Knock Love Out (A Sensual New Adult Crossover Romance) (14 page)

They are just the glue, holding together the pieces of a beautiful broken girl.

“Lilla?”

My eyes close for one brief moment, hearing her name called from behind. The stiffness in her form and abrupt pause of her cries confirms it is him.

I pull her to her feet, keeping a secure hold.

“Let’s go,” I whisper, turning to the double-doors.

“Are you hurt? What is wrong—” Adam goes to reach for her, but I block his path. He appraises me, not recognizing where he has seen me countless times before. “Excuse me, but that’s my
wife
.”

“I’m aware.” I allow my words to simmer for a moment. “And to answer you, yes, she’s hurt. But of course, you might have known that, if you had bothered to call her.”

“Do I know you?”

“If you did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation quite so casually.”

Adam blinks, looking to Lilla. “I’m sorry I got hung up at a meeting in—”

“You know, sorry to interrupt, but Lilla and I were actually on our way out. So, perhaps you could work on that lame apology and get back to her later.”

“Okay kid, you’re starting to piss me off. Let go of my
wife
.”

The way he keeps saying it. Like she’s a piece of property. It makes my skin crawl. Not to mention, if I was Adam, I would have knocked the shit out of me by now. He isn’t even shoving me. Not even trying to act like he’s gonna kick my ass or take back
his
wife.

I ignore his words like he ignores her heart.

“For starters, you probably should have been on your knees the moment you saw her. I mean, shit, I wasn’t even the one who hurt her and
I
was on
my
knees. Seems only right, no?”

He tries to reach around me, but I side-step.

“You know when I
was
a
kid,
my mother used to tell me to watch where I left the things that I loved, because someone might come along and steal them if I didn’t. Perhaps your mother should have told you the same.”

I gather Lilla’s hand into mine and go towards the doors. Her arm isn’t being tugged or pulled. She is moving on her accord. I feel like a cock for saying
things
.

“Lil, we need to talk. This is craziness. You’re just going to what—leave with this kid? Honestly? You’re being
absurd
.”

We pass through the doors and I pause on the sidewalk, taking the cigarette from my ear, lighting the tip once I find my lighter.

I know the asshole is standing behind us, trying to figure out what to say. I take a long drag and then leave the stick between my lips, looking to her, thumbing away the black streaks from her face.

“I’m going
that
way, Honey-girl.” My finger points over her shoulder. “You’re more than welcome to join me if you’d like. If not, I hope you at least get to see a good movie.”

PART SEVEN

LILLA KING

Chapter Sixteen

Two things happen when you realize your heart has abandoned you.

One:
you question everything you have ever done, ever been, ever thought. You have no answers. You have nothing.

Two:
if you’re smart, you try to figure out all of the above, with a new pair of feet leading the way. This is where I started learning. This is when I turned, looked Adam in the eye and saw no sincerity in an apology. This is where the curser on the blank page flashed without words, stringing a plea.

Come back.

Don’t go.

I love you.

I was wrong.

I’m sorry.

He’s more interested in watching where Cash is going. “Me too.” This is where I bent to take off my heels and knew what concrete felt like against my bare feet. This is where I knew my heart could still beat frantically. This is where I knew I was capable of being strong. I wasn’t chasing after a man. I wasn’t seeking his comforting words, although, I knew he would have many. I was simply running towards my heart. Letting love pull the strings.

And just like that, it did. Cash is silent as I catch up to him, breathlessly walking at his side. He doesn’t smirk or turn to give Adam the finger. This isn’t about winning. It isn’t
his
game. He simply gave me a choice. This is what
I
chose.

Inhaling the smoke from his cigarette, he reaches for my finger with his free hand, linking our pinkies together.

“Heath drove. Sorry.”

“You probably shouldn’t have left your friends. I like walking with you, though.”

“I was already leaving. That’s why I was in the lobby.”

“You’re going to break Mary’s heart.”

