Sweet Venom: Chapter 1

‘Shhh…’ rings through my ears, as if someone said it standing right next to me, making me sit straight up in bed. My room is pitch black, and I sit stiff as a board, pinned in place, straining my ears to determine if the sound was a figment of my imagination or real. Soft murmurs belonging to a deep male voice echo down the hallway.

Reaching for my nightstand, I grab my cell phone to check the time and see if I have any missed calls or texts. While I haven’t spoken to Ellis in two months, I’m well aware he knows I’m back. I got in yesterday, and if the fact that I didn’t have my own code for the front door didn’t tip him off, I’m sure his security system did.

When I left, I did so without explanation. Things felt like they were getting too serious, too fast. We met, and I had practically moved in within a month, staying the night more often than not. After our friend Charlie figured out that we had been seeing each other, we took our situationship public, so to speak, but it never moved beyond that. I think we both expected that it would. That was the natural next step, but I just couldn’t. We’ve shared one text in the two months since I’ve been gone.

That text was sent the day I left, right before I took a plane back to St. Louis.

‘It’s 2 am,’ I mumble as I rip my covers off, somewhat perturbed by the thoughts currently occupying my mind. I’m not sure what I expected, coming back here unannounced, but I didn’t think it would be to find Ellis sneaking another woman into the house while I was asleep in my room. I toss my phone onto the bed and grab my robe before making my way across the room to catch him in the act. But when I open the door, the smell is all wrong.

Ellis smells like the ocean with fresh notes of bergamot and mandarin. The scent assaulting my nose is all spice and belongs to a man who’s just as fiery. With my irritation spiked, I stomp down the hall and reach the living room just as Sebastian closes the front door.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ I ask without a care for the venom lacing my tone. He continues into the kitchen without so much as glancing in my direction. As I approach the island, I observe his appearance from head to toe. He’s changed since I last saw him. His wavy locks that dusted his shoulders have been replaced with a low fade, the remaining hair on top barely long enough to run your fingers through. His usual GQ style has even been replaced with black jeans and a tight-fitting, plain v-neck. It’s the most casual I’ve ever seen him.

Reaching the island, I say, ‘Are you going to continue acting like I don’t exist, or do you plan on answering me?’

He answers with his back to me, ‘I’m well aware you asked me a question. I was hoping you’d disappear.’

‘Still the same prick, I see.’

With his water bottle in hand, he slams the door to the refrigerator and heads down the hall, still without so much as a glare or eye-roll in my direction. Sebastian and I have never really gotten along, but he’s never missed an opportunity to throw a smug look or barbed comment my way, so his reluctance to do so now is bemusing. ‘Wait, where are you going?’ I question as I follow after him.

‘To my room?’

‘Your room? What do you mean by ‘your room?’ You do not live here.’

He continues down the hall until he reaches Ellis’s door, resting his hand on the knob before adding, ‘Neither do you.’

My head is suddenly filled with questions. What the hell is going on? Did Ellis move out and not tell me? Why wouldn’t he tell me that Sebastian is living here? Before I can drill him further, Sebastian opens the door and slams it shut. Leaving me alone in the hallway with nothing but my thoughts and the dread that I might have irrevocably fucked up something I didn’t know I wanted.

Idon’t know where to start or what to say. I know I didn’t handle things well, but I’m not good with sentimental, and I try to avoid feelings. Sure, I can be a great friend. Hell, the friends I do have are more my family than my own. But when it comes to my own heart, I’m a complete mess, especially where Ellis Lykos is concerned.

I place my phone down on the island and stare at it, willing more bubbles to appear as I drink my morning coffee. Once my cup is almost empty, I realize that’s all I’m going to get. I suppose I don’t deserve much more. But at least it wasn’t a ‘please leave’ or ‘get out of my house.’ He may need more time to deal with my choice.

