Heartless
Danielle Allen
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 by Danielle Allen
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, pirating, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or website – without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Editor/Proofreader: Virginia Carey
Cover Design: Pink Ink Designs
Dedication
To everyone who loved Heartache and Heartfelt,
this is for you.
Heartless
Bradley “Easy” Simon is many things.
One-night stand material? Absolutely.
A womanizer? Sure.
Heartless? Debatable.
Rumor has it that Easy has never been spotted with the same woman twice. His reputation of being the fun-loving, playboy precedes him.
But an anonymous text message changes everything.
The text message Easy expected: You up?
The text message he got: I’m pregnant.
Heartless Playlist
Music inspires me. The artists mentioned below wrote songs and lyrics that depict the mood of the first part of Easy aka Bradley Simon’s journey. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to any of these songs, you should purchase them immediately and listen on repeat.
Heartless
Kanye West
Lotus Flower Bomb
Wale ft Miguel
Can We Try Again
Raheem DeVaughn
Won’t Live Here
Daniel Caesar
West
River Tiber ft Daniel Caesar
Ride Slow
Russ
Caretaker
Shelley ft SZA
Be Here
Raphael Saadiq
These Arms
Luke James
Wasteland, Baby!
Hozier
Prologue
Two Years Ago
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Roman and Bianca Harper
“Go for it,” I told Roman Harper distractedly as we finished another round of shots.
I didn’t know what my best friend was talking about because the redhead across the room was stacked. I was an ass man, and she didn’t have much of an ass, but her tits were huge. The thought of making pillows out of them crossed my mind a couple of times when she was throwing herself at me right after the ceremony.
“Nah, man,” Malik Jones uttered, shaking his head. The other best man gave me a look before directing his attention to Roman. “You might’ve had one too many to get on the mic.”
The redhead caught my eye again, crossing and uncrossing those long legs of hers. It was clear she wanted me. She wasn’t trying to hide it as she blatantly eye-fucked me in the middle of Roman and Bianca’s wedding reception.
What is her name? I wondered, struggling to remember. She’s Bianca’s friend from New York. She’s an artist. Her name is… Peri? Paris?
I was drawing a blank.
Weddings did something to women, and I knew I was in for a good night. But I hadn’t made my final decision on who I wanted to end the night with yet.
The redhead looks good. But the woman in the pink dress keeps biting her lip and winking at me. And the woman in the black dress with the big ass gave me her number right after the ceremony. My eyes moved around the table, taking in the three of them before I flashed a smile. Maybe I should move to New York.
Looking around the room, I told myself I was looking for other potential candidates to spend the night with. But as I kept searching, I realized I was looking for one woman in particular.
“I just wanted to say thank you for joining us today and celebrating with us tonight,” Roman started his impromptu toast as he looked around the ballroom. “Today I married one of my best friends. We got together a little less than three years ago. I probably loved her for longer than I would let myself admit. But when I couldn’t deny it anymore, I knew I was going to marry her. And it would’ve happened sooner, but it takes time to pull together a dream wedding apparently.” He looked at Bianca dotingly. “And I would give this woman the world if she asked me for it. But she didn’t. She just asked for the Astoria and there was a two-year waiting period so, I had to wait to make her my wife.” He paused for a second, taking a step closer to his bride. “We’ve been through so much, B. I would die for you, but I’d much rather live for you. I just wanted to marry you so I could spend my life being inspired by you and motivated by you while at the same time providing for you and protecting you. You’re my life. You’re my wife. I love you.”
“Oh, this motherfucker is drunk drunk,” I muttered to Malik who was sitting next to me at the bridal party table.
“You knew he was drunk when he got up and grabbed the mic in the first place. I told him to sit down and you encouraged this shit. Now look at him.” Malik shook his head. “This is on you.”
I tried to hold in my laughter as I recoiled. “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“You’re the levelheaded one!”
“And you hyped him up! So, grab the mic from his hand. He’s going to look back at the video of this and be mad at himself for putting his business in the streets.”
Malik was right. I’d been best friends with Roman since we were five years old and he was going to be pissed that he got emotional—even though it was his own damn wedding.
I stood up and patted Roman on his shoulder before I took the microphone.
“Can we get another round of applause for my best friend, Roman Harper and his beautiful wife, Bianca Harper,” I started, realizing that I had nothing to say. I’d already given my toast. Clearing my throat, I looked around the ballroom. “You don’t always know when you meet someone who is going to change your life. But it happens every day. We all meet for a reason, but our destiny isn’t tied to everyone we meet. But when it happens”—I let out a whistle— “it’s a big deal. When Roman and Bianca first met, they didn’t know they’d end up here. They didn’t know they were each other’s destiny. Because you just never know what the future holds. But we are constantly put in positions to run into our destiny.” I lifted my glass. “So, raise your glasses to Roman and Bianca. Raise your glasses to destiny.”
A loud, rousing applause erupted from the crowd. I glanced to my left and I saw Malik laughing to himself. I looked to my right and I saw Roman nodding in agreement. Next to Roman, Bianca was looking at me with a rueful smile.
I handed the microphone to the wedding planner and the DJ took over, getting everyone on the dance floor.
“You did not just do that,” Malik chuckled in disbelief.
I ran my hands through my hair. “What?”
Bianca leaned behind Roman and grabbed my arm. “Did you just adapt one of your pick-up lines to toast at my fucking wedding?”
I hesitated for a moment. Was it that obvious?
“Okay, yeah, I did,” I admitted slowly.
Malik shook his head. “Heartless, bro.”
My eyes widened. “How is that heartless?”
Bianca let out an indignant gasp. “Because you used the same lines that you use on these random women you collect who mean nothing to you to describe the love that Roman and I share.” Even though her eyes sparkled with amusement, she f
rowned. “You ain’t right.”
“But hear me out,” I started, lifting my hands up. “Your boy was one sentence away from oversharing and we all know he would’ve ended up deleting all the reception videos once he sobered up. He stopped talking to the crowd and started talking to you like he wasn’t mic’ed up.”
“I can hear you,” Roman huffed, gulping down bottled water.
We all snickered.
Elizabeth Harper walked up, and we paused our conversation. “I just wanted to say that I love the way you all take care of each other,” she said with tears in her eyes. “All of you.”
“Was my speech that bad?” Roman asked, looking around.
We cracked up.
“No, no, not at all,” Elizabeth assured him, wiping her tears away. “It was beautiful. It reminded me of William’s vows to me. May he rest in peace. I saw a lot of him in you today, but what you were saying about protecting and providing”—she sniffled— “that was William.”
“Mom—”
“No, let me dote on you! I need to.” Her voice broke.
Roman got up and went around the table to hug his mother. “Please don’t cry…”
“William’s gone forever. Benjamin is serving a five-year sentence. You’re all I’ve got baby boy. Let me love on you.”
Well, that’s sad as fuck. I frowned as I tried to distract myself with anything else.
As they continued their conversation, Bianca sat down in Roman’s seat beside me.
“I get why you took the mic. But if you said all of that to try to sleep with my cousin, I will fight you.”
My jaw dropped. I looked over at Malik and back at Bianca. “What do you mean?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I know you, Easy.” She pointed at me. “You have a plan. I don’t know what it is, but I know you’ve been plotting on my cousin. So, if your use of that pick-up line was for the benefit of my cousin, we’re going to have a problem.”
“What?” I feigned shock. “Malik, back me up.”
“You know you’re my boy, Easy,” he replied. “And I have your back. But you’re on your own with this one.”
I shook my head. “That’s messed up.”
Bianca grabbed my arm and forced my attention back her way. “If you were to hook up with one of my friends from New York or anyone who isn’t from the area, they probably aren’t expecting more than a one-night stand. So have fun. You are all grown. Do your thing. But leave my cousins—particularly the one you were hitting on during the rehearsal—out of your mess. If you’re thinking about going up to your room with anyone, work your magic on someone who is not related to me. Okay?”
I lifted my hands in surrender. “I got you.” Looking back over at the table of Bianca’s flirty New York friends, I smirked. “I’ve been enjoying what New York has to offer.”
“Mm hm, okay.” She pursed her lips and looked me up and down. “I’m watching you.”
Roman returned, standing behind his new wife. “How much longer do we have to stay here before I can take you up to the honeymoon suite?”
Bianca stood up and put her arms around him. “It’s almost over. After we do our rounds, we can do the whole goodbye thing and then head upstairs and…” They started kissing.
I turned to Malik so Roman and B could have their privacy.
Malik and Courtney, his wife of one-year, were also kissing.
“Okay, newlyweds,” I mumbled under my breath as I stood.
I shook my head and glanced down the table. The bridesmaids were gone. Only Amber, B’s maid of honor, remained and she was trying to get the ring bearer to eat. Her son, Jacob Junior, was a cute kid, but his earlier meltdown was cringeworthy.
I’m surrounded by marriage and kids. I frowned. Hope this shit isn’t contagious.
“I’m going to do a lap,” I announced, escaping the two couples. “I’ll be back.”
I walked over to the table with my mom and stepdad.
“That was a beautiful speech, Bradley,” my mom gushed.
“Yeah, it was,” my stepdad, Lawrence Simon added.
“Now both of your best friends are married,” Mom pointed out. “Malik has a wife. Roman has a wife. Before long, they’ll have kids. Now it’s your turn! When are you planning on settling down?”
