Read Online Slide (Black Addiction #1) by T. Gephart - Free Book Online Page A

Sure, I could have slept with her—she repeatedly told me it’s what she wanted—but it felt like she needed other things from me instead. Things I was more than happy to give. So as far as discussing her, the topic was closed, even if my curiosity about her wasn’t. I always did enjoy a puzzle, which is probably why my brain kept going to the brunette I’d left in my bed rather than the one sitting in front of me.
    “Since when have you ever wanted to talk about the girls I bring home, I didn’t realize you were so interested.”
    “I don’t care who you bring home, but if something is going on with you, I’d hope you’d still talk to me.” Angie reached over and grabbed my hand. “Your head isn’t in the game and that’s not like you. You’ve never dropped a note and in the last few hours, you’ve been playing like shit. And I want to know what is up with that. Just because things are different now doesn’t mean I’m not here for you.”
    Life after the Power Station tour had taken us in different directions, I got that. She more than deserved her happy-ever-after with Jase and seeing her smiling was all I ever wanted for her. She was without a doubt the closest thing I had to family beside my folks, and I didn’t need a constant reminder to know that.
    “Babe, I would never think that. Look at me. Me and you—we are solid. I will always have your back and I know you aren’t afraid to have mine. But your focus has to be on that human you are growing and the dude whose ring you’re wearing. I’m all good. The back and forth with Joey and Max sometimes gets a bit old, I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. I’m just being an asshole. Don’t mind me.”
    “You’re just tired?” She eyed me suspiciously. I had no idea if she was buying it.
    “Yep, I’m just tired.”
    Not a lie; while Alison passed out sometime in the early morning, I hadn’t really gotten much sleep myself. Her rubbing up against me meant parts of me stayed awake. The parts that were tired not getting much of a choice.
    “Well, why don’t we wrap for the day. Nothing good is coming anyway and it will give me some time to rework the bridge. I’m not convinced it’s sounding tight enough as it is.” Thankfully it seemed she was letting it go.
    “Yeah, you’re probably right. Let’s just do that chorus one last time and then we’ll bail. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
    ***
    Fuck, I could really use a cigarette.
    I’d been trying to quit for a few years, but I’d always given it a half-assed effort. Not that I didn’t know all the shit it was potentially doing to my body, I just didn’t really much care. That changed when Angie got in the family way and smoking around her was banished. I resisted for a while but then finally caved. She didn’t lay the guilt on me or anything, but it highlighted my addiction to the Marlboros wasn’t doing me any favors. This time round I was convinced I was going to kick it, even if every time I walked past a bar I still got the urge. Twenty-one days to break a habit, my ass. It had been two months, and I still missed it.
    One thing that had come with the tossing of the smokes was the fucking constant urge to have something in my mouth. It was that bullshit that had me chowing down on Tootsie Pops like they were heroin. My local bodega supported my newest addiction while more frequent gym visits evened up the extra calories. Both kept me even and in check. Something I needed right now.
    As Angie had suggested, we’d pulled the plug on the session and gone our separate ways. I’d headed home wondering if maybe Alison had stuck around, or if at the very least she’d left her number. Part of me was definitely hopeful.
    Neither of those things had happened.
    No note, no number and no girl—my house completely empty of any traces of her. Even the note I’d written was gone, my unmade bed the only reminder that I’d shared it with anyone. Irrationally, it made me antsy. Disappointed