Long before we reach her kitchen I hear the bass of the music as Beres Hammond’s tenor voice croons
Rock Away through the speakers and I just want to stop and vibe out. However, Shay’s not done guiding me to our final destination.
“Come on, you can remember the song that used to make you rock away after you meet my family,” she says cheekily.
I narrow my eyes at her ridiculous attempt at humor. “Haha you’re so funny, said no one ever.”
We round the corner into the most expansive kitchen I’ve ever stepped foot in. It’s double the size of our last apartment and filled with so many people.
“Mom, this is Emma. Emma this is my mom, Mrs. Warren,” Shay says, grabbing the stuff from my hands.
Shay’s mother is beautiful. She’s about my height with light brown hair and soft pecan brown skin, rich with cool red undertones. Her hazel-green eyes sparkle as she takes me in. I stick out my hand to shake hers, but she draws me in for a hug that feels like coming home.
“None of dat child, we hug roun’ ‘ere,” her rich Jamaican accent blending in with her American vernacular, much like Shay’s does at times.
Allowing myself to be held and just bask in the scent of her sweet perfume, I take my first real breath in a very long time. I can feel the water forming in my eyes and I quickly blink them back. “Thank you for having me in your home,” I choke out, my voice betraying my resolve to appear unaffected. She just hugs me tighter and two tears make their way down the right side of my face.
As soon as she releases me, I immediately use the back of my hand to wipe away the evidence, but Mrs. Warren’s knowing smile tells me she sees me and with an imperceptible nod she lets me know my secret is safe with her. And just like that Shay’s mom has a place in my heart just like her daughter.
“Okay, let’s bring dese tings outside and we can really get dis party started,” Mrs. Warren says, directing us to pick up the platters of fruit and a tray of BBQ jerk chicken.
Who’s stuffing their face tonight? This bitch!
Note to self: Don’t let Shay give you rum punch. The evil brat told me it wasn’t that strong, but the way I’m writhing on the dance floor without a care in the world while
Mind My Business blasts tells me that’s a lie. Listen, I can hold my own but the way Shay’s family is moving to this soca song, it’s only the rum in my system making me not feel shame.
My hands are up waving through the air and my body rolls trying to keep the beat when I feel a hand grip the meat of my hip. I think nothing of it and just grind my ass into whoever is behind me, until I hear the voice in my ear.
“If you keep this up, you won’t be minding your business for much longer.”
My pulse kicks up, a flutter stirs in my belly, as my top teeth bite into my lower lip. I’d recognize that voice anywhere.
“Karl, wha-what are you doing here?” But he doesn’t answer, instead, he slides his other hand over my stomach and presses me closer into him right as the song switches to
So Mi Like It by Spice, slowing down my movements to match his elastic waistline.
Fuck, who knew Karl had it in him.
I’m so focused on Karl that I miss August’s approach until he has me pressed between the two of them.
“Mmm, my favorite. A Riri sandwich,” he whispers in my other ear and flicks his tongue against my earlobe. Zings fire straight to my ill-behaved pussy. The wayward bitch never gets the memo that says ‘no boys.’
But their hands are exploring my body, trailing light touches against my already fevered skin. The idea of the two of them touching me with no clothes on has me turned on and freaked out.
As if sensing my mounting panic August grips my throat, not with any force, just enough to keep me in place. I peer up at him in challenge and he answers my taunt, mouth connecting with my lips, making my movements come to a complete stop. His lips feel so soft against my supple ones. I’m so lost in the feeling of him, I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel Karl’s teeth nip at my neck.
“You look so delicious kissing August. I had to get a taste of you.” Shivers travel over my body, making goosebumps dance over each area their mouths touch. If they keep touching me like this, I might implode right in Shay’s backyard.
That thought is a reminder that I’m at Shay’s family cookout and snaps me out of my lust-drunk haze. I break the kiss and slide from between them, my frenetic pulse beating in my ears. I look around hoping whatever god is listening that Shay’s mom didn’t see me. Luckily, the adults have gone inside, leaving us to party the rest of the night away.
