Page 6 of Tank’s Weakness

I hold my cigarette out from her body as I lean in to kiss her. She’s not as tall as me, but she has some height on her, so I don’t have to bend my six-foot frame too far. Then my free hand comes up to her hip, pulling her closer as I kiss her like my life depends on it.

Fuck, it feels amazing. I know it’s the high of her demand, but I want to chase it. I want to feel more of it.

When she finally pulls back, I smirk down at her, taking a drag from my cigarette. She scrunches her nose in disgust, but the man has finally caught up, and he isn’t happy.

I might go to jail tonight for kissing another man’s girl. I can’t even be sorry about it.

I drop the cigarette and snuff it out with my boot.

“Delaney, what the fuck?” the man hisses.

She turns to him. “Blaine, this is my boyfriend. I told you I was meeting him. I don’t know why you are still following me.”

She keeps her hand on my chest, not moving her body an inch.

“Tank,” I grunt at the man, holding out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Blaine. My girl has told me a lot about you.”

I say it as if it’s a bad thing. I assume it would be if she were kissing random men to get this guy to take a hint.

I take in his appearance. He is clean-cut. What kind of asshole wears slacks on a night out? His button-up is crisp and clean. This man cares a lot about his appearance if his perfectly fixed hair is any indication. I would think he is Navy or Air Force with the bases being so close, but this guy seems too arrogant to take demands from someone else.

He stares at my hand with disgust. I pull it back, placing it on her hip. I smirk when I see his jaw tighten.

Yeah, I don’t need to shake your hand. I got what you want.

“You’re hanging around with a thug? What has gotten into you? I know I fucked up, but you’re dating this guy? Really? You need to take a step back and look at what you are doing. I mean, he has tattoos on his face. You can’t even take him to work events,” he tries to reason with her.

My girl has other thoughts, though. She doesn’t get angry. She doesn’t yell at him.

She laughs. I mean, really laughs. It’s a beautiful sound that has a smile coming to my own face.

“Delaney,” he tries again, his voice lower this time. “Let’s talk.”

She shakes her head. “I already told you how I feel. You cheated. It’s been two months. I am done and will still be done two years from now. There is no universe in which I would take you back. I really need you to figure that out and move on.”

She isn’t cruel with her words. No, she’s stating facts.

“Yeah, well fuck a thug then. Hopefully he can handle your shortcomings. I mean, you’re stiff as a board and can’t even come. What kind of woman doesn’t come for her man? A pathetic one. Honestly, you’re saving me the trouble.”

I push the girl behind me and step toward him.

“Would you like to talk shit about my girl again?” I ask him, cracking my knuckles.

He has the common sense to look afraid now.

“This isn’t over.” He turns and stalks away.

Turning, I find the woman still standing there, looking tired.

“You want a drink?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t.”

I nod. “I could walk you to your car at least. Honest to God, I’m not a serial killer.”

She snorts, “That’s what a serial killer would say. Are you going to pick that up?”

She looks down at the cigarette butt I had left on the ground during our interaction.