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He grants me a big grin and turns to his sister. “You don’t mind if I drop you off early?”
“Hell no. Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Cool. I can follow you to your place or—”
“Actually,” I start, remembering Justin is outside waiting for me, “um, give me a second.”
He nods, and I smile and hurry off. Forgetting the tequila, I race outside, stopping at the passenger’s side of Justin’s patrol car. He rolls down his window. “Did they not have what you wanted?”
“They had something better.” Assuming he’ll report back to the asshat, it feels good to stick it to him. Also childish, which I’ll address later. “I ran into a friend. