Bad Boy

by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

  I have never rolled my eyes so hard in my life. “She thinks you’re cheating because when she stole you from me, you were a cheater. As for the diet, that might be a good idea because if I remember correctly, you have a real talent for clogging a toilet after you eat Italian.”

  He scowls. “Vivian, now is not the time for jokes. You wanna be with me or not?”

  My eyes move to the parking lot and I see Mandy’s minivan stalking by in slow motion. She’s leaning through the open window, squinting into the cupcake shop.

  Ernie mutters under his breath. “I swear to god she put a tracking device in my underwear.”

  I stand up from the table. “Okay, Cowardly Lion. I think that you and your marital drama need to exit stage left. I have work to do and you need to not get your butt kicked by your wife inside of my place of business.”

  “Vivian, please…” His eyes beg for mercy.

  I round the counter and glare at him. “You made your bed, Ernie. Now go lie in it with your controlling, psycho-stalker wife.” I don’t wait for any more of his begging. I disappear down the hallway, into the office.

  My bizarre conversation with Ernie is quickly forgotten. I finish up the day ordering stock and handling some bookkeeping tasks. Sadie and I say our goodbyes and I lock up the shop around 7:00. As I climb into my car, I’ve got Clinton on my brain for sure. I cut a quick right at the intersection where I should have turned left and a few miles down the road, I’m swerving onto a now-familiar street.

  There’s no use fighting against the smile on my lips when Clinton throws open the door to his basement apartment. He leans his arm on the doorframe above his head and looks down at me with a half-smirk, his inked chest spread out before me like a canvas. He runs his thumb across the frown on my forehead. “Hey, Sunflower. You look like you could use a good fuck.”

  I sigh. “You know me so well.” He reaches out and grabs my hand. Giggling, I stumble inside. Before he can even kick the door shut with his foot, he’s got me pressed up against it as he rains kisses down on my neck.

  Chapter 28

  Clinton

  Vivian has no idea how much I needed her tonight.

  Finding out that Lisa is pregnant again…Fuck! How could a person be so stupid? Making the same mistakes over and over again has to get old at some point, doesn’t it?

  Anyway, my beautiful Vivian is just the distraction that I needed. She cooked me dinner and then we snuggled up on the couch. She talked a mile a minute, with her phone in one hand and a pen in the other, drafting a business plan for me in her pretty notebook. She says I need to hang a traditional spiraling red, white and blue barber pole outside of my shop. She also promises to help me build a website where customers can book their appointments online so they don’t have to spend hours sitting in my shop, waiting for service. She recommended a chalkboard sign too of course but I had to draw a firm line in the sand at that suggestion.

  After a while, my brain got tired from all her excited babbling but I couldn’t get her to shut up so I pinned her down with my weight and licked her pussy until the only word she could say was my name. Now, she’s here in my arms, lying next to me on my narrow bed, back rising and falling as the light from the street lamp spills across her smooth skin.

  She makes everything better. She soothes all the rough edges.

  I’m going to give her all the things she dreams of. I’m going to give her the world. Just you wait and see, Vivian.

  Her hair is a sexy mess, all spread out on my pillow. I brush it off of her neck and place a kiss on her shoulder. “I love you…” I whisper into her ear.

  And I swear, I see her smile.

  Chapter 29

  Vivian

  I’m pretty sure it was the bacon that woke me up.

  The gorgeous, greasy, mouth-watering smell of bacon wrapped in a subtle hint of maple. The soft sizzling sound that carries the promise of salty, fatty, breakfast bliss.

  A smile crawls slowly across my lips as I inhale deeply and pull the covers back. I swing my legs over the side of Clinton’s sofa-bed and slowly rise up off of the mattress. Except when I sit up, it isn’t my muscular, tattooed lover I see standing by the stove.

  It’s Lisa.

  Yelping, I pull the blankets up over my breasts. She looks at me with her shoulders hunched all the way up to her ears. “Oh, did I wake you? I’m so sorry,” she whispers. Because whispering makes it all better after you’ve already woken someone up. “You were out like a light. I thought I could make some breakfast for the kids real fast and you’d never notice.”

  I really don’t mean to be rude but this is just messed up, waking up to find my boyfriend’s landlord barefoot in his kitchen, helping herself to breakfast while I’m fully naked and smelling like sex. That’s just—no!

  “Where’s Clinton?” I croak out, pushing dark tufts of messy hair from my face.

  “Not too sure. Heard him jump on his bike a few minutes ago and I figured I’d come in here and use his stove while he was out. I wasn’t expecting to find you in here but you were sleeping so…”

  I probably shouldn’t yell at her but she seems to have no sense that this—barging into someone’s apartment when they’re not around—might be improper.

  “You can’t just come into a person’s place and start cooking whenever you feel like. It’s a complete invasion of privacy. What kind of landlord does that?” My gaze roams over her features and I think hard. I’m know her from somewhere. I’m sure of it.

