Home > Devious Love(3)

Devious Love(3)
Author: Jaxson Kidman

I cupped my hands and leaned down so I could splash my face.

I took a deep breath and had no choice but to shut the bathroom door so I could use the bathroom in privacy.

When I left the bathroom, I walked through the living room, which was a mess from the night before. Beer cans and whiskey bottles left all around. Along with bags of chips and snacks half spilled on the floor.

The kitchen was my savior.

Coffee.

Troc coffee was a far cry from the good stuff I was used to.

Their coffee was cheap. Sometimes it was watery. Sometimes it was like mud.

But coffee was coffee.

I couldn’t complain.

I saw that the coffee had already been made.

The cabinet above the coffeemaker was where the cups were.

Nothing matched either.

The cups were old, the text on them faded, but… a cup was a cup.

I lifted the coffeepot and smelled it.

“It’s fresh.”

I gasped and looked back. “Morning, Emily.”

“Winter,” she said.

She wore a torn up oversized BFH hoodie.

Her hair was a mess.

She smelled like a fresh cigarette.

“Want some too?” I asked.

“I’m good for now. I already had three cups.”

“Whoa. You don’t sleep?”

“Not usually,” she said.

“Why not?”

“Just don’t,” she said. “I nap here and there. Just the way I am. I’m a night owl.”

I nodded.

I poured myself some coffee and leaned against the counter.

“So what’s your deal here?” Emily asked. “I mean, you’re all secretive and shit…”

“It’s just me and Talon hanging,” I said.

“No, it’s not,” Emily said. “He’s not fucking you. I can see that from a mile away. Actually, I’ve never seen him act like this before. Taking care of someone. A Bump? You must have some serious dirt on him.”

“Or maybe I’m just paying him a lot of money.”

“True,” Emily said. “Are you?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Emily laughed. “Fucking Bumps. You’re all bitches.”

“At least we know how to clean ourselves up,” I said. “You look like you rolled out of a dumpster.”

“Trashy and cheap is a way of life,” Emily said with a wink. “Seriously though, you’re not all that bad. I figured worse.”

“Thanks,” I said.

I heard a noise and turned my head to see Brock entering the kitchen.

The left side of his jaw was swollen and bruised.

“Hey, it’s the knockout asshole,” Emily said.

“Eat shit, Emily,” Brock said. “Who’d you sleep with last night? Kace or Crew? Or doesn’t it matter anymore? You just get passed around like a plate of stuffing at Thanksgiving.”

“Aw, poor Brock. He’s just jealous I wouldn’t finish him that one night…”

I stepped away from the counter so he could get a coffee cup.

“Want to hear about it, Winter?” Emily asked.

“No,” I said.

“I told Brock I’d hook him up,” Emily said. “It was his turn for some fooling around. Just a hand… you know?” Emily shrugged her shoulders. “So I was doing what I do best and nothing happened…”

Brock looked back. “Try to look hotter next time. That whole smelling like stale cigarettes and not showering for days doesn’t do much for me.”

“You’re not working with much to begin with, Brock,” Emily said. “So you should take what you can get.”

I felt uncomfortable.

Emily waved for me to follow her.

I had no problem with that.

When I got close to her, I could smell the cigarette smoke, last night’s alcohol, and just the smell of dirtiness.

“Follow me,” she said.

“Where?” I asked.

“We’re going to have a cigarette.”

 

 

I didn’t have a cigarette.

Emily smoked two.

Back to back.

No break in between.

Honestly, she looked strung out and stressed. And I felt bad for her.

I kind of felt bad for all the Trocs.

They could call me anything they wanted for how I lived, but I knew no other way. I didn’t know what it was like to not know where my next meal was coming from. Or to have to worry about money.

The Trocs did.

A lot.

“Don’t think I’m a slut,” Emily said.

“I don’t judge anyone.”

“I mean, I fool around with a lot of people,” she said. “Well, not a lot. Some. A handful. I mean, I know what I like, you know? What’s the difference, right? These dumbass guys do it. Why can’t I?”

“True,” I said.

“So tell me… you and Talon. Did you get it?”

My face turned red. “Uh, no.”

“You’re blushing. So something happened. He and I? Never. Not once. I tried too. So many times. I would ride his-”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” I said.

“Shit. Are you a virgin? Tell me you’re some rich, good girl Bump virgin.”

“No,” I said. “Not even close.”

“Whew, good. I couldn’t talk to someone our age who hasn’t fucked someone. I mean, come on, right?”

“Yeah,” I said.

I heard the front door to the old house open and Talon came outside.

Wearing the same clothes as the night before.

Looking tall, strong, with a little bit of morning grumpiness written across his face.

“I was looking for you, darling,” he said in a groggy voice.

“For me?” Emily asked. “Oh, finally. Want to meet in the bathroom?”

“I was talking to Winter,” Talon said.

Emily laughed. She flicked her cigarette away. “You two enjoy the morning. It was nice getting to know you, Winter.”

“Yeah, you too,” I said.

Emily walked into the house but not before clawing at Talon’s shoulder.

I looked at him. “She wants you.”

“She wants anything with a pulse. Guy or girl. Be careful with her.”

“What? Really?”

“Emily has her own way of finding comfort,” Talon said. “She uses her body for it.”

“Then why hang around with her?” I asked.

“Why not? Everyone has their issues. You fucking Bumps think everything has to be perfect all the time.”

“Perfect?” I asked. “Do you not realize how messed up all the Bumps are?”

Talon nodded. “Oh, I know. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You weren’t in bed. I was looking for you.”

“For what?” I asked.

I smiled.

Shit. I was flirting.

Talon closed in on me. He touched my chin. “What do you think I wanted?”

I blushed again.

Talon always made comments like that to me.

But nothing ever happened.

He never actually made a move.

And even if he did…

What? What would happen? Would you turn him down? Would you let him… you know…

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