Brothers and Wives by Cydney Rax Read Free Book Online Page A

to her, and lets her take charge.
    She speeds through the menu until she locates a program on TV One.
    “This feels kinda nice,” he murmurs. It’s all he can do to keep from resting his chin on top of her head. He wants to reach out and let his fingers play in her hair.
What does her hair smell like? Does she smell as good as she looks?
To Scottie, Dani is a princess who’s honored him with her presence. The thought of that makes him want to be worthy.
    “I want to ask you something, but I’m not ready to know the answer,” he says. He wants to ask her about her relationship with Neil but is having second thoughts about possibly spoiling their moment by discussing such a serious issue.
    “Oh, please don’t do that. You can ask,” she says.
    “Tell you what, when the time is right, I’ll ask you lots of questions. I just want to chill with you and enjoy myself. That is, if you don’t mind.”
    “Dammit, Scottie,” she scolds. “I knew you were the smooth type, and that’s fine, but next time you need to just spit it out.” She looks agitated.
    “Dani, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
    “I’m not offended. I just hate when people do that. It–it’s no biggie, though. Let’s watch TV.” She picks up the remote and increases the volume.
    Oh, hell
, he thinks.
I’ve messed up. I gotta do something
.
    “Young lady, pay attention to the show. I’m going to give you a pop quiz once it’s over, okay?”
    Dani and Scottie sit cozily together for several minutes. The quietness ushers in a peace that Scottie hasn’t experienced in a long time.
    Suddenly, Scottie’s cell phone screams loudly, like a wailing siren from several police cars.
    “Who the hell is this calling …?” he mumbles. “I ain’t answering it.” He retrieves his phone from the clip off his belt and glances at the caller ID. “Damn, how in the fuck …?”
    “What’s the matter?” Dani asks.
    Darkness flickers across his face. But he doesn’t say a word. They continue to pick up where they left off, watching television. He absentmindedly strokes her bare arm with the tips of his fingers.
    “Scottie!” screams a voice.
    Alarmed, Dani tosses Scottie’s arm off her shoulders. She sits up straight like a dog sensing danger.
    “You hear that?”
    “Hear what?”
    “That?”
    More screams of Scottie’s name ring out, then a loud, persistent banging at her door. Her doorknob even rattles.
    “Aw, hell nah.” Dani jumps to her feet and zips to the door to peer through the peephole. “Shit,” she grumbles and steps back. She just stands there, frozen in place, wondering why LaNecia is standing in her doorway.
    Scottie then comes over to look.
    “Um, wait a second.” He opens the front door and disappears behind it.
    “What the fuck you doing here?”
    “I should be asking you the same thing.”
    “You don’t have the right to ask me shit….”
    “Scottie,” she yelps, “don’t talk to me like that….”
    “LaNecia, I swear this is not how I want to be, but what choice do I have?”
    “Choose to be nice to me.”
    “You’re going to have to act different if you want me to respect you, or else …” He pauses. “Or else I’m going back to Michigan.”
    LaNecia gasps. “You serious? Okay, fine. What do you want me to do?”
    “You cannot be rolling up at Dani’s spot like you have the right to be here. Not cool.”
    He thinks about how he actually did the same thing, coming over without Dani knowing in advance, but he knows he’s more welcome than crazy-ass LaNecia.
    “How’d you know where she lives? You followed me?”
    “Mmm hmmm.”
    “See, that ain’t gonna work. You can’t be harassing this woman. You understand?”
    “Hmm, okay, Scottie.” LaNecia sighs. “I’ll do it your way.”
    Scottie exhales. “Because I know you very well, if you want me to talk to you in a way that’s respectful, you need to completely leave Dani alone. Don’t call. Nothing.”
    “What you gonna do for me if I do