Rewritten (Unwritten Book 2) (9 page)

I hug him tightly, “Ok, Daddy. I love you guys.” Then look to my mom, or Diane, I don’t know what I’m going to call her yet. I take a deep breath, all I do know is I should say something. “I’m still very upset with you. But thank you. Thank you for treating me like your daughter.”

“But you are. You are my daughter.” She walks toward me like she’s going to hug me.

I step back, holding up my hands. “Just stay there. Just because I thanked you doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

She puts her head down. I know she’s ashamed but I still don’t care. I thanked her. She’s lucky she got that.

Dad wraps his arms around me again, kissing my head. “We love you, Allie. Please know that. We will leave you guys alone. I’m sure you’re tired.”

He reaches his arm out to my mom who picks up her purse and walks toward the door with her head down.

Charlie grabs her arm, “Thank you, Diane.”

She looks up giving him a small smile, “No, Charlie, thank you.”

Nichole grabs her purse, “Ok, I guess I’ll head out, too.”

“No, Nichole, stay. I miss my sister,” I say grabbing her arm.

Nichole looks at Charlie, questioning the idea of her staying.

“Please stay. I’d love to get to know you better. Now that you know the truth maybe you’ll stop thinking I’m a douchebag,” Charlie laughs.

Nichole smirks, “Hey, I never thought that. I knew there was something though. And look, I was right,” she says proudly. “See, I’m a better judge of people than you think.” Nichole looks at me laughing, trying to lighten the mood.

I can’t help but laugh as I wipe the rest of my tears away.

“Here, I’ll cook us dinner,” Charlie says as he walks into his kitchen.

“Shut up. You cook?” Nichole asks.

“Yes, he’s a great cook actually,” I say proudly, walking up to him, kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you, baby.”

Charlie leans over giving me a deeper, more passionate kiss.

Nichole clears her throat, “Ok you guys. I’m still here. Hello…?”

We both laugh. “Sorry Nic. Here, I’ll open some wine,” I reply.

Charlie heads to the kitchen to start dinner while I tell Nichole all about our time in Paris. I tell her about the photo shoots, my birthday surprise, Charlie’s modeling with us taking photos together and about my opportunity to be lead photographer during a fashion show.

While Charlie’s cooking his text message goes off with a text from a friend of his. He shows it to me with a smirk on his face.

What’s up bro? Is your girl still gone? I want to go out to find some ass and I thought you talking all sweet about your girl would make me look good. Ha!

Charlie laughs at his friend’s smart-ass comment, then looks up to Nichole and back to me, tilting his head, questioning if he should invite him over.

I answer his unasked question, “Maybe. Who is he?”

“Paul. Remember the guy from the gym the first time I took you? He’s a good friend of mine who lives in this building, too.”

I look to Nichole, raising my eyebrows at her, “With the tattoos…? Oh yeah, he can join us.”

“Excuse me,” Charlie laughs.

“Hey, I’m only human. I noticed how hot he was,” I walk up to him standing at the stove. “He’s got nothing on you though, babe.” I kiss the back of his neck, pulling his hips back into me. He turns to give me a sweet kiss on the lips.

“Ok, what are you guys talking about? Who’s Paul?”

“A friend of mine. He’s on his way down. You’ll like him,” Charlie responds.

Nichole rolls her eyes, “Oh jeez. If I knew I was going to be set up I never would have stayed.”

“Come on Nichole, everything in our life was just thrown up in the air and scattered around. Maybe you need this.” I say giving her a knowing smile.

“Um, hello, I haven’t even seen the guy. Slow your roll, girl,” she replies turning around to grab her purse to apply a little lip gloss and I know she’s excited from the prospect of a tattooed bad boy coming over.

S
itting in my apartment alone was getting old and I had an urge to find me some ass tonight. Ok, I lied. I always have the urge to find me some ass. I thought I would I text Charlie to see if he wanted come along. Charlie’s my bro. It sucks, but I can’t hang out with my old crew from back in the day because they just want money or something from me. Even though I’m successful as fuck, I don’t want to hang out with the suit type of guys that I work with either. It’s just not me. Only during the business day can I pull that shit off. At night I go back to who I truly am at heart.

You can take the boy out of the hood, even clean him up, but the hood will always be a part of him.

Charlie’s like me. I like to say we are both reformed ghetto. We’re both successful at what we do, living the wealthy bachelor dream but deep down, we’re cocky sons of bitches who still can’t believe we’ve hit it big. It’s nice to share that with my boy. Even though I work for my wealth, he just gets to fuck. Lucky bastard.

