Page 24 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

Girls Caught Up!

Day Six.

I love waking up to the sweet sting of Theodore Clayton between my thighs.

It’s the ache that makes me smile into the pillow before I even open my eyes. My hips were sore, my thighs were tender, and my skin smelled like him.

He marked me last night, in every way he could, and I let him. I wanted him to.

There’s a faint bruise blooming on my hipbone in the shape of his grip.

So worth it.

He was already gone when I blinked open my eyes.

I stretched under the sheets, wincing at the dull ache in my hip. My hand fumbled across the nightstand until I found my phone, its screen lighting up the dim room. Notifications stacked up—texts, missed calls, a couple of emails I wasn’t ready to look at.

There were two missed calls from Marcus and one text:

Mr. Dazai: Call me when you’re up. It’s about your dad.

I sat up quickly, anxiety cutting straight through the joy of post-orgasm bliss.

I sent him a text last night explaining the situation on why I hadn’t been responding, and with the time difference, I guess he didn’t see it until later.

My fingers moved fast, dialing before I could think about what he could be calling about.

He picked up on the second ring.

Marcus: Hey, kiddo.

My throat tightened.

Carmen: Morning. I got your message

—what’s going on?

Marcus: We had a hearing yesterday morning.

The judge agreed to expedite the motion

based on new medical records, but…

they’re not granting him full release.

Just a transfer to a better hospice.

I closed my eyes. My fingers curled into the duvet.

Carmen: Okay. That’s… something.

It’s better than nothing.

Marcus: It is. I pulled some strings and got him

transferred to a facility in New York.

He’ll be in a private room with a supportive team.

I did what I could.

Carmen: Thank you, Marcus. For everything.

I know it wasn’t easy to pull strings like this—

Marcus: You don’t have to thank me, Carmen.

I looked down at my lap, blinking fast.

Carmen: Still… I wasn’t sure you’d even

talk to me after everything with Theo.

I didn’t want it to feel like

I was putting you in the middle.

Marcus: That boy’s territorial as hell,

I’ll give him that. But I’m a grown ass man.

I’m not scared of Theodore Clayton.

That made me laugh, just a little.

Carmen: Well, you should be.

He’s kind of unhinged these days.

Marcus: That’s because he loves you.

Doesn’t know where to put it all yet,

but he’ll get there.

I went quiet. He always had a way of seeing right through me.

Marcus: How are you holding up?

Carmen: Tired. Emotional.

Like my whole body’s been wrung out and

left in the sun to dry. But… better.

Marcus: Good. You’ll be back soon,

and when you are, we’ll get you settled

into the office officially.

I kept your desk the same.

Figured you’d need something

stable waiting for you.

Carmen : Would it be possible to take a day

or two to visit my dad first?

I know I don’t really

have vacation days yet,

but—

Marcus : Carmen. Of course,

you can visit your father.

The job will be here waiting for you

when you get back.

Carmen: Hmm.

You really are the best boss

a girl could ask for.

Marcus: Don’t make me cry

before my lunch meeting.

I laughed faintly.

Carmen: Can you send me

the hospice address?

I want to visit as soon as I’m home.

Marcus: Already texted it to you.

Carmen: Of course.

Marcus: Go enjoy the rest of your trip.

And try not to kill each other

before you come home, yeah?

Carmen: No promises.

I hung up, grabbed my laptop, and opened the link Marcus sent to my email.

A new facility, huh?

I bet my father was happy to get out of that prison. When he got arrested, I was so young. Too young to understand what my testifying against him meant, but old enough to remember the way he vanished—one day there, the next gone.

In truth, I forget what he looked like back then. I would’ve forgotten what he looked like now if it weren’t for the photos he’d email me sometimes. He’d gotten so thin, I prayed for a memory of a time where he wasn’t— a happy memory.

My mother never said much about him to me, so it was like I was getting to know a new person.

Now he’s being moved somewhere nicer and closer, maybe getting to know him wouldn’t be so difficult.

The place looked more like rehab than prison—fresh air, a garden, yoga classes. He might even be able to start a course when he gets better. He was incredibly proud of me for getting into Law school, especially since he never even finished high school. Maybe he could finish his degree there.

That made me smile.

But I couldn’t stop thinking…what would our relationship be like when I got to see him in person?

We haven’t seen each other face to face in years, and the thought put me on edge.

Doubt: It will work itself out.

Wow. That’s surprisingly nice.

Doubt: I can be nice sometimes. Not everything deserves a bitchy comment. Besides, running around in your fucked up mind makes me yearn for a moment of peace. Maybe closure with your dad will bring that to me.

Shut the fuck up. I’m perfectly sane.

Doubt: No, you’re not. Not even slightly.

Anyway! I hope it will all work out. Because…deep down…I really wanna hug my dad. It’s been so long.

Pushing down the thought and sniffing back the pending tears, I started a group FaceTime. I needed something to take my mind off this.

Within seconds, Alyssa’s face filled the screen first.