I’m well aware that waltzing back into someone’s life after abruptly leaving and going radio silent for two months is not normal behavior. I rolled in without warning and showed up back at his place as if we hadn’t spent any time apart. But I never moved any of my things out, and that was intentional. I was never staying with Ellis out of need. The wealth I had once rivaled his own. That’s the woman he believed he was dating—a wealthy heiress—but she is gone, and so is the girl she used to be. As far as he knows, nothing has changed.

I’m just placing my coffee cup in the sink when my phone pings with a text. Out of habit, I take a deep breath and brace myself for the words I deserve. Ellis must have finally figured out what to say, but when I reach my phone, my fears are put back on pause, and I’m able to breathe a sigh of relief. It’s just Charlie.

I can’t help the sarcasm that flows out of me without thought. A few months ago, I would have paid it no mind. It’s just me. But going home the way I did gave me time to reflect, and I see now that my sarcasm is a coping mechanism. It’s my shield. While Mason might be over the top when it comes to Charlie’s safety, it’s because she’s his whole world. He loves her unconditionally, and ultimately, that’s something I want—or at least I think I do. It’s why I’m back, anyway. I believe Ellis could be my Mason—that is, if he still wants to be.

Her text makes me smile. She’s not wrong. It’s something I admire about Charlie. She has the balls to go after what she wants, no matter the obstacle. She and Mason are the epitome of what should never have been, but they’re now living their best lives. Somehow, they merged their sordid pasts and put their demons to rest. Relationships like theirs give me faith in the entire concept of love and what it means. The role models I was gifted with were wretched and scorned.

My parents were shit. I take that back; they were more than just shit. They were horrible, miserable excuses for human beings, and why? Because of so-called love. At least, that’s how it was portrayed in my mother’s journals. I wouldn’t know what truth exists outside of the black ink of her pages, because she never felt inclined to do anything more than the bare minimum for me. The woman I knew in her journals’ pages was not the cold, distant, miserable excuse for a woman I was forced to endure and call ‘mom.’

At one point in time, she was happy and full of life—until the love she spoke of took it all away. Somewhere along the line, she let that four-letter word carve out her heart and leave her a shell of a woman. I grew up believing if what they had was love, I wanted nothing to do with it. As the product of that so-called love, I was shipped between houses from an early age, neither wanting me, my mere existence a stain. I was an unwanted mistake they were forced to endure.

The second my mother learned of my existence, my father was convinced she intentionally got pregnant to trap him and take his money. Whatever feelings he thought were there were instantly stripped away and replaced with ugly hate. It’s because of them I never knew what love was. It’s also why I never take risks with my heart. Some people can only learn through experience. I am not one of them. I don’t need to make bad choices to know they are bad. I never wanted to end up bitter and scorned like my father or broken like my mother because I let a four-letter word rule over my better sense.

Before I can let the emotional scars of my childhood run away with any more of my time, my phone rings, practically startling me out of my boots. I pull the phone away from my chest and see it’s my contractor.

‘Hey, Mark,’ I answer as I glance down at my watch and realize I’m running twenty minutes behind schedule for our walkthrough.

‘I’m assuming you’re stuck in the mess on Bayshore. I’ve started making a list of things I want to bring to your attention, but I didn’t know if this is something you wanted to oversee from top to bottom or if you’d be okay with me starting the walkthrough alone and just pointing out my findings once you arrive.’

‘Yes, Mark. That would be great. I’ll be there shortly. I’m not too far out.’ I don’t bother telling him I haven’t even left the house. I’m paying him good money; however, I don’t want to start our working relationship looking like an unorganized rookie. I’m a firm believer in the concept of faking it until you make it. He doesn’t know me from Adam. All he knows is what I let him see.

‘Okay; I’ll see you soon.’ He clicks off the phone, and I grab my helmet and keys before looking around the place, ensuring I don’t forget anything. I don’t bother taking the elevator down. I need the steps to clear my head and erase the fog that thoughts of Ellis and my past have brought on, allowing me to forget myself. While I did come back for Ellis, he’s not the only reason I returned.

