AllFreeNovel
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Driving out of Christmas, I enter Lakeshore. Taking the first left onto Sycamore, I drive down to the end of the street and into my driveway. One of two flood lights comes on.
“Crap. Not again. I just changed that bulb.” I put the car in park, still idling, and look at the front of my house. “What in the world?”
It looks different. It’s still run down and in desperate need of new siding, but my windows are brand new. I can see the new wood frames surrounding them and they’re crystal clear. Not the dirty filmy ones that were there. No matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t get them clean.
One name comes to mind.
Vince.
“Oh, hell no.” I slam the car into reverse and head towards his house. My blood is boiling. One, he didn’t ask. Two, he obviously took my key and used it to get in. Three, who the fuck paid for this?
Driving down his street, I see his driveway is empty. Backing out, I quickly race through the streets. It’s not until I’m on Main Street that I notice his truck as I drive by Moose’s.
“Oh, Vincent. You've been working secretly at my house and now you're out drinking.”
I park right behind him, thinking that his take charge attitude is still getting him in trouble. Walking into the bar, I scan the crowd quickly, and when I meet eyes with Cash, his grow round and mine narrow. I can read his lips as he nudges Vince and says ‘you’re fucked, bro.’ I grin to myself because, no, Vincent, you won’t be fucked.
I beeline toward their table and watch as Vince eyes me, sitting slightly taller in his seat.
“Hey, Daisy”. He addresses me nonchalantly as I pull up to the table. The guys all have their eyes on me. I can feel it without looking at them.
“Don’t ‘hey Daisy’ me.” When I hear a snicker, I shoot Billy a death glare. His snicker immediately turns to a cough, and he actively looks everywhere but at me.
“So, funny thing.” I pop a hip and cross my arms. “After work, I drove home. The whole way I was planning this really sexy night for us. After the way you left me hanging this morning, I thought I needed to up the ante, you know? Really make you want it.”
I glance at the guys who are worse than women right now. They're completely captivated by the show I'm performing, and it dawns on me that they probably didn't know about our relationship. Turning to them, I say “If you didn’t already know we were fucking, now you do.” I know it’s mean, and I know we’re doing more than that, but I’m pissed as hell right now.
“Daisy, why don’t we-” Vince tries to redirect me, but I’m not having it.
“So, my plan was to go home, take a hot shower,” I drop my voice and lean in, “and put on the sexiest lingerie I own.” I pause for effect, running my finger down his arm, the guys still all wrapped up in my words. “Then I was going to throw on a long raincoat and drive to your house.”
“That sounds like a nice idea, Red.” He chokes out the words.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I step closer, running my fingers through his hair, leaning down. “But when I pulled up to my house, I couldn’t do that. Know why, Vincent?”
He visibly swallows. He’s trying so hard to remain in charge here.
“Why?”
“Because I wasn’t sure I pulled up to the right house. See,myhouse is old and needs a lot of TLC, that I cannot wait to give to it. I amin lovewith the idea that I will make my homeexactlythe wayIwant it to be. It will take time, but the feeling of pride I’ll get fromdoing it myselfis something that can’t be bought.”
“I can imagine that would be a great feeling.”
“Yes, it would be. But I was robbed of that today. See, the house I pulled up to had brand new windows. All brand new molding. Every. Fucking. Window, Vince.”
I wait and when he gives me nothing more, I ask, “What did you do to my house, Vincent?”
“I made it safer.”
Those words shoot through my veins and I’m instantly on fire. “No! You overstepped!” He tries to stand, but I push him back down in the chair by his shoulder. “I already said I wanted to do this on my own. You didn’t respect that. You’re so used to taking charge that you don’t know how to listen.” When he tries to cut me off, I put my hand up. “Just like now. You’re not listening. But hear this. I don’t need aDaddy, Chief Hunter.” I throw my hand between him and I. “That’s not what this is.This”,I point between us again, “should be respect and compatibility. Standing beside me, not leading, not following, but walking together. Side by side. Until you learn that, you’ll be on the outside of each of those windows.”
When I turn to walk away, becausemic drop,I hear the giggles of the guys and then I feel his hand grab my arm. I freeze as I feel his body rise to his full height behind me.
“Are you done with your temper tantrum?”
I spin on him. “You were wrong, Vince!”
“I’m wrong for wanting to keep my woman safe?”
