Page 78 of Kandie Shoppe

U: Same.

I breathe out a sigh. My fingers hover over the buttons seconds away from asking him if he wanted me to come to him. He already told you he didn’t. I remind myself not for the first time feeling this awkward tension on where we stand now. We haven’t found our groove yet. Things are the same. I’m waiting for something else to happen and he seems much the same, like he’s waiting for me to leave again and doesn’t trust I won’t.

Me: Okay.

Shoving my phone into my pocket so I can take care of my lady business, I head into my bathroom.

When I come back,Joi is knocked out on the recliner in the book nook. Taking a fuzzy throw, I tuck it around her giggling when she lets out a little snore.

Tidying up our little mess, I rinse our wine glasses, dump the rest of the popcorn, then flick off the lights.

Double checking my locks, I go over to my bed and post up. I know there will be no sleeping for me tonight.

Me: Goodnight

U: You want some company?

I know he doesn’t mean for it to sound like he just wants sex, but it feels ugly to me. He left this morning and I haven’t heard from him all day and now he wants to rinse and repeat?

Me: Is that all I am to you?

U:…

Then

U: What are you talking about?

Immediately I regret typing anything. Nathaniel wanted to take me to brunch and it made me realize that Ulysses and I have never been out publicly as a couple and the one time he could have claimed me he did everything in his power not to even acknowledge me.

Me: Nothing. Goodnight.

My phone buzzes several more times before I start to doze.

Someone knocking hard on my door has me wrenching into a sitting position. I look up and Joi’s eyes are wide with fear with the blanket she tucked around herself as she read, pulled tight against her throat.

Taking my mace and bowie knife, I go over to the door. “Who is it?” I ask.

“Me,” comes the heavy growl through the door.

“It’s okay,” I tell Joi. Her shoulders visibly relax as I turn to unlock the door.

“Who are you saying it’s okay to?” he demands, not giving me a chance to fully open the door before he’s pushing it wide.

His mouth presses in a hard line as he takes in Joi curled in the corner, giving him a limp wave.

“Satisfied?” I grouse, pushing him back out the door and coming to stand beside him on the porch landing.

“Not even a little bit.” Smiling on the inside at the way he’s turning my words against me, I do my best not to show him I’m affected. I’ve given this man too much power over me, acting like a besotted kitten every time he’s around.

“Why didn’t you answer my text?” he demands next, taking in my crossed arms and tapping bare feet. It’s humid out here and I can already feel the T-shirt sticking to me. The warm air brushing against my arms makes my chill bumps rise and my nipples press against the material.

“That’s why you came over here at o’dark-thirty?” I shake my head at his unhinged ass.

“I figured you must need a visit since you weren’t answering.” He shrugs like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“I fell asleep.” Stifling a yawn on the word, I look at his troubled gaze. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to sleep.”

Instead of letting me pass, his heavy hand circles my neck and he presses me against the door.

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