistakes and regrets, to realize what I really want.”

“And what’s that?” she asks, timidly.

“You, Peaches. I want you.”

Her eyes drop to the ground and I know this is my last chance to prove to her that I’m not a bunch of hot air.

I crouch down until we’re eye level and force her to look at me. “You are beautiful, Vivian. Inside and out. And I want to get to know everything about you. I want to know if you prefer coffee or tea in the mornings. Do you still love that Dolly Parton song you and Cami and CeCe used to sing when we’d go to the beach? Do you wear glasses when you cuddle up to read at night? Do you sleep on the left or the right side of the bed? What your favorite cereal is. I want it all.”

Her eyes search mine as she stands in silence. Her face softens and in a small voice she whispers, “Fruity Pebbles.”

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