Hamilton’s eyes thinned to small slits. “I don’t like you.”
“You barely know me,” Jared countered before chuckling.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character. Doesn’t take much. Stay away from Vera.”
At that statement, I decided to interject. “I told you. This is not happening. And I’m not having this conversation in front of my new friend. Did you need anything, Hamilton?” I asked.
“Just you. I need you right now, Petal.”
“Petal?” Jared asked. My heart rate picked up.
“I’ll call you later, Hamilton,” I choked out before hanging up the phone.
Jared started laughing hysterically. “Now you have to go on a date with me. Mostly just to piss him off.”
I scowled. “I was going to tell you before I was so rudely interrupted that I’m not looking to date anyone right now. I really am just trying to settle in and make some friends.”
“I get it. And who wants to date when you have someone like that ready to eat you up?”
I let out a shaky exhale and continued walking. The shaded sidewalk had arched trees covering the path, and expensive cars drove past us. “It’s complicated,” I admitted.
“Complicated how?” I debated on telling Jared what was going on. I hadn’t really had anyone to talk about this with. The moment Hamilton steamrolled into my life, I struggled with my strange fascination-slash-attraction to him. It might be nice to have someone to talk to about it all who wasn’t my mother or a Beauregard.
“He’s technically my uncle?” I offered.
Jared stopped walking. He blinked twice. “Come again?”
“My mom married his older brother a month ago,” I rushed out in explanation.
“Here I was thinking you’re all straitlaced, and then you drop a taboo bomb like that in my lap?” Jared shivered delightfully. “I’m so impressed. And a little turned on.”
“That’s not weird at all…”
“Come on,” Jared said. “We’re going to your apartment, and you’re going to tell me everything. Don’t you dare leave any information out.”
13
“Gosh, you’re so cute. I wish I were home so I could cuddle you,” Hamilton said over FaceTime. I rolled my eyes while swiping blush along my cheeks. Little Mama was wagging her tail as Hamilton spoke to her. “Is Vera giving you plenty of treats? Is she scratching behind your ears? You just say the word and I’ll spank Vera if she isn’t treating you right. I’ll have her ass red in no time.”
I picked up the phone off the floor and arched my brow at Hamilton. “Is that really necessary?” I asked.
“I’m following your rules!” he playfully exclaimed. “No flirty, dirty, naughty, or possessive talk. I’m not allowed to talk about how much I wish you were riding my face right now or ask if your pussy is soaked from thinking of me. I’m absolutely not allowed to ask where the fuck you’re going tonight looking sexy as hell in that tight skirt. Your tits are about to spill out of that top, and I want to catch them with my mouth, beautiful.” My breath hitched, and he grinned wickedly while angling the phone ever so slightly so I could see his hard, shirtless torso. Fuck. “But if I were allowed to ask these things, I’d also tell that fucker Jared to keep his hands to himself.”
I fought a grin. Hamilton made me feel sexy. Desired. Part of the reason why I liked him so much was because he made me feel good about myself. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to. “Is that all I am to you? A warm body?” I boldly asked. We hadn’t connected on an emotional level, but boy did we collide physically.
“I bet if you let me get to know you better, we’d like each other. But again, I’m following the rules. We have chemistry, Petal. I’m not afraid to act on that. And you know what I think?” he asked.
“What?”
“I think you like being pursued. I think it makes you feel powerful. And I like seeing your confident smile. Just don’t let Jared reap the benefits of my hard work, Petal.”
I set the phone down on my vanity and continued to get ready. I wasn’t ready to end the phone call, but Little Mama was already snoozing on my bed. I picked up some red lipstick and started applying it. “Fuck,” Hamilton whispered. I glanced at his hooded eyes and parted lips before returning to my reflection.
“If we were getting to know one another, what would be something you’d tell me? What’s your story, Hamilton?”
“I don’t really have a story,” he replied in a soft voice.
“Everyone has a story,” I countered before putting my lipstick down and grabbing some finishing powder.
Hamilton let out a lingering, long sigh before speaking to me again. “Mom and Jack were much older when I was born. They were a happy family of three up to that point. Jack was in the height of his career. Mom was in the height of her depression. It wasn’t until the news broke that Jack knocked up some coed and had me that shit went south. I guess Mom had been cool with raising me as long as the world didn’t know her husband was a cheating cunt. I was born a mistake. I’ll probably die one, too,” he said, his voice even, despite the painful words.
“That’s…awful.”
“Joseph liked to remind me every day of my goddamn life how I ruined everything. I used to think it was his only child syndrome, but now I think it’s more. When Mom died…it got worse. Jack let Joseph push me around because he wanted me to suffer for existing, but was too much of a coward to do it himself.”
Jack confused me. He was callous and pretentious, but he cared about Hamilton in a way that felt authentic. I didn’t have all the facts, so I didn’t feel like I had a right to pass judgment. Hamilton was raised by them. His feelings were valid. Still, I wanted to figure out Jack’s perspective since he seemed to genuinely want a relationship with his son, despite Joseph’s blatant hatred.
“Have you ever wanted to meet your real mom?” I asked.
“I had a real mom. Her name was Nikki Beauregard. She was smart. Tenacious. She loved me even when she didn’t have to. She fought through mental health issues. Have you ever wondered if your mother resented you?”
I frowned. “Why would you ask something like that?”
“We’re sharing things about our lives, are we not? It’s why you’re so obedient. You think you have to be perfect to make up for the fact that you exist.”
My eyes burned hot with emotion. “That’s not true,” I choked out.
“Isn’t it though? I should know. I lived that way until the day Mom died. What is it going to take for you to live for yourself?”
“I am living for myself.”
“You’re cute when you lie.” I shook my head and swallowed the thick ball of emotions in my throat. “Have fun tonight. If Jared touches you, I’ll break every bone in his hand while you watch. I know you like possessive fuckers. I’m not one to normally be exclusive, but I’m starting to see the appeal.”
“You haven’t even taken me on a date!” I exclaimed.
“Keep fighting this, baby. It makes me hard.”