Free Love Thy Neighbor by Belle Aurora Page B

and
continue working. My smirk vanishes when I realize she’s probably
going to see him again tomorrow night. I need to get her out of my
head.
    Time to call Tasha.
    ***
    Placing the tub of peanut buttercup
ice-cream, spoons and sodas on the coffee table, I await my guest.
I check the clock. 8:27pm. He’ll be here soon.
    I’ve showered and dressed in my regular
outfit of pajamas and a tank top. While I wait, I open a soda and
turn on the TV. I flick through but noise close to the front door
draws my attention. I get up and walk closer to it. The muffled
noise comes from Ghost’s apartment.
    Using the TV remote, I turn the volume down
and creep over there. I know it’s wrong but I’m curious.
    “See, I told you I could be quiet.” That
coming from a woman.
    Ghost chuckles then replies, “Yeah. Thanks
for coming over, Tasha.”
    My stomach dips and my face heats.
    Tasha. The woman from that first night.
    I hear her smile through her speech.
“Anytime. I was wondering if you’d ever call again after last time.
I know it was awkward for you.” I want to punch that smile off her
pretty face.
    Awkward for him? What about me?
    He responds, “Nah, that was nothing. Nat and
I are friends. It’s all good.”
    Friends.
    That we are.
    Then why are you getting pissed about
this?
    Yeah. So, he’s fucking someone. Good for
him.
    My face falls. I think I’m going to be
sick.
    They say their goodbyes and I rush over to
the sofa and park my butt with a plop. I turn up the volume on the
TV and sip casually on my soda. The patio door slides open ten
minutes later and Ghost walks in wearing his blue pajama pants and
a white tee. His hair’s wet from the after-sex shower he just had.
He focuses on my face then frowns. “Everything okay?”
    Not trusting myself to speak, I just nod
then resume watching TV.
    He sits next to me and places his cold hand
on my warm forehead. Concern flashes across his face and he
mutters, “You’re burning up, babe.”
    I remove his hands from my face and explain
quietly, “No. I’m not getting sick. I just get this way sometimes.
Mostly, when I’m angry or upset.”
    Ghost’s body tightens like a bow. “If that
asshole said something to you….” He looks accusingly at me. “What
the fuck, Nat? I thought friends talk about this shit.”
    I lie through an easy smile, “No. It’s not
that. I just- I- I miss my sisters. That’s all.”
    I look up into his face. He doesn’t look
convinced, but lets it go with an equally fake smile.
    Who are we trying to fool? This’ll never
work out.
    We were doomed before we even began.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
Six
When good guys go bad
     
     
    Last night with Nat was awkward as hell. It
was weird because for the first time ever there was tension in the
room with us while we watched TV, and I swear she smelt sex on
me.
    I called Tasha yesterday afternoon and asked
her if she would come by. I needed to give my never-ending erection
a break, and the only way I could think of was finding a release.
As usual, she was more than happy to oblige.
    So, sue me. I have needs as much as the next
guy.
    The funny thing was that even though my body
was into it, my brain wasn’t. Even though it was Tasha sucking my
cock, I imagined it was Nat. Then having to spend the evening with
her, all sorts of pissy girl emotions went through me. I felt
guilty, like I’d done something wrong. I kept reminding myself that
Nat was dating a fucking douchebag named Cole, and they’d got it on
the day before, so why the fuck couldn’t I?
    “What the hell, man? You were pretty far
away.” Max breaks my thoughts.
    I sigh and lean back in my chair. “Hey, bro.
What’s up?”
    Max smirks his trademark smirk and I can’t
help but grin right back. Something’s up.
    He starts, “Well, I got a date on Thursday
night. Was kinda hoping you’d watch Ceecee for me.”
    My face falls.
    Well, shit.
    Incredulously, I choke out,