“I’m not really concerned with
her
heart, Lil.”

Silence falls over us as we walk along, fingers linked. The sun is almost sleeping, colors sweep across the sky. I glance to him and that’s where his attention is directed.

A soft patch of blue purple grey. I point to it, naming it, “Adam Downfall.” My hand goes lower, finding the patches that merge into gold red yellow. “Cash Valentine.”

The corner of his mouth smirks, probably the most modest, shy smile I’ve encountered.

“Oh,” he sighs. “Now you’re just setting the bar way too low for some clouds, and way, way,
way
too fucking high for others, Honey-girl.”

I roll my eyes at him as he tugs on my arm, pulling me in, offering to carry me piggy-back-style and I oblige, being kind to my bare feet.

Resting my chin on his shoulder, I inhale, wondering if this is what home is supposed to smell like, because, I just …

Holy shit.

“Cash?”

“Mm?”

I mumble into his shoulder, “I just left my husband.”

I feel the vibration of his laughter, but then, his feet pause. He glances over his shoulder.

“We could go back.” But his eyes are teasing.

Slowly, I shake my head.

He bounces me higher on his back and continues walking.

“Hey Lilla, guess what?”

“Mm?”

“You just left your husband.”

And yeah. I
did
.

Chapter Seventeen

This is my new un-routine-routine:

“
My Grandma and your grandma,
” I sing
,
“
sitting by the fire, my grandma told your grandma
—”

“
I’m gonna set your flag on fire
.”

Damn it.

“
You could be my fla ming go
—”

“
’Cause pink, is a new kind of ling go
.”

“
Pink like a deco um brell la—
”

“
It’s kink, but you don’t ev ver tell her
.”

Warren even did the stupid Steven Tyler breaks.

A handful of cheddar cheese into my pan, stirring the scrambled eggs.

“
You’re a mom and pop.
”

He side-eyes me. “Are you
trying
to let me win?”

“The line?” I press.

“
I’m a corporation
.”

Rats. That song was not a huge hit for Mariah.

My eyes glance to his pancakes, smiling that he hasn’t burned them.

“
Did you write the book of love—”

“
And do you have faith in God above. If the Bible tells you so
?”

Was that a challenge?

“
Do you believe in rock ‘n roll, can music save your mortal soul
?”

Cash turns to me, licking syrup from his thumb. “
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?”

I push against him when he tries to kiss me.

“Those pancakes will burn. I will never forgive you.”

He goes back to cooking. “I have that album. Wanna hear it?”

“Sure,” I shrug, sliding a plate full of cheddar cheese scrambled eggs onto a plate. I expect to hear Don McLean, but something else comes on. A familiar female something else. And then lots of cursing. I turn, spatula in hand.

A stereo system is being beaten.

“Something wrong, Love Lump?” I tease.

“It won’t eject.” He beats the top again. “
Eject
you son of Satan.
Eject
!”

 I cover my mouth, laughing.

“It’s okay. I’m pretty sure having Mariah on your playlist isn’t nearly as bad as that doll. I’m pretty sure
nothing
is ever going to top a Barbie doll, Warren.”

“Don’t irk me in my moment of distress, Honey-girl. I’ll toss your skinny ass right out the door.”

“So angry,” I poke. “And in front of
Mariah
.”

Oh no, he’s coming for me. I use the spatula as my only line of defense.

“Riiiicolllaa!” I laugh scream, hopping over the couch. “Riiiiicolllllaaaaaaaaaa! Batman! Save me!”

Cash scoops me up, slamming me playfully down on the couch. Steals my weapon.

“Don’t you dare, jerk.”

Mm hm. He’s gonna. Three times right to my ass cheek. I squeak, covering my hands over my bare skin. I only have his Cash-sized shirt on. Underwear. It stings ever so blissfully.

There’s about to be that moment where the high comes down, settling back into your chest and music plays and birds sing and whatnot … but … pancakes are burning. Smoke detectors are going off.

