by Eden Fortae
As they stopped at the last corner before the hotel, Ty turned serious but maintained his closeness. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “Let that be your last question.” She allowed her hand to fall from his chest and brush against the bulge in his jeans. In doing so, she earned a smile. Ty stood behind her, his hand on her ass. While waiting for the traffic signal to change, they heard a man shouting. Thinking nothing of it, he kept going, and she tried to focus on the feeling. The shouts became louder and more desperate as he drew near. Unable to ignore it, Eden looked up, meeting Donny’s gaze head-on.
“Talia!”
She stared, unsure of what was happening and what to do.
“Talia! ¡Ay, dios mío! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you since the nurses called and said you weren’t in your room.” Cupping her cheeks, he pulled her into him.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Who’s this?” Ty frowned, looking between them.
“Are you alright, Talia? I was worried!”
“Who in the hell is Talia?” Eden fought against his hold, trying and failing to push away. He didn’t answer her and wouldn’t budge. “Get off of me, Donovan! What the hell are you talking about! Who’s Talia?”
Pulling back, he held her by her shoulders and frowned. “Oh, no! Eden? Is that you? I should have known… Eden,” he spoke carefully and slowly, “I want to talk to Talia. Por favor. Don’t do this.”
“You can’t be serious, Donovan.”
“Who is this?” Ty pointed, to which Eden latched onto his hand and tried to pull him away.
“He’s a guy from my past that won’t stay there.”
“Monday, I was your fairy Godfather. Wednesday, you were convinced my name was Enrique. Today I’m a guy from your past? Did they change your medication?”
She stopped abruptly, facing him, and spoke through clenched teeth, “You’re going to need medication if you don’t cut the shit and go!”
“You know I’m not leaving you, Talia.”
“And stop fucking calling me that!”
As if his antics weren’t ridiculous enough, he turned to her companion, with the same energy, “¡Gracias mí amigo! My cousin has Dissociative Identity Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Hypersexualization associated with Bipolar Disorder. She tends to wander off at times and gets into trouble. I don’t know how she keeps escaping the hospital. My family and I are eternally grateful to you for keeping an eye on her.”
“Donovan!”
“You escaped from a hospital?”
“Of course not—”
“This is the third time.”
“Oh my fucking God, Donovan! I swear I’m going to kick you in the nuts if you don’t cut this out and go away!”
“Petra? ¡Dios ayúdame! This is the last thing we need! Petra’s the violent one,” he turned to Ty, shaking his head.
Gritting her teeth, Eden balled her fist and swung with all her might. She connected with his arm, receiving laughter. After he dodged her second blow, she turned on heels to find that her new friend was hastily walking back to the bar and hadn’t looked back once.
“A man that really wants you wouldn’t scare so easily,” Donny whispered into her ear, covering her back with the warmth of his chest.
Her hand swinging back to slap him was pure reflex. His initial groan and laughter sent her into a rage producing two more slaps to his chest.
“Why are you even here?!”
“Imagine waiting all day to see your friend and finding out she had a family emergency. You call, and text but get no answer, so you go to her just to make sure she gets home safely. Then, you see that friend, walking with some asshole after that friend told you she had no time for anything but her career. What would you do?” He fired back.
“I’d mind my business.”
“Well, I didn’t, and I’m not. Were you going to this hotel with him?” He thumbed over his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“So, what you said to me only applied to me.”
“What I said is what I meant. I don’t have time for anything more than meaningless, mind-numbing sex. Had you not butted in, I’d be well on my way to forgetting every fucking thing that happened today.”
In a flash, his expression changed from one of aggravation to concern. “What happened? Your father, ok?”
“No, he’s still the same passive, weak ass excuse for a man that he was all my life.”
“What happened?” Be it his tone or the genuine concern, Eden’s anger fell into defeat. Thoughts of going to another bar to find someone else were dashed the second she felt a tear slip. Like a child, she stomped her foot, rolled her eyes, and walked off.
Being followed came as no surprise. Positioning himself in her direct path shouldn’t have either. By then, biting down on her lips was all she could do to keep from sobbing.
He stepped up with clear intentions of embracing her. She held her hands up, unable to look him directly in the eye.
“My family hates me. I spent my childhood unloved and unwanted. I realized I could obtain both of those things through sex. When shit gets too tough, nothing stops my pain but sexual stimulation. I orgasm or seduce men, and I ghost before they can catch their breaths because it doesn’t allow them the chance to see all the reasons to not want me.”
She paused long enough to take a breath, and her next words came across with anger.
“I don’t know what you think I am, but you’re wrong! You will gain nothing from this friendship, and we both know you can do better than a woman that likes to fuck strangers to feel better about herself. When you see me with Kya, I want you to see that. I want you to remember me heading to a hotel with a man I’d just met, so you see me for who I really am.” She stepped around him, tossing parting words over her shoulder, “Now you know me better than Kya.”
She wanted to envision him staring after her utterly repulsed. Instead, she thought of his compassion and relived the attempt to embrace her. Deep down, she needed that hug. On the surface, she did what she felt was best and the tears released from concealed emotions fell for him, too.
