The Heart System

Chapter 341: Chapter 341

Delilah stayed with me, rolling up her sleeves as she started loading the dishwasher. Plates slid into place, glasses clinked softly into the racks, cutlery scattered neatly into the tray. We worked side by side in comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need filling.

When the last dish was in, I closed the door and pressed the button. The machine hummed to life.

Delilah wiped her hands together. ”I’ll go talk to Minne.”

”Thanks,” I said, meeting her eyes.

She nodded once and headed down the hall.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out my cigarette pack, and tapped one free. I lit it, the flame briefly reflecting in the stainless steel before I snapped the lighter shut. Grabbing an ashtray from the counter, I walked back into the living room.

There was an empty spot on the double couch, right next to Kayla.

I dropped into it, stretching my legs out slightly, leaning back until my head rested against the cushion. I took a slow drag, exhaled toward the ceiling, smoke curling lazily above me.

”Wonder what Mendy’s doing,” Kayla said, turning her head toward me. ”She’s still in one of the downstairs rooms, right?”

”Yeah,” I said. ”Didn’t wanna wake her. It’s barely nine. Figured she’d still be asleep.”

As I spoke, my eyes drifted.

Kayla was wearing Nala’s clothes—probably the closest match size-wise—but even then, the fit was... strained. The hot pants sat higher than intended, hugging her curves tightly, stretched to their limits. I let my gaze linger a second too long.

Kayla noticed.

She didn’t call me out. Just smiled faintly, like she’d expected it.

”Oh my god,” Tessa said without even looking over. ”Yeah, yeah, we get it. Big ass. Shocking preference, Evan. Truly unpredictable.”

”I was appreciating her beauty,” I said calmly.

”Sure you were.”

I glanced at Tessa now. ”I always look at you like this too, you know. Maybe you just don’t notice.”

╭───────────╮

EVENT

===============

Tessa’sInterest +5

╰───────────╯

She froze for half a second.

Then rolled her eyes. ”Oh, shut up. Don’t do that like that.”

I grinned. ”Like what?”

”That,” she said, pointing vaguely at me. ”Don’t get all like that on me. I was joking, no need for ’reassurance’ you idiot.”

”I wasn’t reassuring,” I said lightly. ”But... okay?”

She huffed, crossing her arms, though the corner of her mouth twitched like she was trying not to smile.

The TV droned on about pressure systems and incoming snow, the storm raging outside while we sat there, warm, tangled, and quietly electric inside the penthouse.

╭───────────╮

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

===============

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60★★

Kayla: Interest: 30 / 40★

Tessa: Interest: 32 / 40★

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Delilah: Interest: 75 / 80★★★

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100★★★★★

Mendy: Interest: 21 /40★

Nala: Interest: 100 /100★★★★★

Penelope: Interest: 5 /20

Minne: Interest: 38 /40★

Ivy: Interest: 12/20

Eleanor: Interest: 15/20

Amelia: Interest: 5/20

Esme: Interest: 10/20

╰───────────╯

Shit. I also had to check on Esme. I completely forgot about her yesterday.

Well... no. I didn’t forget. Things just got in the way. A lot of things. I didn’t exactly expect Mendy to drop that on me out of nowhere—telling me she wanted to watch me have sex like it was a casual suggestion—so yeah, my brain had been a mess since then.

I fished my phone out of my pocket, planning to call Cora and ask her about Esme. But then, the screen lit up.

Oh, no.

Ivy was calling me.

Why the hell was Ivy calling me now? She knew her mom was staying at a ”friend’s” place. She knew that friend was me. So why now?

”Who is it?” Nala asked, glancing at me.

”Ivy,” I said.

Kayla frowned. ”Who’s Ivy?”

”Delilah’s daughter,” Tessa said immediately, smirking. ”Yeah. He’s fucking his friend’s mother. Spoiler.”

Kayla blinked, then leaned back into the couch, clearly surprised. I didn’t even look at her. I just muted the call and waited.

No way I was answering that.

The phone kept vibrating for a moment, then finally went quiet. The screen turned dark, reflecting my face back at me. I stared at it for a second longer than necessary.

I had to call her back. Just... not right now. At the very least, I needed to talk to Delilah first.

”Where’s Minne?” Tessa asked, shifting her legs.

”She was feeling down,” I said. ”I sent Delilah to talk to her. Thought it might help.”

”She really likes Delilah, huh?” Kim said, tilting her head toward Nala. ”Was she always like that?”

”She didn’t really talk much to me or Guy,” Nala said thoughtfully. ”But she was always kind. Just... good, I guess.”

”And her mother?” Tessa asked. ”Always like that too?”