When I reach the garage, I can’t help but jog over to my Ducati. I haven’t ridden in months, and I’ve missed it. Riding is genuinely a type of therapy. There is something truly cathartic about every ride. I’m not sure if it’s the thrill of the speed and power beneath me, or if it’s the wind in my hair and the open road before me, but the freedom I feel every time I climb on is intoxicating. It frees my mind. I thought about repurchasing one back home, but my grandmother hates that I ride, and because I respect her, I do it hundreds of miles away where I know she can’t see me. The woman can get me to do just about anything, and not just because she held the purse strings to my wealth for the past four years.

My father’s mom has been my only true parental figure. I am Julian’s only heir. While he has been married five times now, he has never had any more children, and though I was the only one he had, I was only ever a transaction to him. He took me because he didn’t want my mother to have me. If she had me, that meant she got more of his money. Were it not for his mother, Indie, coming to take me from time to time when it was his week to have me, I would have been forced to endure his sharp tongue and loathsome glares. The alternative was locking myself in my room. My father lived in a mansion, yet my room was four walls and a bed. I was his to torment, his retribution. It’s how he got his vindication for being bested by the treacherous woman he claimed to love. I was her mirror image, and for that, I received his ire.

Reaching my bike, I can’t help but run my hand along the leather of my seat before taking a walk around to make sure everything looks good. But as I swing my leg over to take my seat, the car next to mine registers. It’s Sebastian’s blacked-out Range Rover. When I didn’t run into him this morning, I assumed it was because he left, not because he was still asleep. Determined not to give him any more energy he doesn’t deserve, I pull on my helmet and fire up my bike.

As I pull out of the garage, the traffic on the side streets seems to be flowing, but since Mark mentioned Bayshore was backed up, I take El Camino Real to Southbay Fairway and head into downtown San Jose. The place I’ve picked for my studio is only two blocks from Ellis’s club. Covet is an exclusive gentlemen’s club. The first floor moonlights as an expensive club, but the upper levels are for members only. His club is actually what gave me the idea to open my studio, and you could say it also helped me decide on a location.

Before I left San Jose, I started working at the club, filling in for Charlie since she quit after getting together with Mason. There’s no way he would have allowed her to stay on. I never held a real salaried job until Covet. After high school, I went straight to college, and at twenty-one, my inheritance kicked in. I told him he didn’t need to pay me. I viewed it as a way to occupy my time until I figured out what I wanted to do with my own life. Nonetheless, I was happy to assist. But Ellis insisted I take a salary. Working there and meeting the women put the fire under my ass to find my way. I always knew I wanted to do something with my inheritance. Something that no one could take away from me, and that’s what I’m doing with Blush.

I make it to Green Meadow in record time. That’s one of the perks of riding a bike. I cut through traffic in ways a full-sized vehicle can’t. Is it reckless? Yes, but today is important and worth any traffic ticket I could have received, and because I got here without issue, I feel like that’s a good omen. I’m making good choices. This is where I am supposed to be.

Walking through the front doors of the commercial space I bought, a sense of pride washes over me. The place is a complete wreck. The floors are trashed. Every wall will need to be redone, not just with paint, but none of that matters. What’s important is the space and the location.

‘Fiori, you’re here,’ Mark yells down from the second floor.

‘Yeah. Do you want me to come up there, and we can work our way back down?’ I haven’t met Mark in person yet, but I can tell from where I’m standing that he’s got that hot, older blue-collar man vibe going. He’s got to be in his early forties. Which, yes, for me, is older. I’m only twenty-five. The age gap between Ellis and me is ten years, and that’s my max. Not that I wouldn’t give Mark a ride, but he’s definitely not relationship material.

Not that I am, either.

‘Yeah, come on up. I’m just about done up here, and I was going to head down.’

As I cross the space to the open staircase along the far wall, I ask, ‘Is there any reason the space is so trashed? This was a nice bookstore when I bought the place a month ago. I can’t imagine Cecil and Walter doing this on their way out. This place was their baby.’

