Page 29 of Abel

“Have fun tonight, I’m sure you both need it. Emily, are you gonna stay here with us for a while?” Tark asks, moving back to his chair and sitting down. He likes to act like the mother hen of the group because he’s what the ladies call a silver fox. Doesn’t look his age with all that silver hair on top of his head and face. It definitely suggests he’s older, and he uses it to his advantage.

Women love it and flock to him like he’s God’s gift to them.

I’ll never tell him that. That’s all we need is for that shit to go straight to his already big as fuck head.

I watch Em open her mouth to speak, but just as the words are tumbling out, Capone speaks up. “I think the lady needs a drink.” He says, rocking back and forth in his chair, looking like the bad boy he is. “Don’t you, beautiful?”

I watch her grin widen before red erupts on her innocent face. She’s eating it up and so is he. “Yeah, I could use something to drink. What do you recommend?”

He stands, flashing her a sneaky smirk before sashaying towards her. Once there, he wraps her hand around his forearm and steers her out of the room.

Before they go, I say, “Em, if you need me, I’m only a phone call away.” Big brother to the rescue, even though I’m not her big brother, I still feel protective over her.

“Thanks, Abel. I’ll be okay. It was really nice meeting you, Ivy. Maybe we can hang out sometime?” She says over her shoulder.

“I’d love that. I’ll get your number later. Have a good night, Em.” Ivy says, winking at her.

“You, too.” And with that, Capone escorts her out.

“Tark, have Ironclad keep an eye on those two. She’s an innocent girl and has no idea how rowdy Capone can get. Ironclad will keep him in line.”

“You got it, Prez.” Tark says, swiftly passing by me.

“Now that you’ve met everyone, wanna get out of here?”

“But I haven’t met everyone, where are the other women you mentioned earlier?”

“I’m afraid I sent them home already.” I said. “It’s fella’s night for us and ladies night in for them.”

“Ladies night… In?” Ivy asks, sounding so confused to the point it’s actually cute.

“Yeah, when us men go out, the ladies get together back at The Sandlot. It’s our home away from home, where we all hangout. Anyways, they get together there, cook, chit-chat, and whatever else women do while we shoot the shit here.” I must really like her to be giving her all our secrets like I am. “You should come by and meet them sometime.”

“Me? Oh no, I couldn’t possibly impose on you all like that. I’m just an outsider looking in.”

“Not to me you aren’t.” I smirk, behind a glass I swiped from the waitress’s tray, taking a sip of the clear liquid inside. “You are so much more than that.” I don’t think twice about my actions and neither does she.

She welcomes the incoming kiss.

Closing her eyes at just the right time, I memorize how perfect she looks as I steal her breath, claiming it as my own.

Each kiss is different and opens my eyes to the endless possibilities that all include her. I’m not sure what she’s doing to me, but I fucking welcome it.

“Thank you.” I whisper, drunk off her.

“For what? What did I do?”

“For being you.” That’s the only answer I can muster at this moment. There’s no way in hell I could tell her I’m thanking her for not rejecting me when it seemed like I was telling her I was in love with her.

There’s no way I can be falling this fast or hard.“Hey,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts, “where didyougo just now?” I won’t bore her to death with the ghosts of my past. No matter how much time passed me by, it still triggers me that one day, the woman I find will do me just like Courtney did.

She’s not Courtney, and I ain’t no pussy.

I’m Abel Mother fucking Iverson.

“Nowhere. Let’s go.” Pecking her juicy lips one last time, I take her hand and escort her outside. Ready to get her back to my place.

“Shit, I forgot Cam drove here tonight. I’ll have to call a Lyft.”

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