Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 68716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Her smile falters. Just a hair. “Oookay… grumpy.”
“I warned you last night I had to get moving early. Got shit to do.”
She rolls onto her side, propping herself on one elbow, the sheet slipping dangerously low as she eyes me. “What’s the rush? A little time together, a shower maybe. We could get breakfast. There’s that little diner—”
“Tina,” I remark, voice firm. And yes, I say the wrong name on purpose.
Her lips pout. She’s good at pouting. “What?”
I look back at her, arms crossing out of habit. “Pretty clear, Tina. It’s time for you to head out.” Her brows furrow at my misuse of her name again, but she doesn’t actually correct me. I stare at her like she’s stupid because she is if she thinks pouting or whining will get her anywhere with me.
There it is—that flicker behind her eyes. The shift from playful to wounded. I see it a lot. It still doesn’t change anything. I don’t understand why women assume something will change after a bit of pussy. I am very clear with my refusal to commit. I’ll spend time with a woman, even regularly hang out. What I won’t do is have a label, or be monogamous again.
I was married before. Twenty-one years I lived the life of husband, father, provider, protector, lover, and enemy number one to my wife Tammy Sue. No one will ever have that piece of me again. What I had with her wasn’t perfect, but it was us. I loved her like I’ll never love anyone. She knew me and loved me like no one ever will again. Cancer took her from me and our kids. Along with her life, she took my heart with her to the next realm.
I’m man enough to know what I bring to the table and where my shortcomings lay. Which is why I’m always up front with any woman I fuck. Before my dick slides in they have to understand they will never be my only one. We can have fun, I’ll even take them out for a meal sometimes or a short trip, but I will not give up the others.
“Already?” she asks softly. “You’re just gonna kick me out the second you wake up?”
I groan. “Obviously not the second I woke up since you’re still here yapping. How about less talking and more walking.” I correct, moving to grab my jeans off the chair. “We had a good night. You know how this works.”
She bites her lower lip. “You could let me stay a little longer. I think we could have some fun to start the day off right.”
“Nope.”
Her shoulders stiffen. “Why not? You don’t have plans. You said—”
My frustration is growing. “Look Gina, I got shit to do that is not you. I’m not a patient man, I’m not even a good man. What I am is a man who told you up front what the deal was and somehow you have blurred some lines in your sleep.”
She gives me this look that is a wounded damn dog. Too bad for her I’m immune to the shit.
“Look, I got plans. I’m goin’ on vacation.” I tug my jeans up, slide on a belt. “And you’re not coming.”
Her mouth drops open. “Vacation?! Where?”
“Away.” I pull on a T-shirt, the fabric stretching tight across my chest. “Somewhere quiet. Somewhere you aren’t.”
“Well…” she starts, scooting to the edge of the bed, sheet clutched to her chest. “I could be quiet. I don’t have to talk the whole time. I can just… be with you.”
I turn, leveling her with a look that’s put grown men into retreat. “This ain’t that kind of relationship. This ain’t a relationship at all. In fact, once you get the fuck gone I won’t answer your calls and you need not show up anywhere.”
Silence falls, thick and heavy.
She swallows hard. “But… we’ve been seeing each other for months, dinners and stuff. Like I thought we were maybe dating. Did I read it wrong?”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I lay it out for her. “When I had an itch for young pussy, you got the call. Outside of that, we ain’t shit. When I want some different from my usuals, I called you. The times we go out to eat is because I gotta eat, don’t see why I gotta do it alone if you’re around.” I remind her. “Exactly like I explained from the start. Now, you ain’t gotta worry about it because my calls won’t come anymore.”
Her chin trembles. “I thought maybe… it could turn into something.”
Dammit.
I close my eyes for a second. Not because I feel guilty—I don’t lie about who I am. But because this right here is why I keep everything up front, no emotions, and serious boundaries. I tell them all from the beginning not to catch feelings. Why can’t they listen?