The old couple I bought from decided to close up shop and sell. They were finally ready to throw in the towel and retire. I take the steps two at a time as Mark says, ‘I’m assuming they paid people to take everything out, and if you didn’t have a clause in the contract on how the space needed to be left after they exited…’ As I reach the top step, he shrugs and throws his arms out wide before adding, ‘This is how movers will do you. They are paid to haul shit out, not keep it clean.’

Now that we’re only feet apart, I can see that Mark is definitely a catch. His arms are ripped. I don’t think his black t-shirt could stretch over his biceps any more without tearing. His pecs are clearly defined, his jeans hug his thighs in all the right places, and he’s wearing no wedding ring. Great. Temptation is the last thing I need. Hell, it’s why I ran in the first place.

Needing to get my mind off the thoughts threatening to steal my focus away from the business, I throw him a nod before refocusing my eyes on the space around me. It looks completely different without all the shelves, tables, and reading nooks. The place has literally been stripped bare. I knew I’d change everything anyway, but it’s somewhat overwhelming. Mark must sense my unease because he says, ‘Don’t worry. I’ve seen worse, and honestly, everything you see now is basically aesthetics. This place has great bones. The old owners definitely kept it up over the years.’

I pull in a cleansing breath and try to let go of the melancholy threatening to settle. ‘Can I ask you something?’ Mark asks. He rubs his jaw with a studied look in his eye as he takes in my appearance.

‘Shoot,’ I say as I walk away from him and further into the space. I already know what’s coming. Nothing about me says businesswoman. I don’t look the part. I’m dressed from head to toe in black leather. Black boots, leather pants, and a leather jacket. Make no mistake; I realize I don’t look the part, but I also don’t believe in checking the boxes just because they are there. Just because it’s what has always been done, doesn’t mean it’s what should be done. I don’t need to look the part. Money talks, and for this project, I still have it.

‘Is this your first rehab?’

And there it is. I knew it was coming. Our business has been handled over the phone thus far. Mark couldn’t tell my age, but now that I’m standing before him, whatever level of respect he may have had for me is probably gone. But I am a master when it comes to fake fortitude.

‘What rehab this is for me is none of your concern.’

I hear him chuckle, and I can’t help but swing around and blatantly stare. ‘Is something funny?’

He straightens quickly, but his smirk remains until he says, ‘I mean, no offense, but I’m probably old enough to be your father. I was merely asking because, unlike you, this is my area of expertise, and I can tell you are green. I was only going to give you some advice, but hell, I don’t even think you need it.’

My curiosity is piqued. I narrow my eyes before extending my arm and saying, ‘Well, please don’t hold back now. Out with it.’

‘That outfit and sharp tongue will get you further on the job site than the suits that usually come through on these rehabs. While you’ll probably get more stares than you care for, the guys will respect your authenticity.’ He straightens his hard hat before adding, ‘You just seemed nervous.’ He shrugs, and I can tell he feels like he overstepped, and from the little I’ve gotten to know Mark via emails and phone calls, I don’t want him to feel that way because of my insecurity.

‘Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.’

He nods before adding, ‘So, hit me. What are your plans?’

‘Vivi, this place is great. You have a member right here for sure. I can’t wait to come here. I’d love to take a pole class.’

Seriously, that’s one of the reasons I love Charlie. She’s a woman after my own heart. I’ve always felt somewhat out of place for the things I like behind closed doors, and while I wouldn’t say that Charlie has the same motivation behind her choices, I like that she is always game to try new things. Nothing surprises her. That could be because she worked at Covet, where I know she saw her fair share of fuckery and kink, but I also know she likes it too, and apparently, so does my other best friend. I always knew Mason had more depth than he led on when it came to his proclivities, but now that he’s married and his wife is one of my new ride-or-die girlfriends, I get the insider scoop.

‘Does that mean you have a pole at the house I don’t know about?’

She laughs before saying, ‘No. Not yet, anyway. But I have been thinking about adding one. It holds some meaning for me, considering how Mace and I reconnected. I’d like to actually know how to do it…’ She trails off before looking around and adding, ‘I know he liked it when I danced for him but it’s different when you can actually do it. Let’s be real. It was amateur hour for me. Plus, I’ve been wanting to work out, and I’ve heard pole dancing is great for strength and cardio.’

‘And Mason is going to be fine with you coming down here to take pole dancing classes?’ I ask, knowing damn well the answer is a resounding, ‘hell no.’

‘Well, he doesn’t need to know what classes I’m taking. Besides, I’m sure when they pay off, he’ll be more than okay with the end result. Plus, it’s not like men will be walking around here.’

I nod in agreement. She’s not wrong. I’m opening Blush as a women-only, full-service wellness center. There will be a full gym complete with free weights, equipment, class schedules for fan favorites like pole dancing, hip hop, freestyle dance classes, aerial yoga, and a spa. Well, the spa is phase two. I’ll have to turn a profit first; hopefully, the neighboring space will still be vacant by then. I also have plans to incorporate a coffee bar complete with fitness smoothies. Fitness is my happy place. It’s how I’ve dealt with emotional baggage my entire life.

In high school, I was on the dance team, which kept me in great shape, but the year I graduated, I spiraled into a semi-deep depression. Through therapy, I was able to piece together the changes in my life and discover what was missing: the gym. My high school dance team went to state all three years I was on Varsity. We spent hours training and learning routines. It was during those hours that my mind was free. I was able to let go of all the other baggage in my life.

It was then that I realized I needed the endorphins from working out to feel better. Not just for the physical benefits, but the mental aspect. My physical accomplishments gave me pride. They improved my self-esteem and gave me confidence. All things I didn’t get at home. My parents were selfish beyond measure when it came to extending any type of love or affection to me. Either of them doing so would acknowledge the other half, and neither could bear it.

‘When will a crew get in here and start bringing your vision to light?’ Charlie asks as she starts cleaning up our sub sandwich wrappers.

‘Tomorrow. I’m excited. I plan to be here most days to get my hands dirty and really feel connected to this project.’

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, ‘Vivian, have you ever done manual labor a day in your life?’

I can’t help but snort, ‘You’re one to talk. You grew up wealthy, then turned around and married rich. I, on the other hand, grew up middle class. While I didn’t go without, my grandmother respected my father’s wishes until I turned eighteen.’ I stand up from the dirty floor where we made a makeshift table out of a discarded crate and dust my ass off before adding, ‘I’ve painted before.’

She throws her hands up in surrender, ‘Well, excuse me, Picasso.’

I throw my napkin at her and say, ‘Come on, let’s get out of here. Don’t worry about the trash. A cleaning crew is coming in the morning to clear out everything.’

As we head toward the exit, she hip-bumps me, ‘I think it’s really cool what you’re doing here. Women need a place like this, and while I may have done zero manual labor myself, I would want to be involved every step of the way as well. I get it.’

Looking down at the floor, I kick a discarded Coke bottle. ‘Thanks. I’m glad you’re here, Charlie.’ While I have Mason, it’s nice to have another female around, especially when I’m usually surrounded by so much testosterone.

Charlie is about to grab the door to exit when a blacked-out Range Rover parallels across the street. I pull her back hard, making her fall against my front. ‘What the hell was that for?’

‘Shhh…’ I hiss as I pull her away from the door and over to the wall.

‘Why are we suddenly whispering?’ she asks in an exasperated hushed tone. Before I can answer, she follows my line of sight and sees Sebastian Lykos exiting his Range Rover. Double shit. Charlie is Sebastian’s sister, not by blood, but her father, Nico, adopted him at age twelve and became his legal guardian. I inwardly cringe and wait for the words I know are coming.

‘Don’t tell me Ellis and Sebastian don’t know you are home.’

I squeeze my eyes closed and groan before answering. ‘Technically, they both know I’m back, but neither knows about Blush.’

‘Okay…’ she says pensively. ‘What am I missing? Do you not want them to know?’

God, why am I being so weird? For some reason, when it comes to the Lykos men, I feel entirely transparent. It throws me off balance, and I can’t think straight. The problem is, Charlie knows I’m in a relationship with Ellis. What she doesn’t know is that Sebastian is the reason I left. Fuck.

‘No, it’s not that.’ I pause, trying to think quickly. ‘I just don’t want Sebastian to find out before I get the chance to tell Ellis.’ The lie comes way too easy, and I hate it. Charlie is one of the last people I want to lie to, but I can’t tell her my truth.

Her shoulders relax as she presses herself into the wall. ‘I get that,’ seemingly content with waiting until Sebastian is out of sight. We both silently watch as a blonde crosses the street to meet him. I can’t help but study her from head to toe. She looks super young. She can’t be more than nineteen, twenty max. The girl is wearing light-faded boyfriend jeans, a white tank, and a plaid shacket paired with those big-soled tennis shoes gen z is wearing these days. I watch as he smiles in greeting before holding his arm out for her to walk in front of him and they walk the short distance off the corner and into Roasters Coffee. My chest tightens at the thought that she might be his girlfriend. The one he had at the house last night.

I knew I heard voices, and when I entered the hallway, I smelled perfume. But young and vanilla aren’t what I expected from Sebastian. Not when I’ve heard and seen exactly what he likes. Sebastian Lykos fucks, and he fucks hard.

The day I left San Jose, I came home and found him plowing into some girl whose hands were secured by his belt and wrapped around the table legs while he pounded into her, bottoming out with every thrust. Her screams seemed like a mix of both pleasure and pain. They were so deafening that they didn’t hear me enter the room until the front door was closed.

Then Sebastian’s eyes locked on mine and didn’t stray as he kept his relentless pace for seconds too long before I finally broke our stare off and hurried to my room. I was utterly appalled with myself for the desire I felt low in my belly. I wanted to be that woman so damn bad. I wanted it to be me he was pounding into.

Once the door was closed behind me, I could still hear the woman’s moans and whimpers with each thrust. I couldn’t help but imagine what his cock must have felt like. While I didn’t see it, I knew it had to be thick, long, and hard, stretching her in the best of ways. With my back to the door, I heard the slap of his hand and the legs of the coffee table scratch against the floor as his thrusts grew harder and deeper. I clenched my thighs tight, trying to will away the desire and ache I felt, but when I heard him grunt out his release, I knew I had to leave. I was dating his brother, and until him, I had thought Ellis was it for me.

‘How are you and Ellis? I feel like an ass that I haven’t even asked yet.’ Charlie asks, pulling me out of my walk down memory lane.

The answer to her question should be, ‘We are great.’ After all, I am back and living at his place, which would signal we are officially back together, but that’s not technically the case. I blow out an unsteady breath as I find my words and decide on this. I won’t lie. ‘We haven’t talked yet. I just got in yesterday, and he’s still in Seattle. Technically, we haven’t spoken since I left two months ago.’

Her eyes widen as she rolls her lips, and I know she has thoughts. Ellis and Charlie had a somewhat complex relationship before she and Mason reconnected. Hell, I wouldn’t know Ellis were it not for Charlie. While they didn’t technically date, they lived together for six months and had feelings for each other. If anyone knows Ellis better than me, it’s Charlie.

‘Please tell me,” I say, “You’re not going to hurt my feelings.’

‘What do you want me to tell you, Vivi?’ Her response catches me off guard. Isn’t it clear what I want her to tell me?

‘I want you to tell me what you’re thinking. What’s going through that pretty little brain of yours? Tell me how he’s moved on and seeing someone else. Tell me how I messed everything up for leaving. Tell me I’m an asshole, but don’t give me nothing.’

She shakes her head. ‘Vivi, I feel like we’ve been over this once before at the club when I called you out.’ Her eyes search mine, and I can tell she’s hoping I recall the memory—and I do, vividly, because it was the first night Ellis and I fucked.

It was the night of her and Mason’s joint bachelor/bachelorette party at Covet. Looking back on that night, I know she set us up. It’s not like we have a huge friend group. When Ellis and I weren’t stealing glances, we were glaring daggers at each other or throwing passive-aggressive quips to counter our shared annoyance. The sexual tension between us was palpable, and apparently, Charlie picked up on it.

