“Yeah. You like it?”

“I didn’t know you could draw like that.”

“Well, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, Mr. Contreras.”

“I can see that. Why’d you draw that?”

“I don’t know. Saw it somewhere, I guess.”

“Somewhere?” I know that tone. The accusations are about to come. “Where?”

“On a car, I think.”

“The Dealer’s car.”

“Chris –”

“¿Están templando?”

“No, I’m not fucking him!”

The same question Gage asked. Men can be the biggest cheaters, but let them even think they’ve been cheated on and they completely lose their shit.

“What do you expect me to think?”

“I expect you to trust me.” I can’t believe I just said that. There’s been no sex but what I’ve done with Gage so far has totally violated Chris’ trust.

“How can I when he’s acting like he owns you?”

“Nobody owns me.”

“Raven –”

“Mira, I’ve been having a pretty good day. If you’re just going to spoil it by arguing, then you should leave.”

“So now I’m ruining your day. What? Am I interrupting your fantasies about the Dealer?”

“You should go before you say something you’ll really regret.”

“Like what –”

“¡Vete! Just leave!”

I didn’t mean to shout, but other than the fact that he was hitting close to home, I don’t want to end things with him on a bad note. I should just get this over with and stop dragging it out.

“Chris, I’m sorry. You’re a great guy but –”

He grabs my hand, cutting me off and his eyes find mine in a panic.

“Raven, lo siento. I’m sorry. Pero, I love you.”

The “L” word. The fucking “L” word. I already knew, and Chrissy told me as much, but it’s different hearing him say it.

“Chris…”

“I know, it’s crazy. You don’t have to say it. It’s too soon and all that. But I do. Te amo, Mami.”

He looks so defeated, so hopeless. He’s going to be crushed. But Gage is right, too. Why stay with him when I don’t feel the same?

“It’s okay. I know you’re not there yet. Just don’t rule me out.”

“Oh, Chris…”

I don’t know what to do, what to say. This is not who I am. I’m not some shy, indecisive weakling. What am I allowing these two men to do to me? I feel horrible for what I’m doing to Chris. I throw my arms around his neck and hold him tightly.  Am I really going to give him up for some potentially good sex? No. I won’t. When I see Gage tonight, I’ll just have to end it. End it? It’s not like we started anything. I’ll just tell him that I changed my mind. It’s the best thing to do. The right thing.

***Gage***

“Yo!”

E barges into my room as I’m getting dressed. He closes the door and drops down on my bed.

“Don’t you knock?”

“We used to take baths together, motherfucker. You ain’t got nothin’ I ain’t never seen.”

“That was a long time ago, dickhead. I’ve changed.”

We both chuckle as I get boxers from my drawer.

“Nope. Everything looks the same to me.”

I grab the first thing I can from my dresser – my deodorant – and pitch it at him. He catches it and bursts out laughing.

“You’re just jealous because you’re literally half the man I am.”

“That’s not what Jessica Morris said,” he says with a smirk.

“Dude, we were sixteen. And Jessica Morris fucked every guy at school. She probably said that to every single one of us.”

“True.”

“Why aren’t you at work?” I ask.

“Day off. Wanna do something?”

“I gotta go look at a few properties. Wanna come?”

“Sure. But first, you gonna tell me about last night?”

I retrieve my deodorant and head to the bathroom to do something about my hair.

“Nothing happened.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“We talked, watched a movie.”

“You talked…and watched a movie,” he repeats, looking astonished.

“That’s what I said.” I sit next to him on the bed and he gawks at me like I just sprouted a second head. “I’m serious.”

“Okay, what did you talk about?”

“I want her, E.”

“That I already know.”

“Well, obviously not yet, but we’re gonna work on it.”

“Wait, is the mighty Reaper getting himself a girlfriend?” He chuckles.

“I wouldn’t go that far. But I am going to put some time into it. She’s just different. I need to find out why.”

“I already know why. I’ll tell Joe to get the ink ready.”

“I should punch you in the throat for that.”

“I’ll remember that when you’re getting her name tatted on your back.”

“Shut up.”

He laughs again, and I swear I’m about to lay him out when I remember that I need his help.

“I need a favor.”

“What? Help with tattoo designs?”

“E, I swear to God –”

“Okay, okay. What?”

“I need her on the pill, or whatever you recommend.”

He raises his brows and loses the smile.

“Planning on going bareback?”

“Of course not. I just need to cover all my bases.”

“Wanna bring her to St. John’s?”

“No. We have to be discreet. I’m supposed to see her later. You can come by, do your thing.”

“You got it, brother.”

“Thanks, man. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 13 ***Raven***

I’m sitting here staring at my phone, unsure what to do. I received a text about twenty minutes ago but I haven’t read it. I know it’s from him, most likely details for tonight. How quickly things can change. Just last night I was making plans and promising him my virginity; hell, I practically offered it to him on a silver platter. If he wasn’t the man he is, I wouldn’t still be a virgin today. I take a deep breath and read the message.

G: I’ll send someone to pick you up at 7.

I start tapping out an excuse not to go. I’m sick…I got my period…what do I say? No. That’s the coward’s way out. I need to deal with this as soon as possible, and in person. He deserves that.

R: Ok.

By five pm, I’m in the shower and nervously shaving every inch of my body. Nerves and razors are not a good combination; I nick my legs more than a few times. They’ll probably look like I had a run-in with Freddy Krueger. I dress carefully – a blue and white cotton skater dress, and a light, white jacket. After blow-drying my hair, I add some light makeup and finish my outfit with blue sandals.

At six fifty-five, I get a text telling me that my ride is outside, so I take a deep breath and head out. I step outside and there’s a black Charger in the driveway. The windows are tinted extra dark, keeping prying eyes out. The driver hops out and opens my door. He’s tall but he seems young, around my age.

“Hello.”

“Hi, I’m Ron.”

“Raven.”

He smirks at me as he closes the door. “I know.”

I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he backs out of the driveway. Damn, he’s cute. He’s like a Colton Haynes look-alike but with dark hair and tattoos.

“So, Raven. I’ve seen you around.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. You go with Chris, right?”

Shit. He knows Chris. Are they friends? Is he going to rat me out?

“Don’t worry. Boss Man explained everything to me.”

“And what exactly did Boss Man say?”

“That you’re friends, but because of the situation, you have to keep it quiet.”

“You don’t sound like you believe that.”

“It’s just hard to believe that Gage Hunter can be friends with a woman, especially one as pretty as you.”

“So, you don’t think there’s a woman who can resist the big, bad Reaper?”

“I’ve never met one.”

“Well, friends is the only thing we can be,” I tell him.

“Why is that?”

“One, I’m with Christopher and two, as you probably already know, I’m not legal.”

He waits for me to continue, glancing between me and the road.

“That’s all you got?”

“That’s all I need.”

“You’re not legal, but you will be. Soon. And Chris, well, he’ll get over it.”