My shoulders slump in relief until I meet the glacial eyes of Rowan across the pool. It’s dark out, but I swear his cheek looks almost swollen. Whoever he was fighting obviously didn’t beat the asshole out of him. That’s too bad. Flipping him a double middle-fingered salute, I turn my back on him and try to find Shay and clear my desire-filled thoughts.
EMMA
“Did you hear how that trashy slut was rubbing all over August and Karl at that bitch Shay’s house on Saturday,” I hear Sam saying to her cronies as I’m preparing to change in the girls’ locker room for my Krav Maga class. I was running late, leaving me alone to get ready until they walked in. Their brazen conversation illuminates that they believe they’re in here by themselves.
After slowly easing myself down onto the bench in front of my locker, I stop all sudden movements ensuring I don’t alert them to my presence.
Nosy bitch in full effect.
“I don’t understand why she can’t keep her slutty hands to herself.” I’m not sure who’s speaking now and I can’t peek around the corner to check.
“I know, it’s like she’s trying to sleep her way into the selection. Like that will help her. There’s no way any of the heirs will choose her. She’s a nobody who comes from nothing.” I recognize that high squeak. That’s Megan.
What the fuck is a selection?
This is the fifty-eleventh time I’ve heard about this stupid thing and I forgot to check back in with Shay about it after the disastrous football game. Not to mention who the hell is she calling a nobody? Just because I’m not stuck so deep up Sam’s vagina that I hit her ovaries doesn’t make me a nobody, it makes me smart.
“…we’ll know soon enough.” Dammit, I missed something. Whether it was because they were mumbling so low that I couldn’t hear or because I was distracted by my thoughts, I’m not sure. I never said I was a good spy, just a nosy bitch.
“Whatever happens, if the new bitch gets in my way she’ll regret the day she and her reject family moved to this town. Rowan and the heirs are mine.” My eyes roll at Sam, she always sounds like the villain in a bad movie. I almost expect the stupid evil cackle, instead, it’s the sound of the locker room door banging shut greeting my ears.
I keep still, making sure I’m alone, and just when I get ready to grab my clothes out of my locker, the door opens and the hushed murmurs of Sam and someone else reach me.
“Do you have everything? Good.” The person must have nodded their response because I never hear them speak. I can feel my heart rate thrumming in my veins. What the hell is this about?
“What do you mean?” Ughh it’s infuriating to only be able to hear half of this conversation and it’s not even the good parts.
“Listen, you’ve been paid and I expect results. Anything less than perfection won’t be tolerated.” Whoever this is, they’re starting to piss her off. Hopefully, they’ll keep it up and I’ll hear something juicy. Straining, I lean forward, just a smidgen, hoping to catch something.
“Just make sure you’re where you need to be and I’ll handle my part. Now hurry up and get the fuck out of here, if we’re seen together I’ll be fucked for sure.” The inflection in her tone rises far above a whisper.
Fuck! I can’t move another inch. Damn. I just wanted to see who she’s meeting with. My teeth clench in frustration. Without knowing who it is, if I make any further attempts to move and I’m heard, I can’t be certain of the danger I’d be in. The sound of two sets of footsteps, walking with different gaits, exit the locker room. My whole body relaxes, releasing tension I didn’t realize I was feeling.
Once I am certain I’m alone, I hurry to get dressed because I don’t want to be any later for class. Stewing on what I heard, I decide I can’t be bothered with whatever Sam has going on. Since I couldn’t tell who she was meeting with, there’s honestly no way to know what she’s up to. She could be plotting to take over the world or just buying more collagen for her lips. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past her to be sneaking a burger and fries, but since no food aromas fill the air, I quickly dismiss that theory. Without more to go on, I’m chalking it up to her being melodramatic, per usual.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.