Page 58 of Roughing
We both watched as Nolan slid a seat between Jarrett and Slade.
“That’s the rookie?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“He played well.”
Instead of being annoyed that she praised my possible competition, I took the high road for once. “He’s talented, a quick learner, and a hard worker. He’ll go far.”
“You’re growing up, Briggs.” She inclined her head in my direction and hid a smirk.
“About time.”
Michella cupped my cheeks and leaned in. I expected a brush of her lips, but I got the full-meal deal, tongue and all. I put my arm around her waist and pulled her closer as the kiss deepened.
“Get a room,” someone shouted. A napkin pegged me in the head, followed by another and another. I took my time breaking off the kiss. By the time I did, wadded-up napkins littered the table and the floor.
ChapterTwenty
FORGET CAREFUL
~~Briggs~~
Sometime later, the three of us walked into the building. Remi was wrapped up in her blanket on the couch, and I scowled. Before I was able to react, an elegant woman entered the building. She was dressed for a nightclub, but I already knew she wasn’t going to a nightclub.
Glancing our way, she did a double take before her face broke out into a huge smile. “Heidi!” she exclaimed and ran to hug Heidi, solidifying my suspicions that this woman had all the appearances of a very high-paid escort.
“I haven’t seen you in forever.” Heidi hugged her back and beamed with the biggest smile I’d seen on her face in a long time.
The two of them chatted up a storm while Michella and I stood awkwardly by.
“Maybe we should go up to my apartment and leave these two to catch up,” I suggested to Michella.
Heidi heard me and turned. “I’m sorry, this is Trelika. She and I were roommates for a while.”
Michella and I both said hello.
“Where’s Remi?” Heidi asked, and I stiffened. Remi was her child? She was leaving her child in the lobby while she conducted her business upstairs? I guess that was better than letting the child hear and/or see what was going on, but I was angry regardless. This wasn’t any life for a child.
I exchanged a glance with Michella and knew we were on the same page as far as Remi was concerned.
“Wait.” Trelika turned to face me. “Are you Mr. Biggs?”
“I am.”
“Remi gushes about you. Thank you for being kind to her, but you don’t need to give her money. She’s not wanting for anything and is a bit of a con artist at times, I’m afraid.” Her eyes lit up when she spoke of her daughter, and I felt an instant surge of shame for being so judgmental. I recalled my sister once saying, we’re all doing the best we can do with the tools we have at the time. I’m sure Trelika was probably making bank at her profession based on her appearance and expensive clothes.
I managed a smile, even though part of me didn’t care for her parenting.
“Well, I must put my baby to bed. Heidi, let’s get together and talk.”
They made plans while we waited at the elevator. Trelika picked up her sleeping child and carried her over to us.
I was still uncertain how I felt about Trelika when Michella and I entered my apartment, but she soon made me forget everyone but her.
We didn’t make it any farther than the kitchen barstools. Michella had that look in her eyes that made me harder than a hockey puck and twice as horny as a male elk during mating season.
Having left my shoes inside the door, I yanked down my jeans and underwear and discarded them. My T-shirt came next. All the while, I watched Michella’s clothes take a similar path to the floor until we were both in our naked glory.
