Page 12 of Kid
“From the look of that black-eye, I don’t think she needs my protection.” I backed up. “But the monster in me wants to rip your throat out for putting your hands on her.”
Turning on my heels, I headed for the door.
Macy started screaming at me, but I didn’t stop or acknowledge the fact she was losing her mind.
I wasn’t sure how thing had gotten this way with her. I never once showed her any sexual interested. I was good to Macy because that was what friends did for each other. She must have taken it out of context and caught feelings.
Honestly, I felt some sympathy for her. One couldn’t help who they fell in love with. That was where it all ended for me.
It would have been a bigger injustice to her if I pretended when knowing that I wanted someone else—that my heart was leading me somewhere else. I sighed and sat in the front seat of my car to send Nella a text.
You’re avoiding me, Nella. I don’t know why. But Macy won’t be an issue for you anymore.
With that, I made the drive back across the city, stopping to pick up a crate of Arrowood Brothers wine at the winery. The Bar was running out and since I was in the neighbourhood, it was easier to get it than wait another two days.
The guys at the bar was happy to see me because I usually lend a hand with preparation work. The hard work was good for my body. It helped me to forget the mess I’d just had to deal with and the loss of two friends.
There was no debating if Nella was gone. After the stunt Macy had pulled, it didn’t matter what I felt.
“Eh!” Mamba called.
I looked up and arched a brow. “Did I expect you today?”
“Nope.” He climbed into one of the stools at the front of the bar. “Can’t a brother just stop by to see his brother?”
I laughed. “Yeah. What do ya want?”
“Nothing.” He sighed.
I set a glass of iced cold soda in front of him.
“Thanks.” Mamba told me. “Jia is off to San Francisco to meet with some CEO who wants to hire her freelance to do some forensic accounting for him.”
“San Francisco? She moving down there?”
Mamba shook his head. “No. It can all be done off site. Everything being computerized these days.”
I smiled and reached over to pat his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Your darling will be back soon.”
“Yeah. How you doing? You look like hell.”
“Thanks.”
I explained to him what had happened between Nella and Macy.
“Please, Nella wouldn’t have started that fight.” Mamba told me. “Why are you still friends with Macy?”
“I know. You and Demon warned me.” I frowned remembering the talks.
“You’re the only person who didn’t see her for what she was.” Mamba set his glass back on the bar. “Chelsea didn’t like her, remember?”
“Don’t remind me.”
Mamba looked as if he wanted to say something else, but didn’t.
He spent a little more time with me before heading back to his tattoo studio.
Suddenly, I was left with the demons swirling inside my head. What was I really doing with Nella? She wasn’t like other women and that terrified me. It wasn’t the fact she was a few years older than I was—in fact, the thought she was older turned me on.
