Page 46 of Strong Side

1. Use Me - PLAZA

30

Vacuum-1 Rocky-0

Rockwell

Lil’s driving us to the airport today, and to say I wish I brought a goddamn turtle neck with me to California, regardless of it being the start of Summer, is an understatement. I turn to look at Clay, giving him a seething look that doesn’t last more than a moment when he smiles at me. How can I even be mad at him when he looks so fucking happy?

1??Plus, anytime I think about the hickeys covering me, I can practically feel the blush creep up myneck at the memory of the filthy shit he said and did to me all night long.

I spot Lil getting dropped off by an Uber in front of the hotel. If we were smart, we could’ve had her drop us off here last night, but we were in a little bit of a rush. She comes strutting up to us, and I see her eyes bug out of her head. I know I’m in for the ass-riding of a lifetime.

And not the good kind of ass-riding either.

Like she can’t contain herself any longer, she blurts out, “You get into a fight with a vacuum, Rock man?” She snorts a laugh as she reaches for my neck, but the closer she looks, the less capable she is of holding it together. In the next breath, she’s bent over wheezing, acting like this is the funniest shit she’s ever seen. I peek over at Clay, seeing the little smirk lining his lips. I’ve never wanted to choke him out as much as I do right in this very moment.

A vacuum could never… and it’s not even just my neck. He’s marked my entire body. The feral caveman Clay turns into when fucking is a wild thing to experience, but I won’t lie and say part of me doesn’t love carrying his marks around on me.

Lil is up, finally done with the dramatics, reaching for me, but I pull away before she gets to me. I whisper-yell like I did when we were younger when I was trying to save her from getting in trouble with our parents. Butnow I’m just trying not to draw even more attention to us than we already are. “Lil! Stop. Let’s get in the car so we’re not late for our flight.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” For my sanity, I pretend not to hear the high five she gives Clay behind my back as I storm toward the car.

Clay and I are in the back seat, sitting closer to each other than any teammates should ever be, and I canalmostsee the airport when Lil finally asks, “So… you two?”

Using her government name I warn, “Liliana.”

“What? You really don’t think I’m so oblivious not to notice you two staring at each other lustfully when you think no one’s paying attention, practically drooling. I mean if the sneaking around shit is the kink you’re playing, more power to you…” And like she remembers she left something out, continues with her questions, “Or when I would walk into your room, and you’re cuddled up together? Or wh—”

Stopping her mid-sentence, with a clenched jaw, I rub my temples. “Enough. We’re dating… I guess?” I turn my head slowly to get a read on Clay after those words fall out of my mouth. I just called him my goddamn boyfriend.

Boyfriend… That has a nice ring to it.

The most tender eyes are looking back at me, then that feral smile is back when he says, “Oh, Baby. You’re sure as fuck, my boyfriend.” He grabs my face with both of his hands and smashes his lips to mine. I close my eyes and melt into the back seat while Clay pushes against me, swallowing up my little whimpers. Then I hear Lil clear her throat, jarring me enough to push on Clay’s shoulders, telling him, “Probably shouldn’t do that in front of my sister.”

He pouts like I just took away his birthday and mumbles, “Not like she doesn’t know.”

Before I know it, we are outside the airport at the drop off and all out of the car. I hug my sister, not knowing when the next time I’m going to be able to see her and whisper, “Thank you, Lil, for always being there for me.”

Even being thousands of miles apart, I know she’s always just a phone call away. We fought like cats and dogs growing up, but now I’d commit murder in broad daylight if anyone tried hurting her. She gives me shit about pretty much everything but is always there for me to lean on when I need her.

I pull back from the hug, and she has matching tears lining her eyes; her voice cracks when she finally responds, “Always, Rocky. You were made for each other. I can already tell. Protect him and his light.” I’ve called her one too many times to bitch about his piece of shitdad, and I know that’s what she’s referring to. I just nod in response, knowing I’ll fully burst out in tears if I try to speak. She knows I’ll protect him with everything I have.

She spins to face Clay now, holding her arms out wide, ready to grab him up in a hug. When they’re hugging, I watch as they speak in whispered tones, and when they pull away, Clay’s eyes are brimming with tears too.

She breaks the silence with humor like always, laughing, “Clay, bud, you should have told me to bring my concealer for Rocky’s neck. I could’ve thrown it in your bag before you two love birds left the house or brought it here.” She’s snickering into her fist. Now, her attention is on me, and she shrugs as I pin her with a glare. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one that’s 0-1 with a vacuum.”

1. Dial Tone - Catch Your Breath

31

Mile High Club

Clayton

Do not ask me why, but airports are one of my favorite places on earth.

They’re like my Disney World.

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