And then …

The door is swung open, knocking harshly into the wall. A picture falls to the floor, hitting a lamp and a candle on the way down. Glass shatters.

And
then
…

Georgia charges at Cash as if she dons Mel Gibson’s war-painted face.

Hopping on his back, arms across his throat giving it all she’s got. Which isn’t very much.

“Georgia?” he asks, unphased.

“Go to sleeeeeep, green-eyed devil. Gooo tooo sleeeeep.”

I sit up, trying to pry her twiggy arms away.

“I was just kidding. Please stop before his house lights on fire.”

Cash shoos me to the kitchen, standing with Georgia on his back.

“I sure as hell hope you never
really
have to harm a perpetrator, Georgia. Would be such a shame to see you on the eleven o’clock news.”

She’s still clinging to Cash like a baby monkey, as he sweeps up the broken candle.

“Georgia,” I call her name. “It’s been like ten minutes. I’m pretty sure he’s not going down.”

Hattie walks in, saying in unison with Cash:

“That’s what
she
said.”

She pries Georgia from his back. The girl lets out a growl, clawing her fingers at him.

“Maybe not today or tomorrow, green eyed-devil, but soon and then …” she cracks her knuckles. “… for the rest of your life.”

Cash stares at her for a moment before hollering towards the open door:

“What was that
Georgia Stevens
? I didn’t hear what you said
Georgia Stevens
, the same
Georgia Stevens
from Facebook avoiding Joe. The same
Georgia Stevens
who lives in apartment 3C, just down the hall, telephone number …” Hattie covers his mouth.

“I’ll take her home. You guys finish … whatever … you were doing.”

She glances to me, a slight blush on her face. I tug Cash’s borrowed shirt down, hiding my red ass cheek. The spatula is still in his hand. He’s only wearing boxers.

Dear Lord.

“We were making breakfast.” I speak quickly.

“Of course you were.” But she didn’t manage to get it out without laughing towards the end. “Come on Georgia, let’s leave these kids alone.”

Georgia stares down Cash as Hattie pulls her through the open door.

“I wouldn’t sleep with both eyes closed, green eyed-devil.”

“Email address—”

Hattie closes the door before he can finish.

***

Cash sets a mug of coffee down before he finds his chair. I glance at him, under my lashes, watching as he begins to eat.

“I never thanked you for yesterday. Thank you. What you said was really nice.”

His fingers play with the top of his mug, eyes on me.

“It was the truth. Plus,” he motions to his food, “I’m pretty sure we’re even.”

“You like it?”

“I’m contemplating how to kidnap you without being a suspect.”

I smile for a moment. “I have to go home today, actually. I can’t hide out here forever.”

“I know.” He goes back to eating. “This lady on the first floor moved out last week. I think it’s still vacant, if you’re interested.”

“Already trying to keep me under your thumb. Typical man.”

“Close by,” he corrects. “Plus, I get two hundred bucks off my rent when I refer someone. Why do you think I know so many people who live here? Definitely not because I like being choked-out in my own home.”

“Using me. Typical man.”

Cash leans across the table for a quick kiss.

Someone knocks.

He pauses for a moment, thinking.

“Shit,” he curses. “That’s probably my mom. I forgot she was coming by.”

“Want me to scale the fire escape?”

“Poppy already knows about you. I’m just not sure you want to know her.”

“Mm—I probably shouldn’t meet your mom half naked?”

He smiles, scooting back. “Honestly, it wouldn’t be a first time. And actually, she’s already seen you naked. Sort of.”

“What?”

“She found something I drew.”

“You drew me naked?”

“Not literally. Go change. I’ve gotta get the door.”

***

I’m back in my pink dress. I did my best to fix the mess my hair has become. Peeking around the corner, I spy Cash in the kitchen beside the woman I saw in the picture frame, the first time I was here.