Free Captivate Me by Ryan Michele

for a while, especially with all the kids raising a ruckus,” Princess adds.
    “But it’ll be fun, too,” Ma says, looking between the two of us. She’s been quiet, only speaking to give instructions. I have a feeling that something more is going on here than anyone tells me. “We’ll make it that way.” She clears her throat and grabs some plates.
    I look at Princess and Angel. I have to admit that I didn’t even think on my drive here about what it would be like with these ladies. Now that I’m here, part of me is surprised of how they brought me into the fold. I don’t feel like a stranger or like I don’t belong in the slightest. I don’t know if that’s because of my friendship with Angel or whatever Buzz and I are.
    “Yes, we will,” Mearna, Tanner’s mom and Dagger’s ol’ lady, says boldly, putting her arm around Ma, who gives her a slight smile.
    They both take off. It doesn’t slip past me that the family ties here run deep.
    “There’s a lot going on,” Princess says vaguely.
    “I sure do love everyone’s openness,” I retort, causing Angel to laugh.
    “You have no idea.” She shakes her head.
    “What are you doing with X?” Angel asks Princess.
    She shrugs. “Sucks, but since Blaze, you, and I all have to be here, we’re shutting down. Wish we had someone we could trust, but …” Her words trail off, and I look at Angel.
    “I get it.” I didn’t really. When Angel looks at me, she sees it.
    “Princess is very picky about who she chooses to run her business.”
    “That’s putting it mildly,” Tanner says, popping in then leaving again.
    Both Princess and Angel chuckle.
    I’d be picky, too, if I had my own business.
    Princess claps her hands. “We need to start prepping for lunch.”
    I nod. “Tell me what to do.” Since I’m bound to be here, I need to earn my keep.
    Angel and I get started on potato salad by peeling and cutting as we sit in the back prep area of the kitchen.
    “So, you and Buzz? Or you, Breaker, and Buzz?” Angel asks nonchalantly.
    I pull the peeler over the potato, slicing the skin off. “Really, neither.” I hate saying that, but it’s the truth, and I refuse to lie. I hate liars.
    “What?” Angel’s hand falls from her work, and I look at her.
    I shrug. “It’s just for fun. When whatever this is settles down, I’ll go back to my life, and Buzz will go back to his.” I go back to focusing on the food, both loving and hating the fact that our contact will be only through electronics. Maybe even cut off for good once this is over.
    “Is this fun like the other ones or different?” she challenges me, and I smile.
    She’s been around for the revolving door of men. Some may consider me a whore, but I don’t feel that way about myself. How is it that a man can sleep with whoever he wants and it’s fine? Then flip it around and the woman’s a whore? I was safe every time and even get checked regularly. Unfortunately, none of those men made me feel a fourth of what Buzz does. And the bigger problem is that he doesn’t feel the same.
    I look into Angel’s eyes then let out a deep breath. “For me, it’s very different, but that doesn’t matter.”
    “Why wouldn’t it matter?” she asks, and my stomach falls.
    The one time my heart feels anything, and I know it will be over soon. The ache grows.
    I wave my hand with the peeler. “It’s no big deal. You explained this life to me, Angel.” I shake my head. “Feels weird calling you that, but whatever.” She gives a soft smile, and I continue, “I get it. It is what it is, and I’m not going to spend what time I have with him worrying about when it will end and I’ll need to head back to Cherry Vale. I’m going to enjoy him.” And stock every single moment in my memory bank.
    “I don’t like this,” Angel says, going back to the food. “You need to talk to him.”
    “Yes, mother.”
    “I mean it, Bella. You don’t want to fuck up like I did with GT. I almost ruined us