Page 51 of Truth Forever
“This was a mistake.” She sounded miserable.
“What was?” I let my fingers trace across her cheek. “Coming to talk to me? You have to realise that Chelsea is no one?”
“Just a girl? Gemma warned me about you. When I saw you getting head that you were a man whore.” She shrugged. “We aren’t together Truth. We haven’t been together for a long time. Who you fuck is none of my business. I wasn’t going to Cooks to see you.”
She was lying. I was sure of it.
“I went because Gent asked me to go and Gem had been nagging me for days.”
“Days?” My hand slipped up under her hair so I could cup the back of her head. I wanted to kiss her. She was so close. Not quite touching but close enough that I breathed in her scent with every breath. “You have been here days?”
“I came to visit Gem… I…”
“Your roommate Layla made it sound like you had left the country.” I dipped my head again, my lips hovering over hers. Not quite touching. But fuck it was hard. Layla hadn’t quite said that though. She had said she was miles away. Had she known that she was on her way here?
“You went to see Layla? You best not of hurt her.” Her eyes flashed.
“Of course I didn’t fucking hurt her Cali. What kind of man do you think I am.” I knew what she thought of me, though. She thought I was an animal. “I would have never of hurt you.”
“I know.”
I blinked at her in surprise.
“You do.”
“I know you want to believe you wouldn’t have hurt me Truth but let’s be honest you wanted to.”
I took a step back. My face slack. “You really think that? Do you really think I wanted to hurt you? Jesus woman. I’ve been in love with you from the moment I fucking laid eyes on you.” I shook my head. “But I get it now. Come back to Cooks. Have drinks with the people you came here to see.” I sounded bitter, and I didn’t care. I valued honesty above everything else, and she was being honest. “I won’t bother you again.”
***
“She came here to see you and within five minutes of you talking you have already given up?” Ruin sounded bemused. He wasn’t looking at me, though. His eyes were trained on his old lady Avery as she laughed in the small group that had closed around Cali.
“She didn’t come to see me. She came to see Gem.” I tore my eyes away from Cali, who was doing a great job in pretending I didn’t exist and turned them on Gent. “And you.”
He didn’t blink. Didn’t back down even though I was glaring at him. “She did come and see me, it’s true but because she wanted to have a tattoo.” He shrugged. Dismissing me. “ I seem to be her go to guy. Told her I would do it for free.” He winked, and my fist clenched under the table. Why would he be inking her for free unless? I forced the thought away.
“You need to stop being a dick and go and get your woman.” Ruin said, and my brother nodded his agreement.
“She doesn’t want to know, and I am not begging.” My eyes found her again.
“Then you are a fucking fool. If I hadn’t of swallowed my pride with Avery, do you think she would have given me the time of day?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “ You saved her life, of course, she would. I don’t think I can pull that kind of grand gesture with Cali. As far as I know, her life isn’t in danger.” Was I above begging, though? I wasn’t sure. Hell, I wasn’t sure of anything when it came to Cali.
“Heads up brother.” Wicked lifted his chin, and my breath caught as I watched Cali walk towards our table. Was she coming over to us?
“Truth?” She stopped in front of me. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey.” They chorused in answer. Every single one of them not even trying to hide their interest.
“Truth? Can we talk?”
I felt the smile spread across my face and tried to hide it.
“In private?” She added. Her eyes were doing the rounds of the table. Her meaning clear.
I didn’t want to have this conversation here. Not with so many ears listening in.
