Page 26 of Back in Blood

“From my understanding she’s no longer in a relationship.”

“Yeah, because her fiancé killed a kid.”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with her.”

My blood began to boil as I ascended the remaining stairs. “Oh you got me fucked up,” I stated with a scowl surprising Lori. She looked at me with wide eyes as if I was the last person she expected to see.

“Prior to this trip I hadn’t seen you in at least a year. I’m Gemini’s friend. Not yours. So, the way you feel so comfortable speaking on my business while trying to throw salt on my name is crazy as hell. You can be thirsty as fuck and sexually harass Sage without mentioning me.” I was pissed.

Lori recoiled with a deep frown on her face. “Sexually harass? Nah nowyougot me fucked up. I don’t have to see you to know your business. It’s the talk of the city. And do you think my sister doesn’t talk to me?”

I had to turn and walk away out of respect for Gemini. And I was shocked that I was doing that since her sister had basically just told me that her sister was telling her my business. In order to keep my hands to myself and not ruin the trip, I needed to go to my room. I had known Gemini for a long time, and she’d never been messy or two faced. I didn’t want to confront her while angry and end up blowing up. My dumb ass should have just stayed at home. Lori’s slick comments made me wonder what people in the streets were really saying about me.

There was a knock on my door, and I just stared at it. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to Lori or Gemini. I needed to calm down first. When I didn’t say anything, the door slowly pushed open, and Sage peeked in. “I understand if you’re upset and want to be alone. I just wanted to check on you.”

“You can come in,” I replied quietly.

Sage walked inside the room and closed the door. He walked over and sat down on my bed. “Lori was out of line for those ignorant ass comments that she made, but don’t let that get you down. I’ve only ever heard Gemini speak very highly of you. I could be wrong, but I doubt she told your business in a malicious way.”

Sage’s voice was so deep and soothing, it was actually calming me down, and that shocked the hell out of me. I even managed to smile at him. “All this trouble is because of you. All you had to do was give the damn girl some attention.”

Sage tossed his head back and pushed out a deep rumble of laughter. “I guess it is my fault. I’ve been busy trying to dodge her ass when I should have just given her what she wanted,” he sighed.

“I appreciate the fact that even though you’re interested, you’ve never been that pushy, thirsty, or aggressive. Thank you so much.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I do have this thing called pride. I can apply pressure, but there is a limit.”

“Indeed,” I grinned. “You are a very handsome guy. How long have you been single?”

“A long time,” Sage shook his head. “I’m a very focused person. When I want something, I don’t stop until it happens. Before I opened my lounge, I was actually an orthodontist. I had my own practice, and I started selling teeth whitening kits. It’s a very simple hustle, but I swear I made a million dollars off that shit in three years. I always knew I didn’t want to work hard until damn near seventy before I could retire. I was focused on making money, stacking most of it, and putting the rest into the lounge. I officially retired from being an orthodontist two months before the lounge opened. I said all that to say, I was so busy with work that I didn’t have time for a relationship.”

“That’s amazing. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Of course, I don’t mind. I’m thirty-six. You around Gemini’s age?”

I nodded. “I just turned thirty-one.”

“Yes, I remember your birthday. I’m honored that you decided to celebrate in my establishment.”

“Well, it was more by force than choice, but I did have a good time,” I giggled. I was really enjoying Sage’s company. And while I still didn’t want to date him or be intimate with him, I decided that maybe if he remained as nice as he was, we could be friends and if something happened down the line, that’s what it was.

He had just parted his lips to speak when there was a knock on the door. I was pretty sure it was Gemini. “Come in.”

The moment our eyes connected, I could tell she was pissed. “Hey. Sorry to interrupt, but can I speak to you for a minute?”

“Sure.”

Sage stood up and left to give us some privacy. The moment he was gone, Gemini rushed over to the bed. “What happened with you and Lori?”

I recanted the details, and when I was done, Gemini’s nostrils were flaring. “Sis, you know I love you down. Lori was petty and childish for that shit. First of all, I’d never tell your business on some gossiping shit. You know my mother was excited for your baby, and I had to share what happened with the baby with her. I didn’t know about what Sintonio did. I found out from the news articles and gossip like everyone else. I damn sure didn’t approach her talking about it.” Gemini shook her head. “I’m so sorry. She’s pissed and packing her stuff to leave, and I don’t even care.”

My anti-depressants had to be the truth because not only was I no longer upset, but I was in a decent mood. “She doesn’t even have to leave. It’s not even that deep. If she doesn’t say shit to me, I won’t say shit to her.”

“If she decides not to go that’s what it is, but I’m not telling her to stay. Lori was wrong and she knows it. The way she’s throwing herself at Sage is sickening. She’s doing the most. I’ve never seen her be that thirsty behind a man. Especially one that’s clearly checking for someone else.”

“It is what it is. I refuse to let that bother me. I had my few moments of anger, but I’m good now. Let’s play games and drink.”

I had too much going on mentally to let an irrelevant person remain underneath my skin for too long. I went on the trip to have fun and get away, and that was what I was going to do.

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