AllFreeNovel
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Yeah?
Yeah going to do a second gym sesh then be there after
Don’t wait up
Is something wrong?
Not being able to tell her this huge secret I had was slowly killing me. I wanted to be able to share everything between us, but if I did, she’d leave, and I wouldn’t have her anymore. So I continued to lie.
Stressful day with customers
C u soon sunshine
* * *
Thanksgiving Day was upon us. Adon had enthusiastically agreed to host. Well, he gave his usual stoic reply, but said yes quicker than his typical calculated answers. The whole family was looking forward to the holiday without Rhodes’s relationship drama. None of us had wanted to bear the wrecking ball that was Celine.
Fortunately, my brother said he was “done” with her. Again. Rhodes came alone, much to everyone’s relief. We all pitched in and brought food since Adon had the kids that day. Emily would have them for Christmas. My aunt, Maria, was joining us from Greece and staying in Adon’s guest room for the week.
Davis and Dixson showed up for part of the dinner after eating with their own families. A week after I was released, I briefly visited with Warden Dixson’s parents and spoke to his younger sister once when I saw her at the gas station in town, but I avoided Johnny Davis’s family. His home had been like a second one for me when we were growing up. Now I knew it would feel too awkward to look his parents in the eye.
We were sitting in Adon’s living room watching football. I held Essa on my lap, relaxing back on the sofa after our large meal. My fingers constantly played with her hair, stroking the silky strands. Everything about her brought me comfort, made me feel at home. Her scent, her smile, her energy. Everything except my lie and her talking with Johnny Davis.
“No, no, no. Spike and Buffy all the way.” Davis and Essa were in a highly impassioned debate. I guess he was a closet fan of her favorite show. “Spuffy tops Bangel any day.”
“But Angel was her first love! I don’t think she truly did love Spike. I mean, in a way, but not like Angel.”
“Angel had stupid hair.” They both started laughing at this loudly. Apparently, it was some inside joke. Stretching my neck to the side, I tried to tame the beast raging within me, aching to let loose. Essa threw a wadded-up napkin at his head. He swatted it, then stood up. “I gotta tell ya, Eli. I like this girl. Despite her poor taste in vampire lovers.”
Since they met that afternoon, Davis kept making her giggle. The fact they were getting along like old friends didn’t sit well with me. Her laughs were supposed to be for me. Plus, why was Davis talking with her so much when he’d ignored me the last seven years?
“I’m going to get another drink. Want one?” Essa squeezed my thigh, then got off my lap.
“Thanks, baby. Here.” I handed her my empty glass of water.
“I’m gonna take off. Thanks for the dessert, Adon. I’ll see you guys. Bye, Essie!” Davis bumped my fist and grabbed his coat. Oh, he also called her a nickname. I clenched my jaw to keep from biting his throat out of his neck, so I didn’t have to hear his voice again.
“Bye, Johnny!” Essa called to him from the kitchen.
My brothers got up, too. Adon had to end an argument between my niece and nephew upstairs. Rhodes went for leftovers. Dixson was the only one left in the room. He sat next to me, engrossed in the football game. On a commercial, his head darted to the kitchen, then back to me.
“Essa’s nice… A little naïve, but nice,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.
“Yeah, I get it.” I rolled my eyes. “She’s young.”
Dixson had never met her. Not one to engage, he was always the quiet one in our group. I often caught his eyes observing our interactions that afternoon. “Hmm. Yeah, very young. I wouldn’t think you guys had a lot in common. Where’d you meet?”
This was a question my brothers had asked, too. The story I told was the same. “Bookstore.”
“Huh, youread?”
Swinging the throw pillow next to me, I smacked him in the face. “Fuck you, man. Yes, I read.”
He smiled as he swatted down my attack. “You’ve never been a one-gal kind of guy. I mean, other than… you know. It’s weird.”
Dixson walked in on Kara and me fucking once. She was never careful. Sometimes it felt like shewantedus to get caught. Just to cause a fight.
“Essa’s good for me. She’s someone I chose. Kara was just…” I couldn’t finish my sentence.
