02

CHAPTER TWOclover's pov

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I GROANED, ROLLING OVER ON MY SIDE. Something hard pressed against my back, waking me up. My head was killing me, and the light streaming through the window wasn't helping at all. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I blinked a few times, letting them adjust to the brightness. As I scratched the back of my head, I glanced around the room.

"What the fuck?"

I frowned, noticing my bedroom door wide open, clothes trailing from the hallway to the doorway like breadcrumbs. That's when I looked to my side—and froze.

A guy lay next to me, his back facing me. His skin was smooth, toned, with fresh tattoos—one on his lower back, another on the side of his neck. My eyes locked onto the ink, my stomach twisting.

Clover. Written in cursive.

My chest tightened. "What happened last night?" I muttered. But apparently, I said it loud enough because the guy groaned, shifting slightly before turning his head toward me.

My heart damn near stopped.

"Adonis?" I whispered, nudging him.

He mumbled something incoherent, and now I knew I was finna be sick.

Ain't no way. Ain't no fucking way, bro.

"Adonis, get up. Now." I shoved him harder, making him grunt before cracking his eyes open. His whites were bloodshot, his yawn lazy. He sat up, stretched, then looked at me—his eyes going wide.

"What the fuck."

"Language." I pulled the covers tighter around my naked body. The whole room smelled like him—eucalyptus, spearmint, and coconut.

"My bad, Clov... auntie... shit, I don't even know what to say. Did we? How did this—"

I shook my head, my throat dry. "I wasn't even that drunk... I couldn't have been that drunk."

Oh my god.

I scrambled out of bed, cold air hitting my bare skin. (So off-topic, but I know people be feeling their ass out when their pants hang so low you see their crack.)

I clamped a hand over my mouth. That sick feeling was creeping up fast.

By the time I made it to the bathroom, I barely had time to lift the toilet seat before throwing up.

Adonis is Nesha's son. HER SON.

I wasn't Adonis' biological auntie. I had known Nesha for thirteen years. I'd known Adonis his entire life. He was a nice-looking boy, sure, but I never saw him in that light.

Until last night.

The way he handled my body with care. The way his hands trailed down my thighs, the way he—

I gagged and threw up again.

No. I can't think of him like that. It's inappropriate. Shame burned through me.

"Aye, Clover?" His voice carried from the bedroom. "Imma head out before my momma blow up my phone... you good?"

I weakly stuck a thumbs-up in the air. I couldn't look this lil boy in the eyes right now. Couldn't even speak to him. I wasn't just pissed at myself—I was pissed at him and at his momma, too, because where was she when I was clearly messing with her son?

I heard the front door close and exhaled a deep sigh. My body felt heavy as I pushed myself up and turned on the shower. While the water heated, I grabbed my toothbrush, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

Hickeys trailed my neck, my hip, my waist.

I twisted to the side, stomach flipping when I saw it—Adonis's handwriting, cursive and clean, inked on the upper part of my right butt cheek.

"What the hell."

I ran a hand down my face.

A shower was definitely needed.

Just as I wrapped a towel around myself and headed to lock the front door, it suddenly swung open.

I screamed, yanking the towel tighter.

"My bad, my bad!" Adonis stumbled back, eyes wide. "I forgot my phone!"

At least he had the decency to cover his eyes before quickly closing the door again.

I sucked my teeth, rolling my eyes once I realized it was him. "Boy, don't scare me like that. Go get it, yo."

He mumbled something before hurrying back inside.

I locked the door behind him, shaking my head.

I don't know why, but I felt like he was watching me.

Then again, I was naked.

And we did...

Nevermind.

I sucked my teeth and shook my head, gripping my towel tighter as I watched Adonis fumble for his phone. He grabbed it out my room and paused for a second, glancing at me before turning away.

"Aight. I'm headin out, for real," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His voice was quieter, almost unsure.

I didn't say shit. I just stood there, arms wrapped around myself, staring at the front door as it clicked shut behind him. I locked the door to make sure no one would enter. The silence that followed was heavy—too heavy. My stomach was still twisted up, my head still pounding.

I needed a minute.

Hell, I needed a whole damn week to process whatever the fuck just happened.

Dragging myself back to my bedroom, I flopped onto the bed, my towel still wrapped around me. My body was sore, my mind was racing, and every time I closed my eyes, flashes of last night hit me like a truck.

His hands. His mouth. The way he—

I groaned and pressed my palms into my face. "Fuck."

This was bad. Real bad.

I needed to talk to somebody.

Reaching for my phone, I hesitated. Who the hell was I supposed to call? I damn sure wasn't telling Nesha. That woman would kill me, no hesitation.

I exhaled and scrolled through my contacts until I landed on a name.

Stacee.

She's my half-sister on my dad's side. We didn't grow up together and I didn't know about her until I was fifteen. My momma told me about her. At first ian take it to well but now.. I'm grateful. She's the only person I know who won't judge me too hard.

I hit the call button and put the phone on speaker, laying back as it rang.

"Bitch, do you know what time it is?" Stacee's groggy voice came through the speaker, thick with sleep. "What do you want?"

I swallowed. "I fucked up."

There was silence for a second. Then a rustling sound, like she was sitting up in bed.

"What you mean?" Her voice was clearer now, more alert. "What happened?"

I licked my lips, staring at the ceiling. My throat was dry as hell.

"I slept with Adonis."

Another pause.

Then—

"Bitch, WHAT?!"

I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear as her voice boomed through the speaker.

"Lower your damn voice!" I hissed, sitting up and checking the door like Adonis could still be lurking outside.

"No, whatchu mean Adonis?! Adonis?! As in Nesha's son? As in the boy we've known for years?! CLOVER, WHAT THE FUCK?!"

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. "I know, Stace! I know! You don't gotta yell."

"Nah, cause what the hell were you thinking?! How did this even happen?!"

I sighed and flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling again. "I don't know, man... we was at that party, and I was drinking, and then... one thing led to another, and now I got his name tattooed on my ass."

The silence that followed was loud.

Then Stacee let out the longest, deepest sigh I had ever heard.

"You got his name where?"

"On my ass."

"Like... permanently?"

I hesitated. "...I think so?"

"What the hell, Clover."

I heard her shuffling around on the other end, probably getting out of bed.

"So, what now? You just gonna act like this didn't happen? What if Nesha finds out? What if he starts catching feelings?"

That last part made my whole body tense up.

Catching feelings?

No. Hell no. We weren't doing that.

"It was a one-time thing," I said quickly, mostly trying to convince myself. "A mistake. It won't happen again."

I could practically see Stacee's eye roll as she let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, aight. Let me know how that works out for you."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious."

"Mhmm. And what if he wants round two?"

I sat up, wrapping my arms around myself. I wasn't even gonna entertain that thought.

"He won't."

"And if he does?"

I bit my lip, staring at the floor.

I didn't have an answer for that.