”Yeah,” Nala nodded. ”Emma recommended her to us. Said she needed a job. First day she was here, she was shaking so badly she nearly broke two plates.”

Kayla shifted. ”Emma?”

”A friend of mine,” Nala replied.

”Got it.” Kayla hesitated, then cleared her throat. ”So... uh. I talked with you girls, right?”

”Yeah?” Jasmine said.

”Carrie Beldenwary,” Kayla said. ”Did she really kidnap you, Kim?”

”No,” I cut in before Kim could answer. ”She willingly surrendered.”

Kayla blinked. ”Why?”

”Because she’s an idiot,” Tessa said, grabbing a pillow and throwing it straight at Kim’s head.

”Ouch!” Kim yelped, missing the catch. She snatched the pillow and threw it back, but Tessa caught it mid-air and flipped her off.

Kim scoffed, fixed her hair, brushed imaginary dust off her shoulders, then exhaled slowly. Her gaze drifted toward the hallway... then back to me.

”Should we check on Minne?”

”Nah,” I said. ”Delilah can—”

”I’ll go,” Tessa interrupted, already standing up. ”Can’t have our little maid all sad and nervous. Who’d cook for us then?”

”You sure?” I asked.

”Jesus, Evan,” she said, rolling her eyes. ”I’m not going into battle. I’ll just talk to her.”

I shrugged. ”Just... don’t be hard on her, okay?”

”I won’t. Chill.” She sighed, heading down the hall.

”She was pretty quiet at breakfast,” Kayla said.

”Yeah,” I nodded. ”She can’t reach her mom because of the storm.”

Tessa disappeared into the hallway and a few seconds later, we heard Minne’s door open. I wanted to go check too, but I’d just crowd them. I’ve never been great at those kinds of conversations anyway. Delilah was probably enough but I guess Tessa wanted to check on her as well. She didn’t say it out loud but... I think she... cared about Minne.

Cute.

I leaned back and looked at the TV. Every channel was saying something different—one claiming the storm would pass today, another saying it’d last for days. No clear answer. If I had to guess? We were stuck here for today.

”Did Mendy have anything in her fridge?” Nala asked suddenly.

”It was basically empty,” I said. ”Shit... does she even know how breakfast works here?”

”I don’t know if Minne explained it,” Kim said. ”Should we check on her?”

”She won’t die of starvation,” Jasmine said with a grin. ”She’s not five.”

”I’ll check,” I said, pushing myself up. ”Just in case.”

”I’ll come too,” Kayla said quickly. ”If we don’t talk after... yesterday, it’ll just get weird. Like, really weird.”

”I think you’d be fine,” I said. ”But sure. I’ll just ask if she needs anything.”

”You won’t invite her up here?” Jasmine asked. ”She’ll get bored alone.”

”I’m not sure she’d say yes,” I said, grabbing my jacket. ”But I’ll ask.”

Kayla looked down at herself and grimaced. ”God, these clothes are way too tight. I’ll wear my coat.”

”Hmm.”

I walked to the door and opened it, holding it for Kayla. She grabbed her long coat from the rack, slipping it on. Underneath, her t-shirt was skin-tight, hugging her tits perfectly, and those hotpants—fuck, they left nothing to the imagination, cameltoe clear as day, pussy lips outlined against the fabric. The coat hid it now, but the memory made my cock stir.

We stepped out, and I closed the door behind us with a soft click.

The hallway was quiet as we headed to the elevator. I hit the button, doors sliding open immediately. We rode down in silence, the hum of the cables the only sound, tension thick between us.

The doors opened to the floor below..

Just as Kayla stepped forward to leave, I grabbed her waist hard, yanking her back against me.

She gasped. ”What are you doing?”

I spun her, pushed her back against the door to the guest room—Mendy’s room—and kissed her rough, tongue plunging deep.

She moaned into my mouth, hands fisting my shirt.

I unzipped her coat fast, hands sliding inside to grab both ass cheeks, squeezing hard, fingers digging into the flesh.

”You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Kayla,” I growled against her lips. ”That outfit... that ass... you can’t expect me to stay calm.”

”Is this... Mendy’s room?” she panted, eyes dark.

I turned her fast, her hands slapping the door for balance. I yanked her hotpants down just enough, lifted one knee high, hooking my arm under it to open her wide.

I unzipped my pants, cock springing free—throbbing hard, pre-cum dripping.

”You love this, don’t you?” I rasped, rubbing the head along her soaked slit. ”I’m gonna fuck you right in front of Mendy’s door. Imagine if she opens it... sees me pounding this pussy.”

”Evan—” she moaned, pushing back hard against me.