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Alexis rushes over to me, leaning down and wrapping her arms around me. “Are you okay? That was horrible.”
I hug her in return, clasping my hands over her back.
I feel a tugging at my heart as her arms hold me tight. There is genuine affection in her gesture. It’s not the same intensity I felt for Lisa, of course, but I can feel an ember, a growing flicker of affection that’s going to expand until we form a lifelong bond.
Unless I go nuts and make a move on her dad.
Triston finally turns to us. His eyes flit over me, his jaw tight.
Where is this fury coming from?
I try to shake the feeling again, the one that tells me he did that for me, not Alexis.
“What if he comes back?” Alexis murmurs, pulling back from the hug.
I sigh and shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Has he ever done anything like that before?”
I nod, even if it pains me to admit it. “A few times since Lisa… he’s come by, demanding the rent early. Usually, I just ignore him and he goes away. He’s never lingered this long before.”
“That bastard,” Triston snarls. “Who does he think he is?”
I shrug. “You can get away with treating people like that around here and he knows it. He makes sure to pick the… pick the ones he knows he can get away with too.”
I was going to say vulnerable ones, but I don’t want to describe myself like that.
“I’m just glad he didn’t see my new camera or laptop. He might’ve taken them.”
Alexis rubs her hand up and down my shoulder. “Do you want to spend the day at ours? You can bring your camera and everything. I hate the idea of leaving you here.”
I glance at Triston, trying to read his expression, trying to decipher the glimmer in his eyes.
Does he want me there? Or not?
I wish I could reach into his mind and get access to his thoughts. Just to put myself out of my misery, this self-torture of hoping he might feel the same when he obviously doesn’t.
“Tam?” Alexis says.
“Yeah,” I say. “Okay. That sounds nice.”
Triston turns away. “I’ll wait in the car.”
He walks down the hall, heavy footsteps pounding as he disappears.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Triston
I walk past my car to the end of the street, almost wanting the landlord to come running after me.
The bastard could bring a weapon or backup or whatever he wants. I wouldn’t give a damn.
Anything to relieve some of this tension.
Anything so I don’t have to think about the fire burning inside of me.
I almost erupted when I saw the way he looked at Tamia, standing there in her PJ bottoms, her wide hips begging for my touch – when she looked up at me with wide innocent eyes, every inch of her screaming that she belonged to me – and that prick, that bastard…
He looked at her like she was dirt like he could do anything he wanted to her.
I stop at the end of the street, grinding my teeth, a spike of anger jabbing at my skull.
No one ever gets to talk to her like that. No one ever gets to threaten her. I would tear the whole world apart to stop my woman from having to experience anything like that again.
I open and close my hands, breathing gruffly, as I turn and make my way back to the car.
Sitting behind the wheel, I wait. Alexis and Tamia come out a few minutes later, chatting quietly.
Alexis slips into the front seat and Tamia sits in the back.
I can’t stop my gaze from flitting to the rearview mirror, my body stirring as Tamia brushes a hand down her black jeans. She’s changed into a hoodie, the sleeves pulled up around her hands, making her look adorable and captivating.
She looks up at me, offering a small smile and I smirk.
Does she know? Do I want her to know?
“Thanks for letting me spend the day with you guys,” she says as I pull away from her building. “Of course, Mr. Reynolds had to pick my one day off to pull this crap. But I guess it’s better than being woken up in the middle of the night.”
“He shouldn’t be allowed to do that,” Alexis snaps. “It’s not fair.”
“These apartments are cheap. Most of us don’t have any other choice. It’s like I said. He knows he can get away with it.”
“Then stay with us,” Alexis chirps.
My grip tightens on the steering wheel. I have to focus to keep my eyes aimed forward. Alexis makes the offer so casually, not knowing the hellfire that will erupt if Tamia says yes.
Having her under the same roof I’ll never be able to resist her. I won’t even be able to try.
But I’ll have to.
For Alexis.
“Oh, yeah.” Tamia laughs ironically. “Because you haven’t done enough for me already.”
