The Marine (Black Hawke Security #3)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

brIAR

––––––––

“W hy do you look so flushed?” Trina is the one late today.

I nearly didn’t make it.

Savannah was supposed to be at a medical appointment at eleven and then heading to her beauty therapist, so I planned to catch up on some work from home.

Which I was until she rang in a panic, saying she hadn’t sent the contract to her manager. It was signed on her desk, and I needed to pick it up and drive it over.

So much for the digital age.

So while I was a few minutes earlier than Trina, my armpits were sweaty, and my body still ached from my night with Aidan.

“Just got here.” I say, swilling my glass of water as she drops into the chair in front of me.

“No,” Trina studies me. “It’s not that.”

I take another sip, then slowly lower the water and dart my eyes between Alice, who is beside her, and Trina.

There is no way they could know.

“Oh, my god. You’ve had an orgasm!”

I cough, trying to swallow but make a mess and grab a napkin.

“What?”

“I’m the orgasm whisperer. You have had a lot of them.” She tips her head. “And not with Kael.”

I sip the water again.

And again.

Then one more time.

Alice’s looks at both of us. “She has? You have?”

More sipping.

Then I resign myself to my fate and drop my glass. “Fine. I had a fight with my mom last night.”

“Not where I thought this story was going to start.” Trina says and orders her meal when the server arrives.

I snort.

The girls don’t know my history, but if I’m going to tell them about Aidan, and a part of me wants to, then they’ll need to understand the whole thing. Which means sharing the things I’m most shameful of.

They know Kael is abusive. So I guess this is just an extension of my whole story.

Alice and I order, then I twist my water glass before glancing up at my two best friends.

“Mom saw your IG posts.” I tell Trina.

She frowns. “And? She sees them all the time. Apparently, she’s my top fan.”

I smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes.

“You were getting pretty friendly with Aidan Black,” Alice says, sipping her coffee.

You have no idea Alice, and I will not share that part of my story. What we did in the bathroom at Savannah’s house that night will stay between Aidan and me.

“That’s because we’re friends.”

Silence.

“Well, clearly he wants to fuck you. Not sure I’d call that friends.” Trina pours cream into her coffee and stirs. “Wait...did you fuck him?”

I nod.

She sits upright. “Jesus.”

“OMG.” Alice leans forward.

“So, we have history.” I start. “I knew Aidan when I was a teenager. We dated.”

“Holy fucking hell. Why didn’t I know this?” Trina exclaims. “Alice, did you know?”

“No. I know nothing.”

I slump in my seat and sigh. “It’s a really long story. I knew him when my father died. He...”

How did I put this?

“He punched him and...”

“Aidan Black killed your dad?” Trina’s eyes fly open wide. “No, fuck that. There is no way. He’s a US Marine. Side note...that Marshall guy is a pain in my ass.”

Alice and I share a look.

“What?” she demands.

“You like him.”

“Like is a strong word,” she replies, waving her hand out. “More like despise him. He was...all over me.”

Alice giggles.

“I do not like him.” Trina says firmly and we both grin at her. “Anyway, about you fucking the Marine. Tell us. Big, small, crooked?”

“Trina?!” Alice cries.

“Don’t Trina me. I don’t want to hear if it was good or amazing. That tells me nothing. Did he go down on you? Anal?”

I drop my face into my hands and laugh.

She is so insanely perfect. I couldn’t have two more different best friends, and I love them so much.

When I’m with them, I feel normal.

I laugh.

I feel supported and like the world can’t hurt me.

Even though Kael was. Perhaps it’s through their friendship that I found the courage to leave him. Knowing that I deserve much more.

I do.

I wish it was with Aidan, but there is too much water under the bridge.

But I need to talk to my girls.

“Yes, to the first and no to the second.” I giggle as Alice chugs her coffee with wide eyes.

She’s no virgin, but talking about really dirty stuff has always been way harder for her.

Trina, on the other hand...has zero filter.

“Love a man who can lick the puss well.” She nods knowingly.

Exhibit A.

“Anyway...” I fast forward the conversation after glancing around and seeing the old lady at the table next to us listening.

Can’t be sure if she’s disgusted or wants the next hot chapter in my story.

Narrated by Trina.

“No, he didn’t kill my dad, but my mom accused him of it. We broke up. I guess I believed for a time that he had.” I admitted. “Not guess. I did. He punched my dad and then hours later he died.”

“Holy hell.” Alice whispers.

“They didn’t charge him, and the autopsy said it wasn’t related, but...”

“Your mom still thinks it was him.” Trina finished.

She never warmed to my mom.

I nod slowly over and over.

“Go back a bit. Why did he punch your dad?” Alice asks.

My cheeks warm as I remember that night. Shame rises to the surface. Telling my friends that I grew up with an abusive dad and then married a man who did it isn’t exactly something to be proud of.

But it’s my story.

“He had his hand around my throat when Aidan walked in.”

“Good. Then he fucking deserved it,” Trina says point blank.

“He didn’t deserve to die, Trin.” Alice shoots her a glare.

Trina shrugs. “The guy was strangling her.”

“That guy was my dad,” I reply, offended despite...well, this is what I do. Stick up for him, despite how he treated me.

I’m seeing that more and more now.

“More reason he shouldn’t have been hurting you.” She stabs the table with her finger. “Look, I am sorry. But I’m not going to sit here as your best friend and tell you I’m sad he’s dead. I bet it wasn’t the first time he ever did this. Am I right?”

I nod my head.

“Then RIP Mr. Sutton. But also, fuck you.”

A laugh escapes me, surprising all of us.

“Oh my god, Trina.” I say, covering my mouth as the laughter continues to boil up.

She smirks as I keep giggling.

I don’t know if it’s nerves or just an emotional release, but for the first time in, well, my entire life, I feel like it’s okay to be relieved that my dad can’t hurt me.

The girls just stare at me, holding the space while I search for my sanity.

“So he wants you back?” Alice asks.

I shrug. “I guess. I went over there last night after Mom saw the photo of us together and lost her mind. I spent the night.”

Trina grins.

“I like him. He’s very handsome. And huge.” Alice flushes.

My body tingles as I recall his muscular frame lying over me, taking me from behind and spooning me when we finally collapsed.

Aidan is huge.

Six foot four and hundreds of pounds of solid muscle. Not dissimilar to all the BHS men he works with.

“You need to divorce Kael first. Girl, how do you have two men, and I can’t even find one decent man?” Trina sighs.

“Because you scare them all away!” Alice and I say simultaneously, and we all laugh.

They know my plan.

Tomorrow is the wedding and my third date with my husband. Then on Monday I will instruct Vanessa, my lawyer, to serve the divorce papers.