The thing about Ellis is, you can’t be too sure where you stand. He’s a man of few words, and I know Charlie has told me that, but after two months of officially dating, I didn’t feel like I knew the man better than Charlie, and I was the one fucking him. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not jealous. What bothers me is that I feel like I’m broken. Why couldn’t I connect with a man I finally wanted more than anything?

The night at the club, Charlie showed me back to the voyeur room where she gave Mason her truth in front of an audience, and looking back, I know there was more to it. She knew I liked to share, and I was hesitant to act on anything with Ellis. Not only for fear of long-term rejection, i.e., those types of relationships don’t last, but for the first time, I saw a partner I didn’t want to share.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I was considering monogamy for him, and I didn’t understand where that was coming from. That night we watched a woman taking two men at once, and I confided in Charlie that I didn’t want to share him. Charlie asked me, ‘Does sharing always require sharing partners?’

In the room, the woman was taking two men, but neither of them ever interacted with the other. It was all about her. However, I knew it was only a scene, a moment of pure bliss. What they were sharing wasn’t everlasting. Before I could give Charlie any real-life arguments about how what we were witnessing could never be a reality, Ellis was there, and everything changed. I was powerless against his pursuits. I’d ignored my desires for too long, and I’d be damned if I didn’t want everything Charlie suggested. It was too much, and I caved seconds later when Ellis’s lips found my neck. The next thing I knew, I was laid out on his desk as he pounded into me. Fuck, it was the best damn sex of my life.

Clearing her throat, Charlie pulls me back to the present and says, ‘You haven’t ever discussed that night, have you?’

‘No, we haven’t, but you don’t understand. It’s hard to explain because I’ve never felt these types of feelings before. Ellis makes me want to be monogamous. He deserves it.’

She nods in understanding before saying, ‘There are more layers to Ellis than I think you or I understand. I don’t believe he would want or expect you to change for him. Vivi, I feel like I can tell you anything and speak candidly.’

Her fingers twist, and I can tell she’s a little nervous. So, I lighten the mood and say, ‘Out with it, wench.’ It’s meant as a joke since, technically, she and Ellis semi-hooked up. She gave him a hand job, and he ate her out. None of that bothers me. I know that would be a huge deal for most women, but not me. Fuck, Charlie is hot as hell. I’d probably try to get her to join in if she wasn’t married to my best friend.

‘Shortly after Mason came back into the picture, Ellis once told me, ‘If you want a quick fuck, I’m down for that. If you want to lay on the couch and watch Netflix and chill, I’m down for that too, and when you have to leave me for him, I’ll be here when you get home.’ Vivi, those words broke me. I felt the same damn way you do. He deserved everything, not just my pieces, but I don’t know. I think there is more to it than just that with him. That’s why I asked if you’d talked to him about it.’

Her phone rings, startling both of us. Digging it out of her purse, she says, ‘It’s Mason. I have to take this.’ She walks back into the vacant space while I stay rooted at the window, waiting to catch another glimpse of Sebastian and his much younger date. While part of me is jealous, a more significant part is relieved he’s seeing someone. That is more reason to stay the fuck away.

‘Hey, sorry,’ Charlie says as she steps up behind me. ‘Do you think the coast is clear? I need to get back to the office.’

‘I thought you said Mason called?’

She pulls in a deep breath, stuffing her hands into her pockets before saying, ‘He did. That’s why I have to go.’

‘Did something change? I thought you were still working for your dad.’

‘I am, but I’ve been thinking about the future a lot lately. Nico is grooming me to take over Serra Tech one day, which I’m excited to do. But in my eyes, it doesn’t make sense for Mason and me to operate two separate companies that virtually do the same thing, so I’ve been working on a merger pitch. The problem is, Mason is beyond nosey and found it. Now I need to get to the office because I have no doubt he will go to my dad and start World War III.’

I can’t help but chuckle and add, ‘Now I know why you wanted the pole dancing classes.’

‘Let’s go.’ She mumbles out, perturbed as we head out the doors.