I didn’t feel like putting forth too much effort and girls always love to hear when a guy is in love so I know hanging out with him tonight will get me in the door with some chicks more easily. Otherwise when two single guys go out, chicks seem to know they only have one mission. Ass.

It takes a minute but he texts back.

She got back an hour or so ago. But her sister is here… come on over. I’m making dinner.

Is she hot?

I plead the fifth.

I’m there.

I look down, checking out my outfit. I had plans of changing if we were going out but my dark jeans and grey buttoned up long sleeve shirt from work today might just work.

It’s Friday so I dressed down more than usual for work. If I roll up my sleeves to show off the tattoos that cover my arms it will make it look that much more casual.

Perfect. This no effort night is getting easier and easier. I hop in the elevator and head to Charlie’s.

Charlie opens the door, “What’s up, bro! Come on in.”

“Thanks man. I brought some beer,” I hold up the six-pack of Sierra Nevada I brought.

“Cool. You remember Allison, and this is her sister, Nichole,” Charlie introduces them. “Girls, this is Paul.”

I walk up to Allison shaking her hand, “Nice to see you again.” Then walk to Nichole, holding out my hand, “Hey, I’m Paul. Nichole is it?”

I can’t help but look her up and down. Holy fuck she is sexy as hell.

Nichole rolls her eyes while she reaches out to shake my hand.

“Ah, a feisty one,” I lean in and can’t help myself as I smack her ass. “Nice outfit though.” I smirk looking down at her high-waisted, short, torn denim shorts that I know if she even just slightly bent over her ass would be hanging out. Put that together with her short black boots, white crop top with a plaid long sleeve shirt left open and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt my dick twitch just from the sight.

I know her type though. She’s looking casual, like she isn’t trying to be sexy but she’s knows she’s a hot piece of ass.

She smiles at my compliment, “I guess you don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Ah, there we go,” I laugh before turning back into the kitchen to talk to Charlie. “So what cha’ cookin?”

“Chicken fettuccine alfredo with salad and garlic bread.”

“Damn bro, you cook? You’ve been holding out on me all this time?”

Charlie laughs, “How come everyone is so shocked to learn that I cook?”

Allison butts in, “I think it’s cute.”

“Cute? I’ll give you cute?” he turns to kiss her, picking her so she can wrap her legs around him.

I look at Nichole, lifting my eyebrows up suggestively. Nichole laughs, shaking her head
no
.

I shrug thinking,
not yet at least
. For now I hand her a beer. “You want a beer?”

“Yes, please,” she answers and I can tell she’s annoyed by Charlie and Allison’s display of affection. I feel her pain, too. That shit can be annoying when you’re hanging out with couples.

Dinner is served and we all sit around Charlie’s small table.

Nichole takes a bite proclaiming, “Damn, Charlie. This is good. You made this from scratch?”

“Of course I did. No cans or jarred sauce here,” he says proudly.

Nichole looks to Allison, “No wonder you fell in love so fast. Please don’t tell me he fucks good, too. I may hate you.”

Allison chokes on her food, shocked at what just came out of her sister’s mouth but I’m not. I knew just by her feistiness that she’s one to talk like that. I’m just glad my assumption was right.

Allison finally clears her throat and yells at her sister, “Nichole!”

Charlie laughs out loud. “Yeah!” he yells to Nichole then looks at Allison, “Tell her what I did a few hours ago,” he lifts one eyebrow provocatively.

Allison hits his arm as she turns bright red, “Oh my God you guys.”

I sit back laughing, taking all the different personalities in before saying, “Hell yeah,” and clinking my drink with Charlie’s.

After dinner we all help clear the plates and I watch Nichole grab her purse. “Thanks again for dinner Charlie. I guess I can officially say you aren’t a douchebag,” she teases.

“Well, I’m glad I finally have your approval,” Charlie laughs back.

I step in, looking to Nichole, “Why would you think he was a douchebag?”

Charlie smirks, “She thought I was married.”

“This guy? Man, you have no idea how shocked I was when he said he had a girlfriend.” I look to Allison, “Now that I’ve met you though, I totally see why.” I smile a cocky smile at her.

Charlie hits my chest, “Hey, stop hitting on my girl.”

I laugh, grabbing my chest before looking at Nichole, “Where are you going?”

“Home,” Nichole replies with no emotion.

I walk up to her as smooth as I can, “Well, do you need a ride?”

She shakes her head, “No, I’ll take the bus.”

“No you won’t. I’ll give you a ride. Come on.” I walk up to Allison to give her a hug goodbye, then slap Charlie’s hand while raising my eyebrows up making him laugh. “Thanks for dinner, bro. You know I’m going to be coming over more often now when I am hungry.”