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1051 Words
SPENCER GLARED AT his idiotic cousin. God, he loved his aunt and uncle but they spawned some half wit degenerates.
"Vince," he said calmly. "You dumb, dumb fucker. I am going to break your neck."
"C'mon cuz, you know I didn't mean to—"
Spencer had had enough. "Vince you're a grown ass man act like it!"
Vince sighed rolling his eyes. Spencer was like a brother to him, but he lectured too much. He was grown he didn't need him to play Dad anymore.
"I do! And you are not my Father! I don't need you parenting me!"
Spencer gritted his teeth, crossing his arms. He let his eyes emphatically move to the near empty apartment.
"Sure seems like it. I'm the one always cleaning up your messes."
"Like what?" Vince narrowed his eyes, identical to his cousins. They were about the same height, though Vince was slimmer.
"Let's see, I pay your water bill when you forget—" Spencer paused for emphasis. "Which is every month. I take care of your daughter, I bailed you out of jail for pissing on a cop car. I—"
Vince sighed. Let's face it; his cousin did practically everything for him. Noticing his cousin's depressed stupor he stopped.
"Look, I don't do these things for leverage. I don't do it for accolades." Spencer softened his voice and expression.
"I do it cause I love you and Lily." The large man ran his finger through his hair, not liking having admit to loved anyone.
"And I know you would do the same. But I will not keep bailing you out anymore."
Vince nodded.
And that was that.
The two cousins slumped on the bare hardwood floor. They had a lot of work to do.
Spencer's head snapped at the sound of a door opened. He wasn't supposed to have neighbors.
What's that, Vince mouthed. Spenser shrugged, getting up to open the door.
When he saw a blonde woman in a pantsuit with every gadget imaginable blocking the doorway, he came out, closing his door behind him softly.
"I'll do what I can," a soft but tense voice said. He saw an almost animalistic grip on the door, clawing at the wood.
Hm.
The lady left in a huff, leaving his line of view open. And who else but—
Her eyes roved all over him, gaze stripping him bare. Spencer held back a shiver. He practically felt her gaze, brushing him every she looked.
"Hey Little One."
She studied him closely, salaciously. Where was that innocent woman he met?
"My name is Bailey," she murmured absently.
Spencer chuckled, her quirkiness amusing. He'd almost gotten use to her stare. Almost.
"I know Little One."
"Why are you here?" She asked evenly.
He grinned smugly. "I live here, Sweetheart."
Bailey nodded, not knowing what else to do. "Okay well. Bye then...Spencer."
Her cheeks heated.
He grinned almost boyishly. "Till next time Little One."
Waiting until she went in her house, he scrambled into his own. Oh s**t.
"You look like you saw a ghost."
Spencer glanced at his amused cousin. "Something like that."
Vince raised a brow, as if to say elaborate, i***t. Duh.
Spencer cut his eyes at him.
"Well?!" Vince urged him on, now interested. He'd never seen Spence so... shaken.
"Don't you have a life to get to?" Spencer glared.
"Nope," Vince smirked lazily, "My daughter's with her Mother. I gotta nothing to do."
Rolling his eyes, he sighed, slumping against the door.
"Turns out, I do have a neighbor. And I know her." Vince paid rapt attention, especially after the word her.
"Actually, I just met her yesterday. I was cursing you out, and she was walking on the opposite side of the street."
"I felt a stare so I looked up, and locked eyes with her. She looked down and practically ran."
"Do you think she was scared of you?"
"At first I did. But then I noticed her biting her lip, blushing with a cute nervous smile."
Vince smirked. "Anyway. I saw again later that day. I was in an alley, and she came and asked me if I need somewhere to sleep."
Spencer decided to stop, keeping the rest to himself.
"That's it?"
Spencer shrugged.
Before Vince could ask anymore questions, Spencer held up his hand, signaling his need for quiet. Pressing his ear to the door, he listened.
"I don't know, I'm busy writing."
"I'm sure your little hobby can wait." Spencer bristled.
He didn't appreciate the condescending tone the man used. He didn't like there was a man there at all.
"Eric, I'm very busy. I have a deadline to meet—"
"If I leave I'm not coming back." Angry, Spencer came out of his apartment. Leaning on his doorframe.
He cut his eyes at the man, small compared to him.
"Little One," he called out, eyeing the startled man.
Black straight shoulder length hair, fell off to the side as she leaned left, past Eric to see him.
"I'm fine, Spencer."
Eric quivered, his eyes on the large, muscular tattooed man who looked like he want to break him on half.
"Hailey, who is this?"
Spencer couldn't believe his ears. "Wait, what did you just call her?"
Bailey stepped out, her eyes pleading with Spencer to stop.
He glared at her.
"I called her by her name?"
Spencer furrowed his brows, shooting a incredulous look at Bailey.
"Hailey? Really?" He sneered, his whole body flexing. Old instincts never die.
"Spencer stay out of this."
Eric backed away, not appreciating Spencer's intimidating stance.
"Look, I'll call you later." Eric went in for a kiss, but drew back at Spencer's growl.
Eric fled.
Then there was just them. Spencer was fuming, and so was Bailey.
"Why did you do that?" She demanded, her tone one of a mother scolding a child for hitting a younger child.
Ignoring this, he continued interrogating. "Who was that fucker?"
"My boyfriend, not that it's any of your business."
"He called you Hailey." He emphasized. "I've known you for a day and I treat you better than he does. And I know your name."
Spencer knew logically, this wasn't any of his business. But it just got to him.
She was beautiful, and bright. Why did she let him treat her like that?
- Writer
