Page 18 of Game Change

My plan was to walk her home and spend the rest of the night with her there. I was going to ride the shuttle to the airport, kiss her goodbye, and promise to see her again in less than two weeks, but staying up all night backfired on me. After our third round of lovemaking, I remember wanting to close my eyes for a few minutes. That was five hours ago. Now, I’m kicking myself for not getting her number directly from her. I’m sure she’s still at the airport, probably sitting at the gate or getting breakfast with her friends.

I’m reluctant to shower. I love having her smell on me, and washing it away is like erasing a part of her, but I do it because I don’t want anyone else to know how she smells.

No one is awake, and I rush to the house on the resort that contains the front desk. I slide five one-hundred dollar bills to the concierge, give them the townhouse number, and ask for the names of the guests who checked out this morning. I tell him there will be a tip for him once I have it. Less than a minute later, he hands me a piece of paper with all three women's names, phone numbers, and home and email addresses.

Brody and Malcolm are in the kitchen drinking coffee when I return. There are no signs of Ian, which I’m thankful for. I’m not in the mood to stop another fight.

“One more fucking day,” Malcolm grumbles.

“Yeah, and you can watch your sister marry Ian,” I toss out, still irritated with him for his behavior and for mentioning Esme in front of Honeybee.

“Did you say goodbye toHoneybee?” he asks in a mocking tone. I don’t comment on how he says her name. “Did you even get her name, or is this just you playing with her emotions?”

“Have you ever known me to play with a woman’s emotions?” I ask. “What the fuck is your problem? Are you going to sulk for the rest of your life about Ian marrying your sister?”

“They ain’t married yet,” he says.

“Yeah, do something about that. Didn’t Makayla already cut you off before? Didn’t your mommy have to intervene on your behalf? Give her another reason to cut you out of her life. She’s already done it once. I’m sure she’ll do it again.” Fucking miserable asshole. One of the upsides about the wedding happening so soon is that I won’t have to be around him for a while.

“Yeah, screw you too,” he says. “Honeybee left something for you.” He points to the kitchen table, and I sprint to it.

It’s a blank sheet of paper. I pick it up and flip it over. It’s a sketch of me. She only uses a black pencil, but it’s me, shirtless and waist-deep in the ocean. There’s a wave behind me, and I’m looking back at it.

It’s perfect, and I smile as I look at it. She’s an artist. I do remember that detail about her. I run upstairs and put the sketch in my duffel bag.

Ian talks to his fiancé when I return to the kitchen while Malcolm gives him the death glare. I get behind him and wave at the screen.

“Hey, Killah,” Makayla says. “Ian’s told me all about your girlfriend.” She smiles.

“Well, it’s not official yet, but soon.” I put my finger to my lips.

I ignore Malcolm’s snort and walk away from the kitchen when my phone vibrates with an incoming email from my uncle. I ignore it. Once I’m alone in my room, I finally look at the piece of paper the concierge gave me. Brynneka Barber. That’s not the name I was expecting, but it fits her. It’s different and bold.

I’m confident Brynneka is different than Esme.

My last relationship was a dumpster fire, but all the signs were there; I just refused to see them. Malcolm tried to warn me, but I ignored him. Esme was a train wreck from the moment we met, but I was mesmerized by her green eyes, strawberry-blonde hair, and extroverted personality.

Brynneka is sweet. She’s on the shy side, and most importantly, she’s capable of maintaining friendships. In the year I was with Esme, she alienated everyone around her. She had no childhood or college friends. The final straw was when she tried to come between me and my sister.

I grab my phone, save her information, and call her number. She probably won’t answer since she won’t recognize mine, but to my shock, she does.

“Hello?” her sweet voice says.

“I told you I’d find you.” The line goes quiet, and my heart rate picks up. “Brynneka Barber.”

“You did not disappoint,” she says. “That was faster than I thought.”

“I’m a determined man, Brynneka Barber,” I say her full name again. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

I can’t see her, but I bet she’s smiling and blushing on the other end. If I was there, I’d lift her off her feet and kiss her.

“I can’t wait either.”

“I’m going to cook you your favorite dinner.”

“And I’m going to eat it,” she says back

“Then I’m going to eat you.”

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