Page 73 of Total Abandon

Tilly:I’ll cancel the intervention I had planned with your vagina.

CHLOE

It’s been five days since I woke up in Zeke’s bed and he spent the day playing nurse.Mi amor.The words rattle around my head like marbles in a Solo cup. Sighing as I place an empty glass on top of the paper plates to prevent them from scattering across the sun terrace in the breeze, I cast my eyes around.

Kids tear around the third open-air level of the penthouse in bathing suits, one leaping into the pool with a splash that sends a deluge of water raining down on a couple of young girls perched on a sun lounger, making them squeal. My eyes fall on Zeke, his tall frame consuming space by the bar where he stands with tight shoulders next to his brother and father. A low whimper rushes over my lips as I drink him in, casually dressed in a white polo shirt and Levi’s. His dark hair glints in the sunlight and his tanned bicep flexes as he raises his bottle of beer to those decadent lips. Lips that are pressed down into a signature scowl. I have feelings for Zeke. Big, scary, messy feelings that make me want to run for the hills.

It would be easier if the sex was mediocre, but as it stands, I have a feeling I will be comparing all the subsequent men in my future to him. Logan turns to Zeke and mutters something to him, which makes his scowl deepen. I compare the two objectively, both tall, imposing men with chiseled features and dark eyes. Logan sits an inch shorter than Zeke and his hair is a little longer, a little more carefree. He’s definitely handsome—these two lucked out in thegenetics department—but in my eyes, he doesn’t hold a flame to Zeke.

All three of the men’s attentions are pulled sideways as a shrill voice floats over the hubbub. “My baby!”

One of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen walks through the French doors onto the sun terrace in six-inch stilettos and a tight white dress that hugs generous curves. A mane of glossy dark hair fans around striking features, all full lips and perfectly painted cosmetics. My stomach plummets out of my ass as I see her statement is directed at Diego, who has frozen with wide eyes, his bathing shorts dripping onto the bleached timber decking.

Of course, the mother of Zeke’s child would be a knockout. I mean really, she looks like she’s just walked off the cover ofVoguewith a healthy splash of Angelina Jolie circa 1999. Jealousy, hot and corrosive, rushes through my veins and I take a deep breath to try and shove it back into the dark box it came from, labeledThings We Don’t Want to Acknowledge.

She crouches and pulls Diego into a hug that he hangs limply in, his arms at his sides as he frowns. Zeke enters my vision stage right and places a large hand on Diego’s head as he is released. I’m too far away to hear what is being said, but it seems like a cordial greeting is offered by Zeke before the Jolie smoke show reaches up on her tiptoes, her hand splaying across his chest as she kisses his cheek slowly.

Sharp talons rake the inside of my skin as I scrutinize Zeke’s face, which is perfectly impassive. Turning myself forcibly away, I start to fuss over the cups of fruit punch laid out in neat rows, my mind spinning like a top.

“Hey, Red.” My eyes snap sideways to see Chase Walker standing there with his sister-in-law Mia on his arm, both smiling widely at me.

In that moment, I’m so fucking happy to see two familiar faces I could cry. “Hey!” I throw myself at them, wrapping them both in a hug.

When I release them, Mia’s smile dims a little. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, all good. Just lots to do with all these kids and…” I swallow roughly, my eyes tugging sideways without my permission to where Zeke still stands with Diego’s mom.

“Ah.” I glance back at Mia, who has followed my line of sight and is pursing her lips.

“The wicked witch makes her annual appearance,” Chase snipes, tipping a swig of beer into his mouth.

“She’s still his mom, you shouldn’t say that,” the words spill out on default, because it pisses me off when a man criticizes a woman. Period.

“Actually, she isn’t,” Mia replies casually, taking a sip from her own beer bottle. Both Chase’s and my gaze jerk to her. “Sandra signed away her parental rights a while back, Zeke just keeps the door open because he feels it’s the right thing to do.”

My eyes flare as a high-pitched tinkling laugh rings out across the pool and I tear my gaze from Mia’s sparkling eyes. I swear I see Zeke try to mask a grimace as the woman, Sandra, laughs and trails a manicured hand down his arm.

“How could she do that?” I murmur, my eyes tumbling to Diego, who has turned his attention away from his mother and is staring longingly at the pool.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I try not to judge because you never truly know someone’s reasons for something so personal, but it’s possible she’s just a piece of shit.” Mia sighs, and I let out a shocked laugh.

The sound draws the attention of the woman and her hazel eyes zero in on me where I stand. Holding her gaze, I subtly square my shoulders and incline my head politely before looking away. I’ll be damned if I let her know she’s rattled me. “I hear you’ve been a busy boy, Chase.” I smile sweetly, tilting my head at him.

He puts on a good show of innocence. “Me? Nope, never.” A boyish grin slips through the facade, and he barks out a laugh.

“Chase rolled out of my sister's bed last week, so I hear,” I explain to Mia, who’s raised a delicate brow.

She grins. “High five to her.”

“That’s what I said!” I laugh and Chase chokes on the sip of beer he just took.

“Wait, hang on. So, what I’m hearing is that you both think I’m hot, and yet youbothturned me down?” His head swivels comically, looking like it’s about to pop off and roll across the decking at any moment.

“Oh Chase, you’re pretty to look at, but a hopelessly lost cause when it comes to monogamy.” I giggle, reaching up to pat the scruff on his jaw.

“It’s true, he’s like a randy old dog that will hump your leg if you stand next to him for too long,” Mia quips, flashing me a conspiratorial smile.

Chase groans and runs a hand audibly across his jawline, muttering something that sounds like, “I am not old.” We’re laughing at him when the sound of heels clicking on wood approaches from behind. “Oh boy,” Chase mutters, swiftly downing his beer and ditching it on the side. “I’m tapping out of this one.” And with that, he hightails it out of here.