SIX
The rough start of the week came with an uncharacteristically silent end. Chace was too busy to talk. Eve stopped reaching out. Donny had, also. Every day since the fallout, Eden expected him to call, text, or even pop up to talk, and he’d done neither. After the fact, she realized her mistake. No man in their right mind would stick around after that. Donny was no different. Granted, he asked for her friendship and seemed genuine in his efforts, but he was still a man.
Memories of him screaming in the street, calling her by various names, and playing that part was almost laughable now. Once or twice, she actually chuckled at the thought. Those small bouts of laughter came with an oddly unsettling revelation. Their friendship was over. That fact was so consuming she’d made it to the end of her dress fitting before realizing Kya was unusually quiet.
Her friend was on her knees, pinning the hem of the dress. From that angle, Eden could still see her frowning. As she moved, taking a pin from between her lips to carefully weave into the soft fabric, her expression didn’t change. When she was finished, she stood back and folded her arms.
“You can take it off now. Watch out for the pins.”
Quietly and with that warning, Eden redressed. As Kya came for the garment, Eden held it slightly out of her reach.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Edy. Do you like the dress?” Even as she said that her frown was unwavering. Kya reached for the dress once more, and Eden held back.
“You’re lying; I love it, and don’t change the subject on me.” She positioned the dress over her arm and steeled herself. “Don’t make me guilt trip you.”
Kya sighed and sat on the edge. One hand swept over her face, the other balled in her lap.
“Vaughn really likes me.”
“That’s good, right?” Eden fol
lowed, laying the dress across the back of the sofa.
“It would be if I could get Antonio out of my head. Part of me feels like I’m cheating on him. The other feels like he threw me away, and I get angry. I think about how foolish I was to stick around in the first place, and I’m angrier. Vaughn says he wants to see where things go. My mind instantly goes to Tony and my heart sinks.”
Without the experience to identify with those feelings, Eden couldn’t do anything beyond comfort her. The only relationship she’d had, died painfully, and when it was over, there was only one thing on her mind besides guilt.
“Maybe you should tell him how you feel, once and for all. That way, you can get everything off your chest and move on before you go to Paris.”
In a month or so, Kya would be gone. A famous designer wanted to collaborate on a project that would take months to complete and do wonders for her career. Life moving along made the need for closure also became all the more critical.
Kya looked up; her brows were still drawn. As she thought it over, her muscles relaxed, and her eyes filled with hope. Saying nothing, she pulled her phone from the front pocket of her hoodie. Moments later, Eden heard the phone ringing and watched Kya nervously tap her foot. After the third ring, the unmistakable voice of a woman answered in a sickly sweet tone.
Once again, Kya’s brows pulled together, and she was frowning. This time, the pain was etched into her features. Ending the call, she stared down at it. The number on the screen was attached to his name. The picture of them with a puppy and a handsome child was of happier times. That was his number.
Unless he’d changed it.
But there was one other possibility.
Eden wouldn’t say it. The words would undoubtedly hurt her best friend, and she refused. However, Kya had suspicions of her own. Just as quickly as she ended the call, she googled his name and began to scroll. The first results were from gossip sites. There was a picture of Antonio with a stunning dark-skinned woman. That was all Eden needed to see, but Kya was on a mission. She clicked the link, read the text, went back, and clicked another.
The hurt was evident. As a friend, she felt her pain. Moments ago, Kya had all but admitted that she was still in love with him, and all it took was less than five seconds to crush her.
Eden slowly but carefully placed her hand over Kya’s to remove the phone. Kya let her but didn’t make another move until she was wiping her eyes. Wrapping her arms around Kya caused pitiful sobs. Her own troubles took a backseat as she shed tears for her friend. This time, she could stay as long as she was needed. She’d help her through it no matter the cost.
He was there. Of course, he would be. The venue was large, elegant, and packed with people. Security was his specialty and top priority.
Unlike before, Donny stood beside Kya the way a date would, but the stern look on his face came across as brotherly. His haircut appeared to be fresh, as was the trimming of his facial hair. Both became an afterthought as Eden drew closer and took in the charcoal gray blazer and slacks paired with a soft pink shirt. The two buttons open at the top revealed enough of his bronzed skin to capture her attention. The diamonds on his wrist were a finishing touch, and overall, everything about him made Eden moan internally. Especially when Kya looked her way and a few seconds later, those light brown eyes of his followed.
She watched them fall from hers, trailing over her breasts, hips, and down to her legs exposed by a split on one side. His eyes narrowed on the way back up. Had she not been so accustomed to playing the part, she would have stumbled or visibly shivered under his scrutiny. Not just the obvious lust, but the appreciation spoke through the equal amount of time he focused on her face. He was consuming her entirely, with his eyes as if she were his last meal. The thought, a turn-on.
Unabashed, his gaze narrowed on her legs and then her breasts. All of which were on display in a sexy as hell off the shoulders dress, coincidentally matching his shirt.
Though, the way Kya was smiling, she doubted it was a coincidence at all. Thoughts of cursing her for that stunt went out the window with that smile. It was the first she’d seen since the call to Antonio and Kya deserved this moment.
