Page 25 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

“Jesus,” Mantis muttered.

“It gets worse,” I sighed. “After that, his employee offered to give me a ride, and he took me back to his office. Theo got extra pissed ‘cause I was in there and we got into it. It was other stuff too, but that’s the gist of it.”

Jayda sat back, arms folded. “He blocked your boss on your phone. Where does he and his friend find the audacity? They’re so much alike.”

“ Yes , they are.” I nodded. “But we talked and worked it out.”

Mantis smirked. “So you fucked.”

“ Grossssss, ” Alyssa groaned.

I gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, Lyssa. But yes.”

Jayda tilted her head. “Sounds like he’s forgiven.”

I shifted, stomach tightening with the kind of guilt that crept in after the high wore off.

“It’s not that… It’s just that we have bigger issues than that at the moment. It was just everything came to a boiling point.”

“I’ll say,” Mantis added.

Izzy’s voice softened again. “I do worry about the way you two tend to bury your issues in sex. Did you at least talk about it? Like really talk.”

“We did.”

Jayda’s voice dropped. “And?”

“And… I don’t know,” I lied. It was best to keep most of our relationship woes to myself for now. “We decided not to focus too much on that. For now, at least.”

My fingers kept playing with the tag, tugging at it like it might give me an answer.

“I’m not sure what’s gonna happen with us after I leave,” I admitted. “But I’m trying my hardest to keep us sane while I’m here.”

“Why did he even block Marcus?” Jayda asked, frowning.

“It’s my fault, really,” I said. “I answered a call at dinner, and he felt a way about it.”

They all went quiet.

“Girl, what?” Mantis finally said.

“That’s it?” Alyssa asked, blinking.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “The whole thing is so stupid. He was just a little territorial about it.”

“Well, it doesn’t excuse him from acting poorly and controlling,” Izzy said, her tone sharp.

“I know.”

“Blocking your boss is crazy, Carm,” Mantis added. “Not gonna lie.”

“I know,” I repeated, quieter.

Jayda raised a brow. “And getting rewarded with pussy is even crazier.”

“Exactly,” Alyssa said. “Especially after that same jealous behavior had him going off on you for being in his coworker’s office.”

“I know all this,” I muttered.

“So why are you doing this to yourself?” Izzy asked.

I swallowed hard.

“I don’t know, Izzy. I just—” I hesitated. “I don’t wanna lose what we worked so hard for. I’ve waited years to be with him. I can’t let something as stupid as this break us up. It’s a simple fix.”

Alyssa tilted her head. “And what fix is that?”

“I’m just gonna remind him that we belong together and I’m not going anywhere. He just needs some reassurance, and I plan to give it to him.”

“With more pussy, I assume,” Jayda muttered. “You’re stupid as fuck.”

My stomach turned. This was exactly why it was best to keep your relationship to yourself, because your friends couldn’t understand the relationship dynamic entirely anyway. Now I look like an idiot who lets her man get away with whatever.

Doubt: You kinda are.

Shut it!

I scoffed, as if she were in any position to judge my relationship. “Fuck you, Jay.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Y’all stop,” Izzy cut in.

“Exactly,” Mantis said. “No need to be like this.”

I exhaled. “Look. I ain’t looking for relationship advice from y’all or anything like that. I’ll fix this little hiccup we’re having, and that’s all that matters.”

“We’re not trying to overstep,” Alyssa began, “but you—”

“Lyssa, girl, save your breath,” Jayda interrupted. “Her mind is made up.”

“Just think it through, Carm,” Izzy said gently. “That’s all we’re saying.”

I groaned. “Look, are y’all gonna help me figure out how to fix this, or judge? ’Cause I could call my mother if I wanted judgment.”

“No, no. We’ll help,” Mantis said quickly.

“Thank you.”

“If that’s what you want, then…” Alyssa trailed off with a small shrug.

“Jay?”

“Ohhh, I thought it was ‘fuck me’?”

“Yes, bitch, it is fuck you—’cause I jumped in to cuss Tyler out for you, but you don’t wanna help me? You see the difference? Right or wrong, I’m on your side, Jay.”

Jayda paused. “Hmm. Fine.”

“Thank you.”

Jayda clicked her tongue. “Okay then. Let’s figure this out. What’s the goal here?”

“To remind him I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “And to take the sting out of what happened. Reconnect. Rebuild trust. Whatever. Something.”

“Okay,” Mantis said, already scheming. “What if you make him a dramatic video montage of y’all’s best moments? Add some corny-ass voiceover too or some shit.”

Jayda snorted. “Girl, no. This ain’t a high school prom proposal.”

Izzy snapped her fingers. “Wait! Cook him dinner while wearing that little black set you bought from Savage X, the one with the garters?”

“Cooking is a no-go, but sexy, I can do,” I agreed. “Maybe send a few sexy photos.”

Alyssa groaned. “Oh my God. Y’all are hopeless. This is not how adults resolve conflict.”

“Are you new here?” Jayda said. “She’s not tryna resolve conflict, she’s tryna hypnotize that man into calming the fuck down.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, if we’re going that route…” Mantis leaned in close to her screen. “Let’s talk seduction strategies. Candles, champagne, music, maybe some Summer Walker or—”

“Jada Kingdom.”

Jayda nodded. “And body oil.”

“Yes!” Izzy said. “And no makeup, so you don’t sweat it off.”

“Y’all are disgusting,” Alyssa mumbled.

“This is actually good advice,” I said, taking mental notes. “Okay. I get sexy. I seduce. Then we talk.”

“Talk second,” Jayda said. “After he’s weak. And make him feel like you need something from him. Men love to feel needed.”

“You can ask during if you play your cards right,” Mantis added with a wink. “Works for me, at least.”

Izzy giggled. “Text us a safe word in case he pulls another stunt and you need rescuing.”

“I don’t think it’s that bad,” I said, laughing, “I just need him to feel secure again.”

“Then remind him why he flew you out in the first place,” Jayda said.

Alyssa groaned. “I hate it here.”

I grinned, already pulling open my drawer for that black set Izzy mentioned. “I love it here.”

“Alright then,” Mantis said. “You’ve got your game plan.”

Jayda tilted her head. “Don’t forget to play dumb if he brings up men flirting with you again.”

“I can’t stand y’all,” I said, but I was laughing.

Izzy clapped her hands. “Go get your man, Carm.”

“I’m hanging up now. I got prep to do.”

“Text us after,” Jayda said. “Not immediately after. Let it marinate. But soon.”

“Will do. Love y’all.”

“Love you too,” they chorused.

I ended the call, exhaled, and stared down at the lace in my hands.

Wait.

I think I have something better in mind.