Life of Sin Book 1

Chapter Nine

We went back downstairs to find Nikki in the kitchen eating a piece of the steak Falen cooked.

“Y’all were gone so long I thought y’all had started fucking.”

“Nah, I was just showing Devyn some more of my artwork.”

“Yeah… well I have plans so I’ll see you guys later.”

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d stay for dinner,” Falen said, causing Nikki to stop in her tracks.

“What!?” We both asked. I cocked my head at Falen who wore a simple smile on her face. Whatever her intentions were, I wasn’t on board, and the look on Nikki’s face told me she wasn’t feeling it either.

“Aren’t you two on a date?” It seemed painful for her to say those words. The question spilled like acid from her mouth.

“We are, but I’m sure everyone here has questions about what’s been going on so I just wanna eliminate the awkwardness before we all move forward. That cool?” Falen's mind was already made up even as she asked for our opinions, though Nik and I were still on the fence. Falen led me to the table, motioning for me to have a seat. I was left alone for a bit while she finished some last minute preparations. Nikki continued standing, debating on if this was even worth her time. A few seconds later, she rolled her eyes and sighed, taking a seat across from me.

“I don’t like this either, Nik.” She studied me. I always hated when she did that. Whenever she looked at me, I couldn’t help feeling vulnerable and helpless.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you look sexy as hell, and you’re still the same Devyn I know and love.” Under the table, she brushed her foot against my leg.

“Definitely not,” I said with a dismissive chuckle. Her steely expression faltered.

“You still love me, no?”

“No.” She sat back, twirling her finger around the rim of her glass. A small laugh escaped her throat. Falen walked over carrying plates of food and I let out a breath that I didn’t know I was holding in. After placing our food in front of us, she took her seat at the head of the table and poured us all a glass of Moscato. We ate in silence for a few minutes, exchanging glances every so often. Finally, she cleared her throat and broke the ice.

“I know this is nerve-wracking for the both of you but I want this to be a conversation where everything gets laid out.”

“Why now?” Nikki asked. I also wondered the same thing. We both looked at Falen as we awaited a reply.

“Because I only plan on doing this once. I’m not one to keep revisiting the same issue repeatedly; my time could be spent doing other things.” A silence fell over the table again as I picked around what was left of my food. Nikki looked as if she would throw up if she had to sit here any longer.

“Since no one is speaking up, I have a question for you, Devyn. Why did you and Nikki break up?” I shifted in my seat, secretly wishing a sinkhole would open up and swallow me to end this suffering.

“She cheated on me multiple times with multiple women. What else is there to say?”

“Devyn, baby, that was so long ago,” Nikki said, swirling the drink in her glass. I narrowed my eyes at her as she smirked. That was her way of lowering my defenses and it usually worked.

“I didn’t expect to hear that,” Falen said.

“Yeah, I’m sure Nik spun you her own story making me look like the bad guy.”