“I’m not,” I answered.
“So, I’m going to be old and grey when you give me grandkids?” she complained.
“Leave Easy alone, dear. He’s young!” My stepdad winked at me. “He has time.”
My mom’s eyes widened. “He’s going to be thirty in a few weeks!” She looked at me. “I just want to make sure you’re happy and these meaningless flings aren’t fulfilling. I know things didn’t work out with Sophia, but I think you should try being in another relationship. Give it a real shot. There’s a woman I work with—”
My stepdad shook his head. “Easy is fine, dear. The last thing he needs is his mom setting him up.”
“Thank you, Pop.”
He smiled at me. “We’re leaving soon. But find out who made that appetizer. It didn’t come from the Astoria’s restaurant.”
“Yo!” I dapped Pop up. “That was my favorite thing, too!”
I talked to them for about five more minutes. Mrs. Harper, who was seated with them, had returned to the table and the three of them were discussing the wedding. As they were talking about their favorite moments of the night, I got distracted.
Wow.
Jamila Lee was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. In a rose gold dress that showed off her curves, I couldn’t stop staring at her. Her caramel complexion was rich and her long, blackish brown hair was thick. Her dark brown eyes held secrets I wanted to explore.
Correction: her whole damn body held secrets I wanted to explore.
I saw her earlier, but I hadn’t seen her in at least an hour. She had changed her clothes from what she’d worn earlier. And while she looked good in the bridesmaid’s dress, she was stunning in the rose gold.
It’s too bad she shut me down.
Jamila wasn’t just a pretty face. She was smart. She worked in finance. She was funny. The way she roasted me when I flirted with her at the rehearsal was hilarious and humbling at the same damn time. If I was looking for the perfect woman, Jamila was it. But despite how her ass kept calling out to me, she told me repeatedly she was not interested.
And she’s not an option anyway, I reminded myself.
“Are you listening?” Mom asked, bringing me back to the conversation.
“I missed the last part,” I told her, ripping my eyes from the beautiful but off-limits cousin of the bride.
“I said I love you, but I’m calling it a night,” she repeated. “The rest of the night is just dancing and we’re tired.”
I hugged them both and then walked them to the door. My stepdad opened the door for my mom and after she walked through, he looked back at me. “Love you, son. Be easy.”
“Love you, too, Pop. Be easy.”
With a final wave, I headed back toward the ballroom. We gathered to see the bride and groom off and cheered as Roman and Bianca headed to the elevator bank. The DJ announced he was going to play a few more songs before calling it a night. I didn’t rush to the dance floor like everyone else did, though. I scanned the room for her.
“Very interesting.” Jamila’s voice pierced through the music.
I turned around and looked at her. “Jamila Lee.”
“Bradley…last name unknown.”
I chuckled and extended my hand. “Simon. Bradley Simon. But everyone calls me Easy.”
She shook my hand. “I’m not everyone.”
I swept my eyes down her body. “No, you certainly are not.” Clearing my throat, I refocused my attention. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you. Someone spilled their drink on my bridesmaid’s dress, so I had to change after the bouquet toss.” She took a step back and made a show of checking me out. “You clean up nice. I see why you have the single women
in a tizzy.”
“A tizzy?” I laughed, giving her a look. “What the hell? How old are you?”
“Shut up.” She didn’t quite laugh, but there was amusement in her tone. “I’m serious though. I was in the bathroom with a couple of women who were working out their plan to talk to you.”
“Funny, I was working out my plan to talk to you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop it.”
“I’m serious.” Looking at her earnestly, I continued, “I just have a feeling that you are my destiny.”
With a pointed look, she lowered her voice. “If you don’t get that recycled game out of my face.”
“Sorry. I can’t help it. When I’m in the presence of this much beauty, I just…” I lifted my shoulders.
She took a step closer to me. “And when I’m in the presence of this much bullshit, I just…” She lifted her shoulders, mimicking me.
I laughed from deep in my gut. “I’m not bullshitting you.”
“You’re a good-looking guy, but you’re not my type. So, you can drop the whole”—she motioned to me— “thing you have going on.”
“You’ve been saying that all weekend, but you don’t even know me.”
“I know a womanizer when I see one.”
My eyes widened. “What?!”
“But I am intrigued by something,” she continued, taking another step closer.
I caught a whiff of her perfume and stifled an involuntary groan. If it was possible to want her more than I already did, it happened right then.
I’d bend her over right now…
I swallowed hard. “What’s that?”
Jamila eyed me suspiciously. “You call Mister Lawrence, Pop?”
Wait… how does she know him?
“I do.” I ran my hand through my hair. “He’s my stepdad.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Lawrence Simon is your stepdad?”
Heartless (Heartache) Page 1
