Page 40 of Laila Manning
I felt like I was the user in the equation, having received pleasure without reciprocating any. Yet, that was what Zeke said he wanted. It was all uncharted territory for us both, and I think he was just being cautious, given how unpredictable my trauma and triggers were.
And I didn’t want to dwell on any of it. So, the next morning, I got up, got ready for the day, and went to hunt down my infuriatingly protective and caring brother.
I had to finish the argument he started last night in the driveway when I got home from work. Unconsciously picking a side, I left him standing there last night to find Zeke and check on him.
I just wish I hadn’t been put in that place to begin with.
“Ropes.” Carly snickered from her front porch as I walked up, face buried in her phone as Elora looked over her shoulder. “That’s so hot.”
“I prefer satin or silk.” Elora shrugged, “Less likely to leave bruises when Ryker gets rough.”
Carly chuckled and shook her head, still oblivious to my presence as I got to the bottom step. “I like wearing Jed’s mark.”
“Ew.” I cringed with a smirk, making my presence known, and they both looked up, snickering together.
Carly rolled her eyes and smiled at me. “Well, good morning, troublemaker.”
I ignored it and walked up the steps, forcing each foot in front of the next to get closer. Would it ever get easier to walk down paths?
“Is my wrist-branding brother here?” I asked, trying to keep things light and carefree.
“He isn’t.” Carly set her phone down and stared at me as Elora smirked over the top of her mug. “But he’ll be back in a few minutes with donuts. So, you can stay and wait.”
“I’ll just catch him at the garage.” I hooked my thumb over my shoulder and gave a slight wave as I went to make my exit.
“Not so fast.” She whipped back, halting me before my foot even lifted off the wooden porch. “Spill it.”
“What?” I crossed my arms over my chest and fought for control of the panic rising.
“Jed came home yesterday, broken and bloody from a fight with a man he had been friends with for years. And then when he tries totalk to you about it, you blow him off and go searching for that same stubborn and problematic man.”
“Zeke is not problematic!” I argued, scowling at her. Of course, Carly was going to choose Jed, that was obvious. But I wasn’t going to let her just throw Zeke, who was a good friend of hers as well, under the bus, not knowing the whole story.
She smirked and pursed her lips. “Interesting.”
“I thought she’d have a better poker face than that.” Elora quipped, leaning back in her chair. “She folded like paper in a hurricane.”
“Told ya she had it bad.” Carly added.
I shook my head and held my hand up, ceasing their annoying banter. “What is happening here?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Carly took her feet off the chair across from her and nodded to it. “What does matter is you telling us exactly what’s happening with Zeke.”
I groaned but sat down in the chair, because to be honest, I couldn’t internally dissect everything that transpired between us anymore without breaking my psyche completely. God knew it was fragile at best to begin with.
“I don’t even know how to answer that.”
“Start at the strip club.” Carly fired away instantly, ready for this conversation long before I was. “What happened after I left?”
I shrugged my shoulders, feeling stupid for saying it out loud. “He told me he wanted me.” I covered my face as Elora’s lit up and Carly smirked. “And that he would wait for me to come to him when I was ready.”
“Girl.” Elora gushed. “He’s so damn respectful.” She sighed, “It’s almost attractive.”
I snorted and relaxed a bit in the chair.
“Then what happened?” Carly pressed on.
“I did what any traumatized and damaged woman would do when a good man was interested in her.” I cocked my head to the side, as if the answer was obvious.
