Page 4 of Resisting Your Love

"Damn it," I groaned, trying to turn over on my stomach, but that was hard to do.

My head was pounding from the alcohol I drank the night before.

That party I attended was wild as hell. There were bitches everywhere, too.

Man, I should have taken at least two home with me.

The only thing I was concerned with was having a good time, and that I did.

It had been a while since I let loose like that.

I was trying to slow down since my parents had been on my back about being reckless.

Why should I stop what the hell I was doing because they said so?

I was grown and living on my own. I should say damn them and what they were talking about.

Lately, I saw that they were right. It was starting to catch up with me.

I lifted my head from the pillow again, trying to sit up, but it was no use.

My stomach rumbled as nausea gripped me tightly.

My mouth watered as if I was going to throw up.

This feeling wasn't anything to play with.

It was best I tried to go back to sleep in hopes of waking up feeling much better than I did at that moment.

I shut my eyes, hoping for sleep to reclaim me.

My eyes snapped open as I heard pounding on my door as well as someone ringing my doorbell like they had no sense. I groaned and punched my bed, trying my hardest not to spazz out. Someone had lost their damn mind. I got out of bed and instantly grabbed my head. It was still pounding.

"Shit," I grumbled and made my way out of my bedroom and down the stairs. "I'm coming! Hold on!" I yelled. I couldn't wait to cuss whoever was at my door out.

When I snatched it open, my words died in my mouth after seeing my parents' faces. It had been a while since both of them showed up at the same time. I didn't do anything, so why were they here?

"Whatever you here for, I didn't do it."

They exchanged looks before they turned their attention back to me.

"That remains to be seen. May we come in?" my father asked.

I stepped aside to let them in. "Why didn't you call first? Y'all always call before you drop by. What if I had someone over?"

"They would have to leave," my mother bluntly responded.

We made our way into the living room and took a seat. I observed them and knew that something was up from the way they kept looking at each other. It had me anxious to know what the hell was going on.

"Are y'all going to tell me what's going on or just sit there looking at each other?" Truthfully, I wanted them out of my house so I could go back to sleep. This headache wasn't trying to go away.

"Yeah, we're about to tell you. We just want you to keep an open mind about what we are about to say to you," my father started.

I lifted an eyebrow and leaned up on the couch. He now had my attention. One thing about my parents was they didn't half-step regarding anything they did.

"I'm listening," I stated. Whatever it was, I was indeed going to try to keep an open mind about it.

My father commenced talking, and my mother was shaking her head.

My eyes ballooned before they narrowed. "Hell no.

" I didn't let him finish saying what he had to say.

"What makes you think I'd do something like that?

If I did want to get married, it would be when I'm ready.

Not when y'all want to hook me up with someone. Nah.."

"It wasn't up for debate. It's what you're going to do," my father countered in a hard tone.

I shook my head with a chuckle. "Yeah, y'all got me messed up. I'm not about to marry some woman I don't even know. Plus, that's not my style."

"You are reckless, Levi," my mother pointed out.

"And?" I hunched my shoulders. "I'm trying to change my ways."

My mother burst out laughing, and I glowered at her. It was like them not to believe me. When I said it, I wanted to laugh too. However, it was true. I had to get my life together. I was twenty-nine years old, and it was time I grew the hell up.

"Yeah, it's a little too late for that. We heard about the party you went to last night. The cops were called, and you tried to fight them."

My eyes widened. "Nah, I don't remember it happening that way."

Truthfully, I remembered nothing that had happened last night. After my fourth shot, I couldn't tell you what I was doing.

My parents gave me the best life while growing up.

They spoiled me, and I used that to my advantage.

Anything I wanted, I got. If they didn't give it to me, I threw a fit.

It worked out for me, too. Whenever I got in trouble at school, they tried teaching me a lesson, but it went in one ear and out the other.

My parents came from money, so they made sure I dated women with money, too.

They hadn't approved of any of the women I brought home, so I stopped.

The only thing I did as of late was date around. That seemed like the best thing to do.

My parents were one of the wealthiest families in Skyeville. Many people respected them for who they were. When you heard the last name, Smith just knew they were loaded with money.

My father stood up, as well as my mother. "The dinner will be on Saturday at eight. You better not be late. If you do, there will be consequences."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Y'all can't be for real."

"But we are," my mother affirmed.

I clenched my jaw muscles together, still not wanting to believe what they were saying was true.

Why in the hell were they putting me through this?

I didn't need to get married to slow down.

That woman wouldn't be my real wife. Therefore, I was going to continue doing what I was doing. Who the hell would stop me?

I didn't walk them to the door either. Fuck them.

My best friend River stared at me with his mouth dropped.

He was in disbelief right along with me.

I still couldn't believe the people I called my parents were playing in my face.

How in the hell could they do this to me?

After my parents left, I called him and told him I needed to tell him something.

We met at his job. Since he was in the office, I went there.

It made no sense for someone to party all night and go to work the next day like they weren't affected by the liquor they consumed.

River was that person. He could drink liquor all he wanted, but when it was time for him to work, he was going to show up.

"Man, are you for real? You about to be married to a stranger?" River asked, knowing full well I just told him that.

I glared at him. "Man, is that not what I just said? Why the hell do you want me to repeat it?"

He chuckled. "My bad, bro. I guess congratulations are in order?"

I wanted to murder him for saying something like that to me. "Don't say that shit again."

He burst out laughing. "Man, you already know it's true. You are an engaged man now. How does it feel?"