“Hi, hi!” she chirped, grinning as the rest of the girls popped in. “How are you guys?”

“ Miserable ,” Jayda muttered. Her voice was scratchy, like she hadn’t slept. “I had to put Tyler out.”

I blinked. “Wait, what?”

Izzy leaned into her frame. “Why?”

Jayda’s lips twisted. “We got into a big-ass argument and he said, ‘If I wanted to cheat, I could.’ ”

Stunned silence filled the space before Mantis deadpanned, “Yikes.”

I sat up straighter, pulling the sheet around me. “Seriously?”

“What the fuck?” Alyssa echoed, her expression darkening.

“Exactly.” Jayda exhaled sharply. “I’m over the shit. He can’t come back here.”

Izzy frowned. “Wait… isn’t it his house?”

“Yes. And?” Jayda shot back, unbothered.

“Period,” Mantis nodded.

“Where did he go?” Izzy pressed, brows knit with concern.

“I don’t fucking know. Probably with that bitch agent of his,” Jayda shrugged. “That’s what the argument was about anyway. I don’t fucking care anymore.”

“Dickhead,” Mantis muttered.

“So… you two broke up?” I asked.

Jayda looked away. “I don’t know.”

Wow.

Alyssa’s tone softened. “Wow, Jay.”

I leaned closer to the screen, holding my phone up. “You want me to call and cuss him out?”

“Yes.”

Alyssa gave me a look. “Is this really necessary?”

Jayda narrowed her eyes. “Stay out of it. You grew up with him, so I don’t want you involved in our drama.”

Alyssa scoffed. “Gladly.”

“You too, Mantis,” Jayda added.

Mantis snorted. “Nope. I’m involving myself.”

I tapped Tyler’s contact, and it didn’t even ring once. “He’s not answering, it’s saying he’s not available. Hold on, I’ll call direct.”

Alyssa rubbed her temples. “This is stupid.”

Jayda snapped, “ He’s stupid. Cuss him the fuck out.”

In the background of Izzy’s frame, a toddler squealed. “Darius! Put that down! Can’t you see mommy is busy!”

I pulled my phone back to check the call log again. “Did his bitch ass block me?!”

Izzy’s jaw dropped. “Oh, fuck no . I’m calling!”

“Put him on speaker so we can all cuss him out!” Mantis demanded, already hyped.

Alyssa squinted at Jayda. “Ain’t you gonna stop this?”

Jayda folded her arms. “Nope.”

“Ugh!” Alyssa groaned. “Come on, guys. This is so childish.”

Izzy’s eyes widened. “ He blocked me, too! That motherfucker is my kid’s godfather and he blocks me?”

Alyssa looked genuinely stunned now. “Wow… this is serious, huh?”

Jayda gave her a look that said Told you so . “He’s with that bitch and doesn’t want me to know.”

Izzy was already scrambling. “ Fuck that. Darwin! Gimme your phone!”

Mantis went quiet for a second, then cursed. “He blocked me, too!”

I blinked at the screen. “The whole group ??”

“Yeah…” Alyssa sighed heavily. “I’m blocked too.”

Jayda sounded tired when she said, “I’m sorry, Alyssa. But it’s best you realize the type of asshole your friend really is.”

Mantis shook her head slowly. “This is so strange.”

“Darwin! Phone! Now!” Izzy yelled again.

Darwin’s voice came booming in the background. “Isabella! Stay out them folks’ business! This is exactly why he blocked your nosey ass!”

From somewhere nearby, Darius echoed, “Ass!”

“Darius, no!” Izzy barked.

Alyssa covered her face. “I’m getting a headache.”

“Same,” I muttered with Mantis and Jayda chiming in unison.

I rubbed my temple. “What are you gonna do, Jay?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said quickly. “I don’t wanna talk about it. Change the subject.”

There was a pause before Izzy jumped in. “Okay. Lyssa, did you get to apply for college?”

Mantis’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

Alyssa glared. “Thanks for ruining the surprise, Izzy. Yes. I applied to Eden.”

My brows lifted. “Really? It’s so late now.”

“My dad pulled strings.”

More string pulling.

“I start in a month, I wanna do Social Work.”

Jayda cocked her head. “But. Why now?”

“Because.” Alyssa sighed. “I need to get away from my mother. I need to get the fuck out of Tennessee.”

Izzy’s face turned solemn. “How are things with her?”

Alyssa looked off-screen for a second, then back at us. “Hell. She keeps trying to reach out to me. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

I shifted, my voice quieter. “Yeah… she’s reaching out to Teddy too.”

“She’s trying to guilt him,” Alyssa said. “He’s not doing well, Carmen. Don’t let him trick you.”

“I know. We had an issue the other day… but we’re over it.”

Jayda narrowed her eyes. “What kind of issue?”

I hesitated. My thumb tugged at the tag on the edge of the sheet. “He, uh… this is embarrassing to admit out loud…” I cleared my throat. “He blocked Marcus on my phone, and I went off. I went up to his job site and everything.”

Izzy gasped. “ What? ”