Page 29 of End Of Never

That girl needed him.

This one doesn’t.

Now, I’m here. A doctor, for fuck sake, with my own home, my best friend, and he shows up thinking I’m still weak, a girl still needing saving. Well, I don’t.

I’m done with his games.

I don’t need anyone; I’m stronger without him. I rose above the flames that surrounded me and crawled out of the ashes. I did that. I figured it out. Mommy dearest would be so proud.

Pulling into my driveway, I head inside to tell Haley we don’t have to kill him, but we also will not be nice to the man. My body is begging me to be everything he needs, but my heart is begging me not to.

It’s been two weeks since Jace held me in his arms and begged me to be the ‘good girl’ I used to be, to cum on his hand and show him just how much I wanted him. For the past two weeks, he has texted me once a day, and I’ve ignored every message.

After work, I head to the gym, and my phone starts ringing, ‘Sperm Donor’, what the fuck. I watch his name light up on my screen. I let it ring and ring until finally, the call ends. I pull into the gym's parking lot and immediately text Haley.

Lilla

Sperm Donor just called me. Has hell frozen over?

Did they run out of precious money?

Walking into the gym, my phone rings again. I knew she’d call when I texted her that. Laughing at myself, I go to answer, only it isn’t Haley.

Cruella DeVille scrolls across my screen. Why the fuck is she calling me, and how do they even have my number? I absolutely ignore that bullshit and continue with my night.

Stepping into the gym, it’s empty as usual. Heading to my starting station, getting in my zone. The door opens, and Haley walks in.

“What the fuck? Did you answer the ghost of eight years?” Her face is completely baffled. Her high pony tale swings her hair back and forth as she stomps over. Her bag is draped around her bright yellow sports bra, making her tan skin look bomb.

“Who cares about thing one and thing two? Let's work on growing bigger asses.” Her dimples pop as her cheeks lift, sending me a big smile. “And we have the gym to ourselves, soooo pick a song to play over the big speakers.” She throws her bag down.

Looking at each other, the words flow out in unison, “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Without even selecting the song, I hit play. I know Haley like the back of my hand. Instantly, her head starts bobbing, her lip curls up, and she looks like her early-90s teenage self.

Haley goes over to the box jumps, getting into her stance. We stare at each other with fire in our eyes. I love working out with her; we challenge each other, and we go all in.

We jump and sing our hearts out until the song ends, making us laugh hysterically at our crazy, obsessed selves. When clapping catches our attention, we slowly snap out of our fan girl moment and look at who enjoyed the show.

Turning around, we see Jace and Hayden both standing there, in their gym attire. Hayden is about the same height as Jace. His eyes are the darkest brown I've ever seen, matching his thick eyebrows. He’s definitely a good-looking man. He stands tall, my gaze drops to his legs, his thighs are so muscular, I’m sure he could flex once and rip a new pair of jeans. Jace is standing next to him, in a gray cutoff, his sable hair covered by a backward hat, which instantly sends a shock through my lower stomach. We don’t want to climb him like a tree; he is thorny. Squeezing my legs together as I shift stance, I watch a daring smirk rise. He knows, cocky asshole. I watch as their muscles flex with each clap.

Haley marches over to them, and I can’t help but smile, because if Jace thought I was scary, he has no idea the power Haley possesses.

She points at Hayden, “You look like far too nice a person to be running around with this asshole.” Jace grabs his chest like he’s just been shot.

“Ouch, Hals, I’ve been so good, ask Lil. She’ll tell ya.” The fucker nods at me and winks. The audacity.

I grab my towel and water, and start walking over to the bench press, knowing damn well Jace’s eyes are still on me. “Oh yeah, he’s been such a good boy.” Hayden busts out a deep laugh, and Haley winks at Hayden as she shoulder checks Jace, following me to the machines.

Eminem starts slamming into the speakers. Lying back on the bench, I close my eyes, taking in his words like my own anthem. Pushing up the bar and bringing it back down, I push out all the thoughts of my parents. The thoughts come to a halt as my watch vibrates, showing Sperm Donor once again. I slam the bar down, rolling out from under it. Haley furrows her brows, and both guys turn around from their stations.

Throwing up my phone, Haley nods and meets me in the middle of the gym. “Don’t answer it.” She pleads, catching Jace’s attention even more so, and he starts walking over.

“What is it?” He takes a drink of water, and all I can think is how I want to drink him in, swallow him down my throat until he can't give me anymore. Simmer down bitch, we hate him. HATE him, even when he is dripping sweat, in a cut-off t-shirt.

“Lilla?” Haley claps, catching my attention.

“What? I was thinking…” Jace smiles. That smug bastard caught me, son of a bitch.

Haley shoots me the look, “Quit eye fucking Jace, we hate him, remember?” She moves her hand over him, swirling it in front of us, “asshole.” Jace turns and looks at Haley, with fake-hurt on his face. I start laughing, as does Hayden.