Chapter 7

Leila POV

I was running while listening to music when I was interrupted by an incoming call, it was Monica.

"Hey, It's Mon, are you free for a catch-up tonight?"

"Actually, I'm going out tonight with a friend, why don't you join us?"

"That sounds like a plan, so you want me to meet you there or meet up before?"

I gave her the details of a bar we'd meet at and then we thing up.

Switching the machine off, I wiped my face with the towel and went for a shower.

Over the last few weeks had gotten to know Monica well, we had been messaging back and forth.

I was glad she was moving on rather than dwelling on the relationship, it wasn't without her struggle though.

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"Thanks so much for inviting me, I can't believe you're friends with Laura, what a small world"

I smiled and picked up my drink as we were seated around the small table and started to drink it, I was worried tonight would be a bust.

But turns out Monica and Laura knew each other, through Laura's work and husband.

"I know, it's crazy, how have we never crossed paths?"

"You have, Leila's been to a few things with me that have overlapped Shady records, I just don't think you've been introduced"

"The six-degree theory of Kevin Bacon works" Laura said with a chuckle.

"So Leila, I'm curious because of your line of work, are you seeing anyone exclusively?" Monica asked, changing position and getting comfortable.

Laura snorted while stirring her obnoxiously pink "Leila? Date MEN? Satan would soon leave the throne before this one ever dates again"

I rolled my eyes at her.

"No I'm currently happily single"

"And she's been happily single since she was 21" Laura quipped.

"That's still by choice" I said kicking her under the table "I'm okay with being single, not all of us feel the need to run off and marry our university sweetheart, miss thang"

"Oh really? If it's not too personal, can I ask why?"

"Long-standing issues thanks to every man I've come across in my life, been let down by one of my idols many years ago and men that were meant to have raised and protected me, blood or otherwise, I gave up on them" I said sipping from my cup "I do manage to let them not disgust me long enough to get off"

"That was my next question" Monica laughed "So you still sleep with them?"

"I'm not a complete animal Monica, of course I do, a girl gotta eat"

"I agree, we gotta eat" Monica said with a nod "So you don't date exclusively, but do you ever take up an offer to go out?"

"If they want to wine and dine me before I hit it and quit it that's on them" I said with a Smirk.

"Leila's one of those lucky women that never had to pick a struggle because she's beautiful"

"She's amazing," Monica said in awe and pointed to Laura "Why have you been hiding her from me"

"Honestly, she's trouble, so I like to keep her away from people"

"By trouble you mean intimidating"

"That too" Laura laughing and shaking her head "Don't let her fill your head with poison about men, she's a pro at it"

I simply shrugged, watching as the bar slowly got crowded.

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Marshall POV

My phone rang through the home studio and picked up.

"Yo?"

"Marshall just a heads up I'm leaving Jason in charge while I go into the city and pick up Monica, she's drunk and wants a life home"

"You know what, I'll handle it, I wanna check in on her anyways" I said standing and heading towards the kitchen picking up my keys.

"You sure boss?"

"Yeah man don't sweat it, I'll do it"

I jumped in the car and started to the bar that was given to me, once I got there I texted Monica to come out.

Three car doors flew open, almost turning me inside out thinking I was suddenly about to be mobbed until I hear three female voices.

"Marshall! Why are you picking us up?" Monica said, sliding into the front seat.

"Just checking in you know, making sure you're algood"

"She's doing fine! Thanks for the lift though, it's been a while stranger!" The slightly slurred but composed voice I recognized as Laura came from the back, she was one of our old intern's wives, she was also a journalist we worked along with quite frequently.

"Thanks Marshall"

"It's all goo-" My eyes fell on the third voice, cold and dismissive Leila, looking back at me in the review mirror.

The one woman who was haunting my fucking dreams recently, and I felt like I was losing my mind.

"Am I dropping y'all at the same place or different?" I said, eyes still darting from the road then back to Leila.

"Different if you don't mind, drop Leila last, you guys are practically neighbors, she lives in Sterling Heights" Monica said gesturing to Leila in the back.

Interesting.

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"You wanna come jump upfront? Lookin' lonely back there"

She snorted "I'm good, I like being chauffeured around like Miss daisy"

I looked at her in the review mirror and she had a smirk plastered on her lips.

"Woman, you are far from Miss daisy, trust me.." I chuckled pulling up at the lights, Leila suddenly climbing through my car into the front seat and sitting down.

I couldn't help but run my eyes over her body, the deliciously short dress that hugged the top of her thighs like it was no man's business.

I started to feel creepy, staring at her and the back at the road in turns, but I couldn't help it.

"This is my house" She said, I turned into the driveway and pulled up.

She turned to me before getting out "Thanks again"

"No problem, want me to walk you to ya door? Maybe unzip that dress? You know, be helpful and shit"

She rolled her eyes at me and closed the car door before continuing up her driveway and walking to be her front door.

I already knew I was gonna go home and jack myself off stupid when I got home.

And then the universe wanted to really fuck with me this time.

I stared at her alittle longer when she suddenly dropped the keys, bending over slowly and retrieving them, giving me a peek of what I was dying to see.

I bit my knuckles and groaned into it and I was sure could taste blood.

Just fuck me.

I groaned.

I was sure I was losing it.