Page 5 of Loyal
We had a talk early on about seeing other people. She didn’t want to commit to being my girlfriend, but she also didn’t want to sleep with someone sleeping around. Which was no issue for me. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was special. Then I dug into her and saw who she was as a person and realized she was damn near perfect for me.
I don’t care that she’s a decade older than me. I couldn’t care less that her daughter is only a few years younger. I want to be with her, plain and simple.
I just don’t know how to convince her to give us a real shot.
Moving to my window, I watch as her daughter leaves for school. Sometimes she takes the bus, while other times, Sami will drop her off.
They must have had a fight this morning because Farrah is storming down the street like she’s angry. I wish I could go over there and ask Sami what it was about. Be there for her the way a man should be there for the woman he loves.
She’s not ready for that level of commitment, though. I need to be patient. Wait her out.
I have already waited this long. What’s a while longer?
Still, something is going to need to change. I need her like I need my next breath, but some days I think she could forget I exist. How long can I stand this torture?
I wait until I see her get in her car and back out of her drive before I follow her. I keep my distance so she doesn’t know, but I stay close enough to make sure she is safe. Once she is parked at the hospital and I watch her walk into the building, I finally head out and start my day.
The drive to Boudoir doesn’t take me long. I hate how close the seedy part of town is to Sami’s job, but I know she loves being a labor and delivery nurse, so I don’t say a word. Instead, I keep protecting her from afar.
When I enter the club, it’s empty. Not surprising since it’s morning.
“No patrons? You losing all of our money?” I tease Fang as I head over to the booth that is only used by him.
“It’s Tuesday morning. All the slimeballs are at work. Wait until lunch. They will trickle in,” he says as he continues to work on whatever paperwork he has in front of him. “Besides, who are you to judge? Don’t you sneak out of cougars’ windows?”
I slide into the seat across from him. “Shut up. I really regret calling you that night.”
The night in question was one where we were fucking like rabbits until her daughter came home unexpectedly. I found out the next day she had a fight with her father and left. It was a whole thing for Sami because the cops ended up coming due to her ex claiming she was interfering with custodial arrangements or some shit.
I was more worried about the fact that Sami pushed me out the window in nothing but my underwear. I only managed to grab my phone as she pushed me out of bed, but my house keys were in my jeans.
It was an embarrassing call to have to make to Fang, but he was the only one I trusted. Sure, I could have broken into my own house, but Dex, our IT guy, has the place wired up so thathe would have been notified. I love all my brothers, but Dex isn’t the most discreet. So Fang was my only option.
“I’m fucking with you, man. How is it going with the woman, though?” he asks, not using her name.
I appreciate him remaining discreet. Fang’s my best friend, and I have told him a lot of the shit I have been going through. He’s been my sounding board since this all started.
“I don’t know how much longer I can be her dirty little secret. I don’t want to lose her, but something has to give. I feel like she is using the daughter as an excuse at this point. I know she doesn’t want to upset her, but at what point does she start living her life for herself again?”
Fang sets down his pen and looks at me. “Look, I don’t have kids, so I don’t get it. I’m with you. Live your life, but when a child is involved, even if that child isn’t quite so young, it is still hard. You need to make the decision. Is this woman worth it? If she is, then stick it out. Have a conversation with her and tell her where you see this going and let her decide which path you take to get there. Or maybe she doesn’t see the same path. In that case, you cut your losses and move on. You can’t keep living in limbo forever.”
He’s right. I know he’s right, but it doesn’t mean I like hearing it.
“Enough about her. What is going on here?”
He chuckles. “Same old shit. Dirty-ass men getting their rocks off to women who don’t see another way. The occasional bachelor party that thinks that our women are beneath them so they don’t have to follow the rules.”
I smirk at him. “Regretting taking over the club yet?”
He shakes his head. “Not even a little bit. Cami has some great ideas to change things up. We are going to start implementing them. Should see an increase in revenue from it.”
“She’s smart as hell, man. How did you manage to get her?” I tease him.
“No fucking idea, but I am not going to start asking questions now. I try to keep her in a dick coma so she can’t think about it too much.”
I shake my head. “All right, well I have to head to the shop for my shift. I’ll catch you later.”
Leaving him behind, I wonder if I will ever have that. A woman way too good for me, but who loves me despite my faults.