"Like I'm about to drop kick your ass in the throat. Stop playing with me."

He only laughed harder. River was a jokester and kept the jokes coming for days if you let him. He was my partner in crime, though.

We went back to elementary school days. We were some little badass boys that stayed getting in trouble. Like me, River came from a wealthy family as well. His parents and mine partied a lot back in the day and sometimes still did.

He was single and wasn't looking to settle down anytime soon.

My cousin Zyanna wanted to be with him, but she knew that would be a disaster.

River told her that out of his own mouth.

That caused her to back up off of him, but they became the best of friends.

Now, we all chilled together at times if Zy wasn't hanging out with her best friends.

"Are you really going to go through with it?" River questioned.

I hunched my shoulders. "There is no telling what my parents are going to do if I don't go along with it. Do you know how long three years is, man? That's a thousand and ninety-five days I have to be with this woman. How the hell am I supposed to fuck on something?"

River pressed his lips together, giving me an amused look. I didn't understand why he wanted to laugh at my pain.

"Do you hear yourself? That's about to be your wife. You can fuck on her."

If looks could kill, he'd be dead right now. "Man, gon' 'head with that."

He shrugged. "It'll work out. You never know. This might be something that changes your life."

I grunted. "Or ruin it."

He nodded slightly. "Or that."

Later that evening, I had a tattoo appointment on the calendar.

I almost forgot about it. After the whole arranged marriage situation on my mind, I was in a funk.

I had to call my parents to make sure today wasn't April Fool's Day because this felt like a joke.

Of all the people to betray me, my parents were the ones who did it.

Did they not care how I felt about this?

Then, to think that a girl I didn't even know was being shoved into this as well.

How did she feel about it? One thing I could say was her father needed his ass beat.

He should have never let his business fail.

Why did I have to suffer for his fuckups?

That made no sense to me. I needed to get my mind off of the situation since I couldn't change it.

My mind was back on the tattoo I was going to be doing.

It was something about doing tattoos I loved.

Every tattoo that covered my body, I created it myself.

I had to draw the picture out to get the visual I needed to perform.

Even if someone showed me a tattoo they wanted done, I had to first draw it myself.

If I couldn't get it, I'd put my own twist on it.

Some wanted it done that way, while others didn't. It didn't matter to me one bit.

I had clients that came and went, but I was going to make my money either way.

I had been doing tattoos since I was twenty-two years old.

I got my tattoo shop at the age of twenty-five.

It kept growing, and I kept expanding it.

LES Designs was my baby. I did all that I could to keep my business afloat and was going to continue to do so.

My parents wanted to help me get my business off the ground, but I told them nah. I had it, and I did.

Four years later, my shop was one of the best around. I had two other workers in the shop with me. They had their own clients, too. I only charged them a booth fee.

I was now sketching out a design I wanted to try on someone. It always gave me a good feeling knowing I was someone people wanted to do their tattoos. I made a living out of it. It was my livelihood. With the money I was making, I was able to get anything and everything I wanted.

The door opened, and my client walked in.

Damn, she looked good as hell. I tried not to stare, but I couldn't help myself.

The girl looked too damn good. I didn't know if it was her chestnut brown eyes or that pout that was on her full lips.

She was a looker with honey-brown, flawless skin, either way.

"You called for the appointment, right?"

She shook her head sadly. "No, I didn't, but if you can squeeze me in, I'd love that."

I chuckled. "Hmm. I only do appointments, but for you, I might be able to make an exception."

Our eyes met and held, causing a vaguely sensuous light to pass between us. A smile spread across her lips. "Thank you. I surely appreciate that."

"I need your name and the design that you want."

"My name is Amryn. The design I want is of the saying ‘new beginnings’."

I gave her a slight nod. "Anything else?"

"A heart coming back after being shattered."

"Oh damn."

"Ah yeah. My life is.. a mess."

I grunted. "Yours is not the only one," I mumbled. "Well, let's start the tattoo. Have you ever had one before?"

She shook her head. "Nah, but I love pain, so this would do me some good."

A woman after my own heart, but I wouldn't go there.

I had too much on my plate now. And to get involved with someone I knew I couldn't have would be a big problem.

But damn, she was a fine ass woman. What man wouldn't want to get to know her in a desirable way?

She was the whole package, too. I wanted to roam my eyes down her body but knew that wasn't the right thing to do.

I had to calm my thoughts that were coming forth.

"Word. Let's get this going."

While I did her small tattoo, we talked and laughed a bit. Damn, it had been a while since I kicked it with a woman without the thought of sex on my mind. Amryn was a vibe I didn't know I needed to take my mind off the problems I was facing.

"All done," I announced forty-five minutes later.

"Wow, that seemed fast." She chuckled.

I gave her the mirror to look at the tattoo that was on her arm.

She nodded with approval. Our eyes met and held, causing my heart to beat rapidly in my chest. She had me wanting to reach out and soothe the pain I saw in her eyes.

It was time she got out of my shop. I was feeling something for this stranger.

A stranger I could easily get to know if this damn arranged marriage wasn't being shoved down my throat.

"Thank you. How much?"

I told her the price. She paid and left, leaving me to my own thoughts once again.

By the time I got out of there, it was well past midnight. I was tired and hungry as hell. I would have to hit up the all-night diner close to my house. After I cleaned up my workstation, I headed out of the shop.

I wished my parents had given me more information on the arranged marriage, but I knew I'd be finding things out on Saturday. I planned to be an asshole to that woman, so she better watch out.