“Why?” she asks.
“Umm, let me think,” I say sarcastically while tapping my chin. “My psycho ex for a start. Then there’s the fact he lets a girl who he’s not actually in a relationship with share his bed every night, and he tells me it’s complicated. He’s in a gang. He’s got a messed-up ex too. The list goes on.”
“He’s good looking. He’s big and scary so he might manage to get rid of your psycho ex. He’s got a smouldering sexy look about him. He’s got to be great in bed. I bet he has a huge cock. He produces cute kids,” she counters, and I laugh and shove her gently.
I groan. “My head is telling me it’s not a good idea to pursue him.”
“And what’s your heart telling you?” she asks.
“Last time I listened to that, I ended up in a bad way,” I mutter.
“So, you’re gonna spend the rest of your life alone? Do you think Reggie’s alone? He would have had someone else in your half of his bed the same day you packed your bags. Not every man will treat you like shit, Anna.”
I watch Riggs talking to his mom. His hands are in his pockets and he’s digging his boots into the dusty ground. Even with a sullen look, he’s hot. Ziggy taps him on the leg and his face lights up. He picks his son up and his sexiness level triples. “Shit, how hot is he with his kid in his arms,” groans Eva, and I nod in agreement. “Just imagine having your own little Malia/Ziggy look-alike. You guys would have the cutest kids,” she coos, and I roll my eyes again.
“Stop with that kind of talk. It’ll never happen.”
An hour later, Malia snuggles up against me. “I think she’s tired,” I say, and Eva pulls out her cell to call us a cab.
The cab arrives ten minutes later. I look over to see Riggs laughing with Bonnie. She’s on his lap again, and even though he’s told me there’s nothing sexual between them, I can’t stop the feeling of jealousy that drips through me when I see them looking so intimate. If I decided to let him into my life, would he stop sharing his bed with her, or would he still need her to be his comfort? It’s those kinds of questions that hold me back. We leave without saying goodbye.
I get home and bathe Malia and settle her into bed. She’s exhausted after her afternoon with Ziggy. I slip into some shorts and a vest, and I’m about to choose a film to watch when there’s a knock at my front door. I check the time. It’s almost eight, so I cautiously check through the spyhole first. I’m surprised to see Riggs waiting patiently. I open the door and he takes my face in his hands and kisses me hard. “You didn’t say goodbye,” he mutters against my lips.
“You were busy,” I say.
He presses another kiss to my lips and then turns and jumps down the steps. “Goodnight, Anna.” I watch as he jogs away down the street and as I close the door, I can’t stop the smile playing on my lips.
The following day, Malia skips happily by my side towards the contact centre. She looks forward to coming here because she gets to play in a room full of toys with her dad. I shielded her well from all of the negativity surrounding me and Reggie, and even when he would whisper threats in my ear, she’d remain unaware because I would always smile and act like everything was fine.
“Riggs,” Malia suddenly screeches excitedly and breaks free from my grip on her hand. I watch confused as Riggs picks her up and spins her around.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. I’m horrified to see him here knowing that Reggie could arrive at any moment.
“I came to support you,” he shrugs.
“No, you can’t be here, Riggs. I mean it,” I hiss. “By being here, you’re putting me and Malia in danger.”
“You’ll never be in any danger again. Not now that you have me in your life,” he says casually.
“What does that even mean?” I growl. I glance around to make sure Reggie hasn’t arrived. “Seriously, you need to leave.”
“Reggie’s starting a war with the Kings,” he says. “It won’t be long before he knows about us.”
“Us?” I cry. “What are you talking about?” I feel hysteria coming on. I take Malia from him because seeing them together would send Reggie over the edge. Tears fill my eyes. “Please, Riggs. I’m begging you. Don’t bring me into your war.”
“He’s starting it because of you,” says Riggs firmly. “That kid, it was no coincidence that it was Jamie’s nephew and you just happened to go on a date with him.” My breathing becomes shallow and bile lingers in the back of my throat. I wipe my mouth and realize my hand is shaking. It has to be a coincidence. I can’t be the reason that Jamie’s nephew is dead. “Reggie wants you home, Anna,” says Riggs. “But newsflash, you’re mine now and nobody can take what’s mine.”
I glare at him. “I’m not a piece of furniture for you and Reggie to own. I’m a person and I make my own decisions.”
He moves to my ear so Malia can’t hear. “Don’t tell me you don’t want me to own you, Anna. I felt you come on my tongue. We could have that every day.”
A black car with darkened windows rolls to a stop and I feel faint. I watch as Reggie steps out of the car and surveys the scene before him. A slow smile forms on his face. It reminds me of the look he’d give me before laying into me. “Aww, the lovebirds are waiting to greet me.”
“Reggie Miller. Long
