Throuple In Paradise - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,15
around his trunk-like neck. It’s like a lumberjack got dressed up for a cocktail party.
Hot.
Troy is eyeing his friend. “You came by to check on her progress?”
A growl comes quick and fierce. “You have a problem with that?”
Troy smirks, “You want me blocking now or later?”
This has a simmering effect on Jack. Why, I don’t know. Some kind of inside-joke between them?
I’m just happy he’s here. Happy they’re both here, if I’m honest. It’s a very comforting feeling, despite my resistance to help. I’ve been strong for so long. And my friends have dwindled to zero.
Maybe I need this?
Two men looking after me?
Would that be wrong?
I hold up a triangle of veggie pesto and offer it to our handsome guest, hoping he’ll stay. Maybe for the whole night. And then some. “Pizza, Jack?”
He eyes it and walks over to accept the slice. “Thanks.” Waving it at Troy, he asks, “This your idea?”
“She needs to eat something.”
“She’s beautiful the way she is.”
The barked compliment multiplies the throbbing between my legs, all the blood rushing there in hot waves of need. There they are, Troy and Jack, standing in my living room like the best and tallest study in male beauty that this side of Atlanta has to offer, and I’m their only audience.
But then Jack admits, “I was thinking the same thing, though.”
I wake up from my fantasy and snap, “Hey! I work hard to look like this!”
“And you’re not dancing now. So why don’t you stop starving yourself and relax?”
“Jack, you’re rude. Don’t talk to me like that!”
“I’ll talk to you how I want!” He takes a bite, and mutters. “Sorry.”
“Don’t bow down so damn quick, either!”
His blue eyes sparkle as he sizes me up. But like someone shouted at him to leave, he spins around and marches out the door. “Take it from here, Troy!”
We stare after him and I jiggle my head to force the confusion out. Troy walks to the pizza box and fetches himself a fresh slice, rather than picking up the crust he tossed. Locking eyes with me, he smirks, “Hi roomie,” and takes a bite.
“Don’t look so smug.”
“Who’s smug?”
“You!”
“I’m just here to make your life better.”
“And I’m going to keep making yours worse.”
Troy chuckles, “Combative much?”
“If you both think I need help, you’re wrong!”
What are you doing, Mar?
You do need help.
And you want it!
His heavy eyebrows cock up. “Am I wrong? Because I don’t think I am.” Chewing what’s left in his mouth he holds up a finger wanting me to wait for him to say more.
“Don’t shush me, buddy. Let’s get a couple things straight. This is my house. I’m a force to be reckoned with. Despite my lame leg. Because this will heal. And while it does, I’m going to wallow as much as I want and I’m not interested in you trying to make me smile all the time or laugh or have fun. I’m going to enjoy my pain until there is no more pain. You got me? It’s called going through to get past. And I’m going to embrace it!”
Why can’t I shut up?
Why am I being such a bitch?
Habit?!
Troy is chewing slower now. He swallows and says, “You know what? I’m going to see where Jack is headed. I need a break from this.”
He walks out the door, slamming it and leaving me gaping after him.
All alone, I whisper, “I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me.”
Chapter Nine
Troy
A couple weeks after Jack showed up without notice, I roll onto my back, groaning and groggy at who knows what time of day. First thing that pops into my aggravated brain is the ballerina.
Mar and I have maintained our maddening game of push-pull.
I blink at a note hanging on my wall left by the moody roomie who enjoys torturing me. Of course I can’t read it from here; she wrote tiny letters to force me up.
I grumble, “What is wrong with her?” throwing my feet off the bed and wondering how she snuck in without my hearing her tape that thing up.
How are you going to make that app if you sleep until noon?
Crumbling it in my hand, I growl all the way to where she always is. That damn couch.
“When I make my app is none of your business, Marion!”
I stop in my tracks and blink at the sight of her. Did she wear that sundress to drive me nuts? The girl is stunning. She’s got it hiked up so she can prop her leg. Her long, shiny, brown hair is