Brazen

A rush of heavy air blows between Noah’s lips as I watch her sleep in my bed, tangled up in the sheets, in the middle of the day. Life couldn’t get much better than this moment right here. Pounding sounds at the door, and even though I didn’t say that last thought aloud, I know that I’ve spoken too soon.

“Noah, baby, wake up.”

Her eyes slowly flutter open.

“Go in Sunday’s room, and lock the door.”

She wipes the sleep from her eyes. I hate that whoever is knocking on the door like that is intruding on our day. The pounding sounds again, and Noah springs into action, throwing her clothes back on. I do the same and then open my bedroom door just as Sunday comes running around the corner.

“Get in here with Noah, and lock the door. Don’t open it until I come and get you.”

Sunday doesn’t have to be told twice. Most likely, whoever is knocking is here for Sun, and I won’t let her face whoever it is. I march to the front of my home, and the pounding gets louder. I can already tell it isn’t Matt, so that leaves only one other possibility.

Stephanie.

I see that I’m right when I open the door, and she’s on fire. Her face is beet red, and her eyebrows are pulled inward.

“Where is she?” she screams.

I catch her arm as she attempts to run inside my home.

“You can’t be here, Steph.” I slide outside and shut the door behind me.

“I want that friend of yours to stay the hell away from my fiancé. We share our locations on our phones, and I’ve seen him at her house three times this week!” She attempts to break through my hold while screaming at the top of her lungs.

“They weren’t together, and you know that. Matt might have been near Sunday’s home, but he wasn’t with her. Do you know how I know that? Because she hasn’t been home since he beat the shit out of her.”

Sunday has been here, but that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned about what Stephanie just said. Her phone told her that Matt has been creeping around Sunday’s three times this week. He’s looking for her, and if she’s not at home, I’m sure he knows she’s here.

“She’s ruining my life, Brazen! Matt and I just want to be together, and she’s always in the way! I want to tell her to move on! I want her to finally get divorced so that I can marry him. I want her out of my relationship!” Instead of continuing her attempt to plow through me, she directs her anger toward me, slapping at my chest with each one of her ignorant pleas.

“It isn’t Sunday you need to be pleading with. In fact, you should probably have a good long chat with yourself.”

She begins to sob, and I’m torn between disgust and pity.

“Leave him, Steph. Nothing is worth the way he treats women. Leave him before you can’t.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about! You’re just jealous that you can’t have me,” she hollers into my face.

If she only knew how wrong she was. There is a girl inside who has completely run away with my heart.

“Let me inside! I need to talk to Sunday!”

Stephanie is here to fight for a man who deserves nothing, and I just don’t get it.

The door behind me creaks open, and I stiffen my hold on the flailing girl. Sunday stands under the doorframe with Noah peeking out behind her. Fuck, I really didn’t think Sunday would come out here. I know how much she hates dealing with Stephanie.

“You need to leave, Stephanie. Brazen deserves more respect than my drama constantly showing up at his door.” The fading bruises on Sunday’s skin look darker as the sun cascades against her face.

“Inside, Sunday! Now!” My voice is louder and angrier than I’d like it to be, but her presence isn’t going to make anything better with Stephanie.

With quick movements, I take long strides and distance myself from Stephanie. I grab on to my door handle. “Go home before I call the cops.”

I throw the door closed, locking it once I’m inside. I peek out to see Stephanie throwing a temper tantrum in my driveway. She’ll go eventually.

Sunday and Noah stand just inside the foyer.

“Coming out here was fucking stupid, Sunday.” I’m mad—not at Sunday, but at this whole situation and everything concerning Matt.

“Is she gone?” Noah speaks up.

I calm just a little. “I don’t think so. She’s outside, acting like a toddler. Just let her scream it out.”

I walk into the living room and sit on the couch as Sunday walks slowly down the hallway to the room she’s been staying in. This shit has to stop.

“So, how was she ever your girlfriend, huh?” Noah asks, taking a seat next to me.

“Shit, Noah. I didn’t even think about that. I’m sorry she just showed up here.”

“I’m not a jealous person, Brazen. Especially knowing the little I’ve heard about her and what I’ve seen from the two times she’s shown up somewhere uninvited. I am a little puzzled to know what you saw in her though. I know you better than to assume you only saw a pretty girl and ignored what was on the inside. So, what was it?”

Her hand rests on my bare chest, and our legs intertwine.

“Stephanie is like a chameleon. She’s good at being what the other person desires and playing certain roles to get what she wants. It did take me a little longer than it should have to realize she was playing me. Sunday knew from the moment they met, but I ignored her warnings. I’m sorry she just showed up like that.”

Noah rises up and straddles my hips, and her fingers dig into my hair before she softly kisses my lips. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault she’s crazy. Besides, this thing with Sunday is big, and it weighs on your shoulders. Therefore, it weighs on mine. I want to be here for you. I’ll never make you feel guilty when it comes to this because you’re a good man.”

She grows hesitant and chews on her bottom lip. I cover her hand with mine and wait for her to say what’s on her mind.

“I’ve sensed that Sunday is worried about you when it comes to Matt. Can I ask, are you up to something I should be concerned about? What are you planning on doing to keep him away?”

Sun has been worried about what could happen to me because of Matt for years, long before I started digging around, but that’s the thing; she’ll always be worried until I can eliminate him from our lives.

“Matt is kind of like the male version of Stephanie. He’s the guy who could charm his way out of any situation, but behind closed doors, he’s anything but charismatic. He’s also a wealthy businessman, far too wealthy for a guy in his line of work. Since he keeps getting out from under the assault charges she’s pressed against him, I’ve been searching for something that will stick.”

“Are you close to finding what you need?”

“I have a buddy sniffing him out. He seems to think he’s on to something. I’m not any good at this detective stuff. So, really, it’s just a waiting game.”

“And, if you get it, will that be the resolution or his tipping point?” Her voice breaks, and worry causes her forehead to wrinkle.

“He won’t like being threatened. If he has secrets, which I’m sure he does, he won’t like that I know what they are, but what’s the alternative? I let Sunday remain scared of him for the rest of her life? I can’t do that.”

“Promise me, you’ll be careful. I understand you need to end this for Sunday, and I want him to leave her alone, too, but I don’t want that to mean you’re putting yourself in harm’s way. Nail this bastard, but be safe about it.” She stabs her pointer finger into my chest for emphasis.

“I promise.”

Matt is a pathetic excuse for a man. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never confronted me. He avoids me at all costs really. Especially when I’ve gone out looking for him after he hurt Sunday. Matt prefers his victims to be smaller than him and vulnerable. I don’t think he’d ever physically come after me. Sunday has told me he’s threatened to ruin our business, and I don’t doubt he has the power to do so, but nothing is more important than freeing my best friend from her asshole husband. He can take my fucking business if he’d just leave her alone.

“Come back to bed with me?” Noah rolls her hips over my lap, teasing me in the most delicious way.

I lift from the couch and bring my girl with me in my arms.

“You aren’t too sore?” I ask, genuinely worried.

She just throws her head back and laughs. “No way, and it’s my turn to explore your body like you have mine.”

There is a naughty spark in Noah’s eyes, and I can’t wait to have her hands on me.

My body is hers to journey.