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“Yeah, I’m fine. It was baffling how fast things escalated. Those guys rattled me pretty good, especially the ones who put his hands on me.” I said, rubbing my temples, trying to calm the pounding in my head.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, just a headache is all. You don’t have anything, do you?” I had figured it would calm itself, but now the pain was worse and I was afraid that combined with the bit of food I had in my stomach, I might be sick.
Cara dug through her purse, finally finding a container, and shook two headache tablets into her hand. “Here you go. Well, it was a good thing you called the police.”
“Thanks. I couldn’t exactly let them kill those other guys, which probably would have happened. I’d just wished the police had gotten there faster because one of them got away.”
“I know, I heard.” Cara looked over at me as she wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I also heard that Jackson was one of the responding officers.”
I swallowed the mouthful of food I had, my stomach turning at the mention of his name. I set the muffin down on the plate in front of me and looked at my best friend. How had I forgotten how fast word traveled in small towns? I also forgot how much Ryan and Cara talked to one another. I swear they both knew that Jackson and I were having trouble in our relationship before we did. “How did you know that?”
A small smile sat on Cara’s lips.
“Let me guess, Ryan?" I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, Ryan told me that a few of the guys were called down to The Crooked Judge. Of course, it was Jackson who filled him in on the rest.” She smiled. “So, what did you think?”
I looked at my best friend and shook my head. “What did I think about what?”
Cara gave me a knowing look and smiled. “Well, about Jackson. What did you think?”
I blew out a breath and shrugged, rubbing both of my temples again as the pain shot through my head at her question. “What am I supposed to think? He’s still hot, I guess.”
“Still hot, you guess. Bailey, any woman would have to be dead not to notice that man. Those blue eyes against that dark, tanned skin, dark, thick hair, those shoulders, abs, hands, that ass…” She winked.
“Whoa, aren’t you supposed to be getting married in, like, eight weeks?”
“Yes, of course, and I’m very committed to Ryan. But come on, Bailey, you can’t seriously say that you wouldn’t or didn’t notice him.”
“I never said that. Besides, that was always the way with him, though. I can still remember the first time I ever laid eyes on him,” I said, picking a piece off the muffin in front of me, getting lost in my thoughts.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.” I shrugged. Even though I was adamant that we were through, a part of me still wanted to know about him, if he was involved with someone. I wanted to know who held his heart in her hands now. “So, tell me, what do you want to plan for this wedding?”
“Oh no, don’t you dare change the subject! Just ask me the question that I know is eating away at you?”
I looked at my best friend, her eyes shining with mischief. She could always read me like a book. “What question might that be?” I smiled. Two could play this game.
“Bailey, as if you don’t want to know?”
“Listen, I came here to talk about someone’s wedding, not about what happened last night at The Crooked Judge, nor about Jackson Walker. Now, could we please get on with things?”
Cara shrugged. “I just figured you’d want to know whether he was single because somewhere in that heart of yours, I know you’re dying to ask. I also know that somewhere deep down inside, you still care about him, and don’t pretend you don’t.”
I shook my head and looked out the window just in time to see a Sunset Cove cruiser drive down the road. I bit my bottom lip to stop the tears I could feel building in my eyes at the fact that he could very well be happily involved with someone, maybe even have kids. What bothered me the most was the fact that if he had that, then the thought of us having another chance together would be taken away instantly. I’d have lost out on him. I turned back to face the only girl who truly knew me.
“Look, he’s obviously with someone. I mean, he could barely even look at me last night. He certainly didn’t want to speak to me. Do you know he couldn’t even ask me questions in relation to what had happened? Also, that as soon as his partner had finished, he ran out of there faster than the gang member who started the whole thing.”
Cara stuck her spoon into her coffee and added another sugar packet before looking up at me. “Imagine that the man whose heart you ripped out doesn’t want anything to do with you. That’s shocking.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t think it’s harsh to tell the truth. You, Bailey Scott, ripped that man’s heart out, tore it into little pieces, stomped on it, and left it in the dirt. Proof’s in the pudding. You can ask anyone around here. They will tell you the same I am going to. That since you left, he hasn’t been in one relationship, but…”
I frowned, “But what?” I questioned, waiting for her to continue.
