have syphilis because I’m in a band and believes I’m a narcissist who sleeps around. Who’s convinced I have ulterior motives for wanting her near me.
I can’t stop picturing her sitting on the bench next to me when I played. The way she looked at me. Nobody has ever looked at me that way before. Girls and women scream and throw themselves at me, but they never just look at me. Not like that. If I thought she was my muse at the hospital, it was only the tip of the iceberg. Back then, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how she would live in my fucking head twenty-four-seven.
I pull out my phone and gaze at the picture I took of the two of us. I start to get hard, stash the phone, and unbuckle my seatbelt. “Be right back.”
A woman is waiting for the bathroom, and I line up behind her. Ronni flashes me one of her fake smiles.
A few minutes later, the woman exits and it’s my turn. Someone pushes me from behind and then there’s two of us in the tiny lavatory. Me and Ronni. She shimmies against me.
“Seriously, Ronni? There’s like two inches of space in here.”
She rubs my semi-hard dick and then grabs it through my pants. “I’d say more like six or seven.”
I flinch and push her hand away. “What the fuck are you doing?”
She puts my hands on her tits. “Just testing the limits.”
“Well, that’s a hard fucking limit, Ronni.”
She unbuttons her blouse and unhooks the front of her bra. “Let’s make this quick. There’s a line.” She turns away. “And you reek of booze.”
I unzip my pants and push them down a few inches. I’m not fully hard yet. I stroke myself until I am.
She squirms, watching. “That is so hot.”
“Are you ready for me?”
“Why don’t you find out?”
I put a hand under her skirt. No panties. I easily stick a finger inside her. Oh yeah, she’s ready.
“Do you have a condom?”
“Fuck.”
She gets one out of her skirt pocket and hands it to me. I put it on. She leans against the counter and perches a leg up on the toilet, giving me access in the small space. I close my eyes and fuck her. She doesn’t talk, which is good, because then I couldn’t pretend she’s someone else. Someone who would never in a million years let me do this to her. Someone who deserves so much more than I’m capable of giving.
Ronni reaches between us; she’s rubbing her clit. That helps me come, and I bite my cheek to keep from grunting loudly. Ronni’s moans, no doubt, are heard by anyone in earshot. I pull out and toss the condom.
She doesn’t even seem embarrassed. She washes her hands. “See you on the ground,” she says and steps out.
A man tries to enter but sees me. I quickly buckle my belt and wash up. He smirks as we pass each other. I ignore him. I’m not exactly proud of what just happened, and for some messed-up reason, I feel guilty about it. I push the thought out of my head. Because I know this is all I get. A sick fuck like me deserves nothing more.
Chapter Ten
Ella
Coming in for the landing is exciting. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. I can see the coastline perfectly, including tiny people dotting the beach. Even at six o’clock in the evening, people go to the beach. In March, no less. I still can’t believe I’m doing this.
I’m not sure if the feeling in the pit of my stomach is from the plane landing, or my continued uncertainty. Getting away from Corey is good. And even though I’ll be working, this will seem like a vacation.
In baggage claim, I wait for my one large suitcase to come around and that’s when I see him. Liam is searching for me. His eyes dart from one woman to the next like a boy looking for his long-lost mother. He sees me and smiles in slow motion. Then his teeth appear. He’s genuinely happy I’m here.
The kid in front of him moves, and I notice the sign he’s carrying: Mrs. Campbell
I laugh as he trots over. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
“Me either.”
“What finally made you do it?”
“Maybe I thought I needed to celebrate.”
His eyes brighten. “You got the job?”
I’m still absorbing the news myself. “Ten books. It’s a dream come true.”
“Congratulations!” He hugs me, the kind you give a friend, and I relax.