Any man that tells you he doesn’t get jealous when other men are around his woman is a fucking liar. Dating, broken up, or even divorced, we get fucking jealous.
Even when logically we know we have no reason to.
Even when we trust her, trust him, it still happens.
In fact, when you know the motherfucker I’m pretty sure it makes it worse.
Did I like my buddy touching my girlfriend/wife?
No, I fucking did not.
Not at all.
After our sweep, I grabbed a beer out of her fridge and debated how I’m going to drop this bomb on her.
Following suit, Aaron and Butch looked about as wrecked as I felt.
This kind of shit was never supposed to follow us, it wasn’t supposed to affect family.
But goddammit it was.
First to break the silence, Butch said, “You can’t leave her on the back porch forever, Eddie.”
“I need a minute to process this shit,” I grumbled. “Fuck.”
“Rip the Band-Aid off,” Aaron suggested. “She can take it.”
“The point is she shouldn’t have to,” I argued the obvious.
“She doesn’t have a choice now,” Butch added.
“What don’t I have a choice about?” Pharis asked as soon as she walked in flanked by Connie and Bridget.
Shit, I cursed inwardly and faced her. As calm as possible I confessed, “We found three cameras.”
“Okay,” she exhaled hard as the girls each take a hand, squeezing it. “Where were they?”
“Living room, kitchen, and bathroom,”—I said with a calm I wasn't feeling.
Pharis saying, “None in the bedroom? Weird,” was the last thing I expected to hear. Stepping forward, Butch pulls her into a hug while promising her, “You can rest easy now, superstar. We’ll talk to your dates and keep watch on the house. Whoever this is will slip up.”
Having enough of Butch’s Superman bullshit, I pried him from her with the reminder, “And I’ll be here, round the clock.”
Looking into my eyes, I saw that despite having every reason not to, she trusted me. After she whispered an, “Okay Eddie,” I kissed her tenderly, ignoring the tension around us.
Butch and I would be addressing his easy affection toward her privately and probably violently.
Not taking my eyes off of Pharis, I told Aaron, “Report back on the dates and neighbors.” I also advised Butch to, “Cross check those cameras. Whoever installed them knew what the fuck they were doing.”
Glancing at me, Butch asked, “Yeah, but do you?”
“Wanna try that again?”
When she tensed in my arms, Aaron cut in, “Outside,” and without argument I followed.
We no sooner had I cleared the back door that I got all up in Butch’s face. “The fuck is your angle?”
Unfazed he argued, “I’m not the one using fear to get back between my ex-wife’s thighs before she leaves. None of us like the idea of her in danger, and while I can’t speak for Aaron, I have no problem telling you that I ain’t about seeing her wrecked twice.”
“Using fear, motherfucker?” I roared. “You keep looking for ways to be my wife’s hero, but I’m her goddamn hero. She belongs to me!”
“I’m not trying to weasel in on your ex-wife, asshole!”
“Wife!” I said, shoving him. “She is my wife!”
“Butch,” Aaron intervened. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”
“Enlighten me then,” he suggested, pushing off of me in return.
I told him everything from start to finish and all the grit in between. Looking none too pleased with my explanation, he shook his head muttering, “You are playing a dangerous game, brother. Just because you ain’t heard from him in a while don’t mean he quit. Maybe he’s been watching and waiting?”
“I’ve considered that,” I admitted. “But I can’t live without her anymore, Butch. She’s my superstar, my other half.”
With a punch to the shoulder he said, “Then you best pay fucking attention.”
“I know, I will.”
“Good,” he said with a nod. “And Eddie?”
“What?”
“Don’t ever fucking accuse me like that again. I love her, that’s true. But I love her like family. Since she insists on staying here we all need our heads in the game. So put your dick away, Eddie. We both know mine's bigger.”
“All right,” Aaron said, breaking the tension. “We’ve got shit to do, let’s touch base tomorrow.”
Nodding, I pulled out my phone. When Butch asked who I’m calling, I let him know, “The chief. I’m due vacation time.”
Once that was done, I went inside to settle things with Pharis.
Oh and for the record, my dick was bigger than Butch's.