Butterfly by Rochelle Alers Read Free Book Online Page A

wouldn’t?” she retorted.
    “You won’t, only because you want to prove that you’re a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man for anything.”
    “That’s not true. Men are good for a few things.”
    “Please list them for me, baby.”
    Seneca went completely still. It was the first time he’d referred to her by the endearment, and whereas she intensely disliked it, just hearing it roll fluidly off Phillip’s tongue sent shivers of warming over her body. How, she mused, could one man be the complete package, possess everything most women looked for? He claimed looks, intelligence and physical prowess and exhibited what she’d found lacking in some of the boys with whom she’d grown up: good breeding. However, since meeting Phillip it was as if she were waiting for the other shoe to drop, for him to exhibit a negative side of his personality that would confirm her belief that she couldn’t trust a man.
    Turning her head, she stared out the side window. “They’re useful when I need them to move something heavy.”
    Phillip smiled. “What else?”
    “Checking the oil in the car and/or changing a flat tire.”
    “What else?”
    “That’s about it.” Seneca turned to see Phillip’s startled expression.
    “What about making a baby?”
    She waved a hand. “I don’t need a man for that. I can always go the test tube route.”
    “That’s no fun,” he mumbled.
    “It is if I don’t want to be bothered with a baby daddy. It will be just me and my baby.”
    Stretching his right arm over the back of the seat, Phillip touched the wisps escaping the intricate twist of thick dark hair. “Is that what you want, Seneca? To have a child and not give your son or daughter the option of having a father in their lives?”
    “It would depend on the father.”
    Phillip caressed the nape of her neck. “So, you punish the entire human male species because of one jackass. Grow up, Seneca. You’re not the first and you won’t be the last woman who will sleep with a cheater.”
    “You think I don’t know that?” she spat out.
    “Then what’s your problem?”
    “My problem is that the SOB told everyone in our school that we’d gone to a party and after I had a few drinks I went into a room where guys stood in line while I gave them oral sex. He lied, because I never gave him oral sex.”
    “Damn,” Phillip drawled under his breath. “I can see why you have trust issues. But remember, not all men kiss and tell.”
    “That may be true, but I had the misfortune of sleeping with one. Luckily it was my last year of high school. Instead of attending a local college, I chose one that was downstate.”
    “Where did you grow up?”
    “Ithaca.” She told Phillip she’d been accepted into CornellUniversity intending to major in theater, film and dance, but Seneca knew she had to leave her hometown or endure the snickering and sly looks from those who’d rather believe a lie than the truth.
    “My second choice was NYU. Moving downstate frightened me at first, but now I wouldn’t live anywhere else. I had to go from full-time to part-time, because I have to be available for shoots. And now that I’m going to sign with BG Management I’ll probably have to drop out.”
    “Forfeiting or putting your education on hold can’t be an easy decision for you,” Phillip said in a quiet tone. He also wanted to tell Seneca that she was young and shouldn’t judge all men because an insensitive idiot sought to enhance his sexual reputation at her expense. The one who she should’ve been angry with was her so-called best friend.
    Seneca closed her eyes for several seconds. “You’re right. It isn’t easy.” She couldn’t imagine what her family’s reaction would be once she revealed she wouldn’t be going back to classes for the upcoming semester.
    The remainder of the ride uptown was conducted in silence, with Seneca contemplating how she would break the news to her parents that she was to become a college