  She cocks a hip and chuffs incredulously. “Landlord? Clinton told you I’m his landlord?”

  I blink a few times. “Yes, that’s what he told me…”

  “So, I’m guessing he didn’t tell you who my children are to him?”

  My lips tremble but I don’t have an answer for her.

  Shaking her head, she turns back to the stove and flips the bacon angrily. “He is the most secretive motherfucker I’ve ever met,” she mutters in irritation under her breath. “If he’s embarrassed by me and these kids, he doesn’t need to be here. I don’t need him here.”

  What the hell is she talking about?

  A trillion questions are swirling in my head. But before I can commence my thorough cross-examination, the door opens and Clinton strides in with a carton of eggs in his hand. The smile slowly slides from his face when he sees Lisa standing at the stove.

  “What are you doing here?” he snaps.

  “I’m just getting some food for me and the kids.” She snatches the pan off of the stove, bacon sizzle and all. “Don’t worry. It won’t happen again. Now that I know I’m just your landlord. Nothing more.” She stomps out, slamming the door behind her. Bye bye, bacon…

  Clinton’s attention turns to me as he sets the eggs on the counter. I’m already getting dressed.

  “Are you okay?” he asks me.

  I fasten the clasp of my bra and yank my shirt over my head. “What the hell is going on between you and that woman?”

  He looks flustered which is totally out of character for him. “Nothing. Nothing’s going on between me and Lisa.”

  I plant my hands on my hips. “So you’re telling me that she’s just your landlord? You’re sticking with that story?”

  He takes a step closer. I match it with a step back. He pauses, jaw clenching, chest heaving in frustration. “Vivian…”

  “I won’t have you lying to me, Clinton. I’ve asked you about her before and I let you give me the runaround but I won’t accept that anymore…” My eyes tingle with tears as I struggle with whether or not to add the next part. “…because I’m in love with you.”

  His whole expression softens when I say the words. I’ve already laid myself bare to him physically, allowing him to have my body without protection. That may have been a stupid move but now, I’ve got to protect my heart. It’s the very least I can do.

  He reaches to cup my cheek in his hand but I move out of his grasp. “Please…” His eyes beg me for understanding.

  “You
can say it’s none of my business. You can totally choose not to answer. But if you care about me at all, tell me the truth. What the hell is going on between the two of you?”

  He sighs and rakes a tense hand through his hair. “I don’t want to talk about this. I can’t talk about this.”

  “Fine.” I don’t waste one more second. I grab my coat and yank the sleeves up my arms. I am so done with this shady situation.

  “Don’t go.” His words are pleading but his voice is a firm command.

  I ignore him. Now, I’m roping my scarf around my neck.

  “Vivian. Don’t you leave! Don’t!”

  I slide my feet into my flat leather loafers and reach for the doorknob. I feel him come up behind me. His presence weighs down on my body. He grabs my arm and gently snatches my fingers off the handle. I’m trapped between the door and his hard chest.

  I feel his restrained strength in each shaky breath that rattles his ribcage. All I want is to turn around and brush my lips across his skin, to drop to my knees and take his shaft in my mouth. All I want is for things between us to be good. But he’s keeping a secret and I’m not willing to be his fool just so I can have his arms around me as I fall asleep at night.

  He drops his forehead to the door, his stomach pressed against my back. “I’m taking care of them. Okay?”

  I struggle to turn around. “What do you mean, you’re taking care of them?” Pushing him back softly, I look up into his eyes, trying to read his expression.

  He shrugs roughly, becoming more upset. “I don’t know. I pay the bills. I buy the food. That sort of thing.”

  My eyes squint in confusion. “Why would you do that?” My stomach twists into a tight knot. “Wait—are those your kids? Are you the father of Lisa’s babies?”

  “No. God, no.”

  “So, you’re having sex with her? That’s why you’re paying her way?”

  “No, never! I’ve never had sex with her. You don’t honestly think I’m sleeping with Lisa. You know that I’m crazy about you. There is no other woman who could get me to look their way. I’m all about you Vivian.”

  “I don’t know what to think. I mean—is she family?”

  “Vivian, stop!”

  I won’t. I need answers. “If they’re struggling, there are resources in the community to help them. There are places where Lisa could apply for work. They’re always hiring at the factory just off the highway. And there’s a farm in Reyfield that’s always looking for helpers. And if for whatever reason she can’t work, there’s a food bank at Pastor Becker’s chur—” My words cut off. That’s when I remember exactly who Lisa is.

