7. Hard
1321 Words
She chuckled.
Carlos didn't expect that.
“All of them, I guess,” she said and looked at him, voice hoarse. “Your nephew is full shit.”
Carlos didn’t reply.
“So, as you.”
“Yeah. But I’m a different kind of s**t, though,” he replied.
“Care to explain to me what’s going on? How come Jayden or my father never mentioned you all these years?” She sounded tired. “And if you are so rich, how come you aren’t in newspapers or on TV?”
"Not every influential person appears in newspapers. Ever heard of low profile?” he said, “I like my life quiet, and as for Jayden. I’m his younger uncle. Not really part of the family.”
“You mean like an outcast?”
“Anyhow, you call it.”
She went back to staring out the window.
Carlos steered to the next street. It was getting really late. Most shops were closed already. He spotted one of the convenience stores, drove to the parking space, and parked there.
Kyla’s head shot up. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ice cream, your father mentioned how you loved them. And that might as well help you tonight.”
She looked shocked, like he’d grown a second head.
Carlos got out of the car and went into the store.
They were closing as well, and while he waited for his order, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
His eyes flicked to the red car that was parked across the street.
The person on the other end picked up, a ragged breath that sounded through the speaker.
“You’ll be wise enough to back off, Jay.”
Jayden seethed on the other line. “Are you really f*****g her? Why are you even in the country? Where are you taking her?”
“The girl needed consolation. The rest is none of your business.”
“Bullshit. You don’t give a f**k about anyone. I’m the only one who could console her. She’d known me all her life.”
“Yeah, and you did a pretty good job back there," Carlos clicked his tongue. “You don’t wanna have dramas with me, Jay. Now run along and send my regards to your father.”
Carlos hung up just as the attendant brought the ice cream. He got back into the car, noticing that Kyla was blocking a contact on her phone.
Jayden.
She switched off her phone, muttering a curse under her breath.
As Carlos began to drive again, he glanced at the mirror and saw that the red car had stopped.
Good decision.
He wouldn’t have to break his bones in front of Kyla tonight.
Much later, they were seated in the living room. Carlos was a light sleeper, and Kyla had insisted he watch a movie with her tonight.
He’d agreed. He was bad when it came to consolation, but this was the least he could do for her.
For John Harper.
Just tonight.
Her face was pale. Eyes red. Her head rested against his shoulder with a bowl of ice cream as she watched a TV series.
She suddenly looked up, staring like the curious chatterbox she’d always been. Her mood seems to have lightened a little—A trace of ice cream that grazed the side of her lips.
The thought that crossed his mind was unbridled. A thought so raw it made his chest tighten.
She suddenly tried to reach for his face. His hand was quick to stop her.
“What are you doing?”
“Your glasses. Don’t you pull them off?”
Carlos swallowed. “Only when necessary.”
She blinked. “Is it heredity?”
“I’m photophobic.”
She frowned. “Oh.”
He pretended to shift his attention to the television and waited for hers to leave, but they didn’t.
“So, how old are you?”
He inhaled a sharp, long breath. “Thirty-two.”
“Wow, you look way younger than that.”
“Same as you.”
He could imagine the scowl on her face, but didn’t look.
She sat up. Moving too close for him to feel the heat radiating from her small body.
“So how long have you known my father?”
“We met fifteen years ago,” he replied.
A subtle smile appeared on her lips. “While you were seventeen?”
“Age doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship.” He felt her shift closer again.
What is she doing?
“Then did he never talk about you?”
“I was barely around. That’s why you didn’t get to know me.”
She touched his hair.
“Stop,” he said, looking at her. Their face are now inches from each other.
Fuck.
“I need a hug,” she said, pouting her lips.
His gaze shifted right there. Right where the ice cream silently called for the attention of his tongue. Instead, he used his thumb and brushed it away, but still it made his muscles tense.
She blinked those round doe eyes at his action.
Damn it!
He was already regretting why he’d agreed to accompany her.
“I'm no hugger," he said to her.
“But this little broken daughter of your close friend needs it more than anything. Please,” she blinked her doe eyes rapidly.
Oh, he could fix her in so many ways other than a hug. He could have had her forget all about Jay in one night, but that would be crossing the line.
This was John Harper’s daughter. Not one of those women who’d punish for being too close without his permission.
She must have caught on to something when she asked in her small voice.
"You're not into women. Are you?”
Oh, yes, he sure is. He f***s them. But little Missy gotta keep believing the opposite.
“I have a boyfriend in Tokyo.”
Her doe eyes widened cutely. “You do?”
“Hm.”
Carlos, you dumbass.
She grinned. “Can I see a picture of him?”
No, he doesn't exist. Why does she fall for every lie?
“Nope, now—” he placed her head back on his chest. “Go to sleep with a hug before I change my mind.”
“Alright, Mr. Illegal,” she mumbled against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Her hair smelled like roses, surprisingly calming.
“My father used to let me hug him like this whenever I’m down. Maybe you are a good man.”
“Don’t get weird ideas, Wildling. This is never having a second time.”
“Whatever, Mr. Illegal.”
Carlos scoffed and glanced down at the middle of his leg, hoping to the devil his friend was cooperating with his brain at the moment.
Yeah, it was.
He let out a sigh of relief.
When Little Wildling got comfortable, it didn’t take five minutes before her breath fell steady.
He’d take her up to her room once she was deep into sleep.
His phone vibrated. It was a message from the very person he’d expected.
JAYDEN: I don’t know how you manage to have my girl with you, but you better not be f*****g her, Uncle Redd. I’m going to come for you.
Empty threat.
Of course, the f**k boy doesn’t mean a damn thing. He was nothing without his father. And if Jayden miraculously manages to bring him into the game, then that will only level up the fun.
Carlos stared at the message a breath longer.
Other words began to fade in the shadow, except for two.
‘f*****g her.’
Images flashed, and an ache struck his abdomen.
He glanced down at the middle of his legs, and right there he saw what he’d been dreading.
Hard.
“Oh, f**k me.”
- Writer
