Anguished (Crimson Elite 2)

“You don’t live here?” his mother asks me. First her eyes look to the bag in my hand then I look at it then back to Echo before her.

“No, I have my own place.” She nods her head. “I’ll see you later? Give Mike my best wishes.” I wave a hand to them and head toward the door. I close it and start to walk down the steps, but he’s behind me, reaching for my bag taking it from my shoulder. “We need to talk.”

I nod, we do. But we always seem to end up in the same position. Sex.

“Maybe, but in public.”

He smirks knowing what I’m thinking. “You don’t trust me?” I look at his front door and see it’s closed. Smart, don’t want his mother hearing us.

“I don’t know the answer to that yet. So, don’t ask me that question,” I say honestly.

He looks to the ground then back up to me. “Public. Okay, where do you want to meet? Please don’t make me wait.” I hear honesty in his response. He’s done with waiting, he wants answers. So do I, it just isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. He makes me battle with my feelings. I’m so fucking conflicted. Being with him fucks with my head because when I am, I know I want him, that’s obvious and he knows it. I’m clearly very much attracted to the man, more so than any other person in history of men I’ve met. Attraction isn’t everything though, Echo needs to be more and he still might be in love with someone else. I have to be someone’s first, always. It’s what I deserve.

“I have a bit of work I need to catch up on. How about we meet at the hospital then we can go from there. Maybe dinner?”

He nods excited and reaches forward, his hand touching my hip.

“Mom’s never been here. Never once wanted to come to mine. Always Mike. I think you’re part of the reason Mom’s here.” I hear the happiness in his voice at his words. We might, at times, not like who we are related to but they are family, and we love them no less.

“I’m happy, she seems to be trying.”

Echo nods looking down, and when he looks back up at me, his hand squeezes just a little tighter on my hip as he stares at me. “You make all things better.” He says it with such truth, I can feel he means it. “I’m going to go before I drag you back in that house and have my way with you again.” I nod smiling at his words. That isn’t something I wouldn’t mind. He taps my nose. “Naughty girl,” he says before he walks off.

His mother’s watching us now from the open door, and I offer her a small wave before I slide in my car and drive off.

Automatically, I call Mel. She answers straight away with,

“You told him he was your ten?” she yells through the cell.

“No, you did, in that text.”

“Oh, that explains it. He’s got a big head now, doesn’t he? Bet he thinks he can have you whenever he wants.”

“He just did.” I giggle.

“You’re such a sucker for a blond with a big cock,” she jokes.

“Ha-ha.”

“Don’t ha-ha me, you gave in when you said you wouldn’t.” She’s right. “But soon you’ll be in love and we’ll be planning your wedding.”

“No. Don’t jump ten feet ahead when we haven’t lifted one foot.”

“You will though, it’s just a matter of time for you to get there. I’m pretty sure he is.”

I don’t reply to her words because I really don’t know what to say to that.

“You invited him to your wedding. What if I don’t want to work it out with him?” I’m not even paying attention to where I’m driving. Somehow though, I’m almost home.

“You can un-invite him, but I don’t see that happening. Plus, it’s the perfect time for him to meet everyone. Be prepared for the girls to swoon.”

“Do you think I should just give it a go?” She goes quiet. Mel’s never quiet, and I hate that I can’t see her face right now to see what she’s thinking. She’s a very expressive person in her facial features and I know how to read her easily. “Mel.”

“Yeah, yeah I’m here.”

Then she goes silent again. “Mel, answer me.”

“Yes, I think you should. That’s because I can see you care for him more than you let on. And he isn’t Matthew. Remember that when you look at him.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Just don’t put up your walls. He’s your ten for a reason. Let him show you that reason.”

“When did you become so wise?”

I hear Howard yell her name in the background.

“The minute I became a wifey. You know, we know all the shit.”

“You’re not a wifey, yet.” I laugh as I pull up at my house.