  I met her a few years ago when I was volunteering at the women’s shelter. She’d come after a stint in rehab to deal with a drug habit. She gave birth to a little girl. The sweetest baby. Lisa was having a hard time finding her footing so the Beckers allowed her to stay. They were convinced that she’d get herself together with a little more time and care. But then, she fell pregnant again and Pastor Becker was so disappointed in her. He started making arrangements to have her transferred to a facility that was more appropriate for women who were struggling with their addiction issues. That’s when she disappeared. I remember Blythe being devastated when it happened. She was inconsolable for days. But apparently things worked out relatively well for Lisa. Well enough that she has a home for her kids now.

  “Fucking stop it, Vivian!” Clinton explodes. “Why are you doing this? Why are you asking all these damn questions? And making all these suggestions? And complicating things?”

  Is this guy serious right now? “Because you showed up out of nowhere and you stormed into my life and now I’m starting to need you. I’m also starting to realize that I don’t know a thing about you.”

  “You do know me. I’ve told you more about myself than I’ve shared with anybody in a long time. I haven’t had anyone to share myself with until you stormed into my life.” He cups my face and this time I let him because fighting him is too hard and his touch has a wicked power over my body and mind. “Vivian, you have no idea how I feel about you. There’s no one else in my bed or in my heart. Only you.”

  For so long, I’ve ached to hear those words fall from a man’s mouth. I’ve longed to hear a man say those magical things to me. My resolve is melting. I’m weak. I know it.

  “Don’t leave me just because there’s a part of my life that you don’t understand. Please…”

  “Make me understand, Clinton. Tell me the truth. Why are you taking care of Lisa and her children?”

  “Because they need me…” is the answer he gives before ducking down and taking my mouth with his. Now, his thumb is rubbing circles into the small of my back, igniting a fire under my skin. I feel myself slipping under his spell as my rage dissipates.

  “You’re not playing fair,” I whisper, my heart clenching. I summon all of my strength and push him away. “You can’t sex your way out of this, you jerk.” Moving fast, I spin around and yank the door open before he can stop me. “When you’re ready to tell me what’s going on, you know where to find me.”

  Chapter 30

  Clinton

  “Hey, hey, hey! Watch it!” the hipster in my chair yelps as I get a little overzealous with the clipper in my hand. God forbid I cause harm to his meticulously-maintained beard.

  I retract my hands, holding up the razor in surrender. “Sorry, man. Just got a little carried away. That’s all.” His angry eyes are fixed on me as I set the clipper down on the table and step back.

  My customer stands, tears the barber cape from around his neck and slams it down on the styling chair. He glares as he hands me the money. Before I can issue another apology, he’s already stomped out of the shop.

  I drop down into the chair and scrub my hands down my face. I’m so fucking stressed.

  Cruz comes and sits in the chair next to me. “And another one bites the dust. If you keep doing that shit you’ll be out of customers in two weeks.”

  “Like I give a fuck,” I mumble.

  Cruz watches me. “Man—you’re tense these days.”

  “You think?” I grunt sarcastically.

  He just kind of snorts. He’s amused by my misery. “This stank mood of yours is all about that pretty, stuck-up lady next door, isn’t it?”

  I hiss through my teeth. “Careful with your words, Cruz.”

  “Sorry.” Did he just roll his eyes? “Talk to me, dude. When it comes to women, I know a thing or two.”

  I glare at his pretty boy face. I’ve seen the way women stop in here just for a little bit of his attention. Maybe he’s not just bullshitting me. I’m desperate enough to spill my guts, just in case.

  “I’ve been spending time with Vivian,” I admit. “A lot of time. And everything’s been happening so fast. I seriously see myself spending my life with this woman…”

  “But?” He nudges, impatient to get to the juicy part.

  I drop my face into my hands. “It’s just…she started asking questions. Questions I didn’t want to have to answer.”

  “Questions about Lisa…” he offers sagely.

  “Yes, questions about Lisa.” Cruz knows the arrangement I have with Lisa. He doesn’t understand it. But he knows most of the details. Mainly because she walked in here one day when I was out and she started spilling her guts to him in hopes of gaining some compassion and some money. I was pissed because I never wanted him to know that much about me but thanks to Lisa’s big mouth, Cruz and I are a whole lot less like strangers and a whole lot more like friends.

  He shakes his head. “I warned you about getting so deep into Lisa’s mess. She’s got baggage all over her.”

  “I don’t do this for her. I do it for the kids,” I argue.

  “She’s using the kids to hold you like a noose and you’re just gonna let her. All for the sake of being the good guy.”

  “Their father already walked out on them. I don’t want to abandon them, too.” I remember what it was like for me. Growing up
without a male figure in my corner. Feeling like a tiny fish in a sea full of sharks. I don’t want those kids to know the anxiety I know and more importantly, I don’t want them to experience the stigma they’ll find themselves drowning in if the truth sees the light of day. No child should ever have to grow up without the love of the adults around them.

  “You don’t have to abandon them in order to get your own happiness, Clinton. You can’t let Lisa get in the way of your happiness.”