As soon as Kya released her, she felt his eyes on her, and she met him head-on.
“Hello, Donovan.”
“Eden,” he tipped his chin, his voice lacking emotion. However, he continued to stare intensely.
“Donny,” Kya broke their trance, “why don’t you show Edy to our section while I go make sure everything’s running smoothly in the back. Maybe, grab yourselves some of that white they’re offering, and discuss… things.”
She shrugged like an innocent child, her smile returning mischievously. She wandered off, leaving them where they stood, watching one another. Eden thumbed the button on her clutch when his gaze became too intense, and the feeling turned awkward.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you. A lot happened that day and the one before. I’m not making excuses. I said things I shouldn’t have.”
He nodded, looking around the room, then back down at her. “So you don’t fuck strangers to feel good about yourself?”
Embarrassment was immediate. She’d opened that door, and now she had to deal with what came out of it.
“That part was true, unfortunately.”
He nodded again, and it was becoming unnerving. “What do you get out of that?”
“I told you.” Did he really want to discuss that in a room full of people? Some of which held cameras and phones?
“No, I mean, how do you find resolution in giving random guys such an intimate part of you?”
Yup. He did. A quick glance over each shoulder provided little comfort. There weren’t any people in the direct vicinity, but still. Anyone could walk by at any time. However, her mouth kept moving as if she owed him every answer he sought. In a way, telling him was also freeing. He was easy to talk to and careful with his responses. No one, not even Chace, knew that side of her. Explaining it to Donny made it feel less like a dirty secret.
“Sex is not intimate, to me. It’s a physical act that doesn’t require attachments and is perfect for distracting.”
Again, he nodded, checking their surroundings. He must not have liked what he saw because he took her hand, wrapped it around his bicep, and led her through the venue.
“And you do that to replace the love your family never gave you.”
“I wouldn’t say replace. I’m not foolish enough to believe strangers actually love me. However, when they’re with me, I’m their focus. I’m wanted. Pleasing me is all that matters.”
Things grew quiet as they entered the room filled with chairs situated in front of a raised platform, with a long red curtain closing things off. A few guests sat towards the back while three seats reserved for Kya were first and center.
He was digesting everything and trying to make sense of it. The attempt, futile. Eden wanted to inform him that time spent on trying to understand her was essentially a waste. Her coping method wouldn’t make sense to anyone unless they knew the story she wasn’t ready to tell.
Nearing their seats, he motioned for her to sit as he undid the button on his jacket, then grabbed two glasses from the server.
“Kya’s your best friend. Why haven’t you told her?”
“Could you tell your best friend that the only way you feel good is by having sex with potentially dangerous people?” She accepted the glass he offered, taking a healthy swig.
“The three of them would most likely have a meeting to discuss if they should beat sense into me or stage an intervention with threats.”
Her smile was involuntary. ”Kya’s sweet as pie, but she’s unpredictable. She probably would beat my ass, but truthfully, I’m more afraid of her being ashamed of me.”
“She wouldn’t be.”
“I hope you’re right. I’d have no one if I lost her.”
Taking her hand, Donny interlocked their fingers. Eden stiffened instinctively, and he noticed. Without her
having to voice her discomfort, he gently removed his hand and smiled at her as best he could. That ended the conversation as more people filled the seats around them. When Kya joined them, her smile was gone. The drying streak on her cheek was noticeable. As a tall, handsome man who looked like he could be a model walked in and sat behind them shortly after, it wasn’t hard to tell why.
Kya’s smile made an impressive comeback, and Donovan’s had yet to. Once the auction concluded, Eden had the chance to confirm her suspicions and breathe without taking in Donny’s intoxicating cologne. Once the second photographer disappeared, Kya hooked her arm around Eden’s.
“Help me, Edy. He told me he loves me, and I feel like I’m going to fall apart. Convince me that he’s a dick. Tell me he’s unattractive now because he’s a dick. Make me hate him.”
They stopped in a sparsely populated part of the ballroom. Eden’s magnetic connection to Donny allowed her to spot him in the crowd. Beside him was the man her friend was seeking a distraction from. A full view of him proved the pictures she saw did him no justice. Standing the same height as Donny, he exuded the same sexy, dangerous, and authoritative aura.
Eden took Kya by the hands, “That asshole broke your heart. It’s his loss. You’re amazingly beautiful, talented, kind-hearted, and about to take over the world. And he’s,” she looked up again, looking him over, “bitch, I’m not going to lie to you. He’s definitely an asshole and a dick, but he’s fucking gorgeous! Why does God do this? I’ve seen three of the four horsemen and the amount of sexy is ridiculous. It’s not fair how they worm their way into our lives because one look from them is like a full-body orgasm you want to relive and experience several times a day, every day.” Realizing she’d voiced that thought, she turned to Kya wide-eyed, to which she was met with the same expression and a hint of amusement. “I’m a terrible friend, Kya. I’m sorry!”
Laughter escaped through Kya’s nose. At the sight of Eden’s seriousness, Kya laughed harder.