Replace Me (Kin #2)(37)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“I’m so scared.”

“Ash, regardless whether me or my brother claim these children as ours, it won’t matter. They’re a part of my family and my parents will love them. We all will. That’s what family does. We have each other’s backs. That’s also why Ford’s so pissed at me. He thinks I had your back and not his. It doesn’t matter if everything worked out. He’ll never trust me again.”

“Don’t remind me of the reasons we shouldn’t be friends. You must resent me, at least.”

“I get it. Right now, I’d love to beat the shit out of Joey, so I get it. I can see how jealousy makes people say and do crazy things.” I felt stupid talking to Ash about Lacey. Since she was Sky’s friend, she couldn’t let herself be amicable towards her. Lacey was just as much the enemy as Sky.

I don’t think Ash would have been rude if Lacey came over, but she certainly wouldn’t want to become her personal friend. Her heart ached for my cousin and I wondered if she’d ever be able to get past it.

Since I’d never been in love before, not the kind where I felt like I couldn’t live without that person, I couldn’t fully understand why she was holding on. All I could hope was that one-day I’d feel that way about someone. I thought, in time, I could feel that way for Lacey and be the man that she wanted me to be. The truth was, I didn’t know if I could. Still, getting her away from Joey was my main goal. I didn’t care how or when, but I knew I wanted it to happen. He didn’t deserve her affections and neither did I.

Lacey

Running into Joey was becoming inevitable. If I wanted to see my best friend, which I did, I knew there was a good chance he’d pop in, taunting me with his seductive voice and innuendos. Maybe I was glutton for punishment. Perhaps I was the one leading him on, giving him false hope that he could have me whenever he wanted. It wasn’t like I was fighting him anymore. No. The moment Joey came on to me, in any way, I was his puppet.

Every Friday night I found myself in this same predicament. I’d no sooner pull into the driveway and he was hunting me down, offering me another night of memories that I wouldn’t soon forget. I couldn’t say no, because as much as I wanted to hate it, our intimacy just kept getting better, to the point of exceeding any sort of expectation I could ever possibly have. Joey knew it too. His cocky demeanor drove me insane, so much that I began to get off on it. Tonight was no different. I made it to Sky’s door before I heard his opening. He lit up a cigarette and finally looked up at me. "How was school this week?" I pulled my hand away from Sky and Ford’s door. "Boring as usual. Why do you care?" A half smile formed in the corner of his mouth. "I was just wonderin’ how many times you thought about me f**kin’ you." His words turned a switch on inside of my body. No matter how dirty this man spoke to me, it fueled my fire for him. "I am there to learn, not to relive some mediocre sex." He laughed and took another drag. "Woman, you can say whatever you want, but I know what you’re really thinkin’."

"You don’t know me. You just think you do."

Joey leaned back against the gray siding. His eyes looked me up and down. "You’re sexy as Hell when you’re lyin’. Lacey, I bet you sat in those classrooms drawin’ little hearts on your folders while thinkin’ about me lappin’ up that pretty pu**y of yours."

"Shut up! I don’t do that." He was pissing me off insinuating that I spent every second of my days thinking of him. Sure, there were many moments spent replaying our hot sex together, but that was a secret he would never know. I opened the door and started to walk into Sky’s apartment. "So, when should I expect you?" I peeked back out of the door. "Why don’t you stand here and wait." I shut the door quickly, laughing and wondering how long he would stand there waiting for something that wasn’t going to happen.

One thing about spending my free time with the happiest couple in the world, was my inability to accept that I was always the third wheel. Each time they kissed or made out, I imagined kissing Joey. His evil bantering had gotten me so worked up that it was impossible to not imagine being with him. Add that to the fact that he was so good with those big, wandering hands. With one touch, he had my panties wet and my willpower gone. While sitting on the couch, hearing them whispering sweet nothings, I pictured it being me and Joey. Then my mind reverted back to being in his arms and in his bed. His perfect lips knew just how to caress my skin. His focused eyes guided him to his awaiting prize and when he undressed me and discovered my wet surprise, he dove right in, devouring my pu**y and lapping up my juices. His lips would sparkle from my wetness. I craved this man and everything that he was able to make me feel. Realizing that Sky had been calling my name, I looked over to see her smiling at me. "Where were you just now, Lace? I said your name three times."

I could feel my cheeks turning red. "You probably don’t want to know." It was embarrassing that he was getting to me so much.

Ford shook his head. "He’s under her skin. I’m sure that’s been his game this whole time."

"He’s not," I lied.

"You little tramp. He is so. Just look at you over there, thinking about how you’re going to sneak off again and accidentally end up in his bed." Sky knew I was full of shit. I could keep denying it, or just cop to what they already knew.

"Fine. He’s A-MAZING in bed. Like I can’t even put it into words."

Ford threw up his hands. "Spare us the details. There are some things that I never want to know about my cousin."

"What should I do? Everyone keeps telling me he’s bad news, but all he brings me is pleasure. When we’re alone he’s different. It’s like no other woman exists. I know that’s not the truth, but is it so wrong for me to just want to have some fun, to forget all of my problems and be carried away by him and his sexiness?"

Sky reached over and grabbed my hand. "It’s not wrong. We just don’t want you getting hurt."

"I told you before that Joey doesn’t do girlfriends," Ford reiterated.

I stood up and straightened out my clothes that had bunched from sitting. "Maybe I don’t care anymore. Love is over-rated. No offense, but I’m sick of putting my heart on the line. I want passion and adventure and I know just where to go to get it." After grabbing my thing’s, I walked towards the door and looked over at my shocked friends. " I’ll see you in the morning."

Sky whispered something in Ford’s ear and he shook his head and smiled. "It’s her choice."

I didn’t wait for my bestie to try and talk me out of it. She didn’t understand what it was like seeing her so happy when my heart was crumbling. I wanted a distraction, no matter how temporary it was. Maybe if I didn’t expect anything, I couldn’t get hurt. Once I was standing in front of Joey’s door, I felt all of my courage leave my body. My idea to go and offer myself wasn’t as exciting as it had been in my head. Just as I turned around, ready to walk back into Sky’s and hear them make fun of me, the door opened. Joey cleared his throat and waited for me to turn around. I was too embarrassed to speak. "Did you need somethin’?