The worst part is then, I fucking chased after her, and I’m debating doing it again.
Savannah waves her hand in my face. “Well?”
“I think you’re wrong, Vannah. It has nothing to do with the thrill of the chase.” And it’s not, it’s her.
“Oh?” she asks with surprise. Shit, I said that aloud. “What is it then?” Vannah pushes.
“I don’t know,” I admit and take a drink. “It was something in her eyes. I’m sounding like a pussy, but I’m serious. It was like there was this . . . thing . . . and I just want to figure out what it was.”
Savannah does her best to hide her smile, but I see it. The eternal believer. She laid eyes on Randy and knew they’d be married. I’ve heard the story a million times, and each time, I fight back the need to puke. She swears that when it happens, you can’t go back.
“I’m not in love with her,” I quickly defend.
Randy elbows me. “Sounds like the first time I laid eyes on Savannah.”
“You were an idiot. Hell, you still are.”
“As is every man when he falls in love.”
“For fuck’s sake!” I throw my hands up and stand.
“Mouth!” Savannah yells.
“Sorry! But I’m not in love with anyone.”
I can’t believe these two. How does thinking about some girl equate to falling in love? It doesn’t.
It means I need one more time with her to prove that it’s all in my head.
That’s it.
I grab my wallet and keys, grumbling as I walk off. They’re wrong, and I’m not going to sit around with them as they try to convince me otherwise. All I know is her name, that she’s a cop, and her address, that’s it. How do you fall in love with a name? It isn’t realistic, and I have no intentions of ever loving another woman.
Been there, and I’d rather be broke than give anyone that kind of power over me again.
The last bitch wrecked me and almost destroyed everything I worked for.
“Hey,” Randy gets to his feet, “don’t be like this.”
“I’m going to prove you all wrong.”
His brow raises, and he grins. “Eli, stop being an idiot.”
“Untle Eli!” My niece runs over and leaps into my arms. “I missed you!”
“Hey, beautiful!” Daria is the only girl I’ll ever love. She’s three and owns my heart. I pity any asshole who ever tries to come near her. I don’t give a fuck if I’m in a wheelchair, I’ll kick his ass. “I missed you more.”
“You and Daddy sing me a song!”
I look over at my brother and see the same adoration in his eyes. Adriel may be spoiled, but Daria . . . she had him wrapped around her little finger. There’s nothing Randy won’t do for Daria.
“I need to get home, pretty girl.” I try to explain, but she crosses her arms and pushes her lips into a pout.
“Untle Eli, you don’t love me.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Puuuuuleeeeeease,” she begs and grabs my cheeks. “I lub you.”
I’m just as screwed as Randy. “I love you, too. One song.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands and wiggles for me to put her down. Three years old and has this whole world domination slash manipulation thing perfected already.
Eleven songs later, I’m finally standing at my car with my brother. “Listen, I know we gave you a load of shit in there, but you’re not the guy who has ever been hung up on a piece of ass.”
My blood pressure spikes a bit higher with each word, and I clench my fists. Heather isn’t a piece of ass.
Fuck.
What the hell am I even thinking?
That’s exactly what she is.
Randy smirks as if he expected this exact response and knows what I’m thinking.
He claps his hand on my shoulder and chuckles. “Go talk to her. If it’s nothing, then come here and we’ll tell Savannah how wrong she is. If nothing else, you’ll know for yourself.”
“You know that I refuse to do this again.”
“Because of Penelope?”
Just her name makes me want to punch something. “Yes.”
“That’s sad, man. You and her were a lifetime ago, and you’re older and wiser. No way you fall for another gold-digging whore like her.”
“This is a moot point anyway. I’m not in love with anyone.”
“Good.” Randy nods in agreement. “It should be no problem seeing her then.”
With that, my brother walks back up his drive, and I flip him off. I should’ve been an only child. It would’ve made life so much easier.
I start the car and turn all my focus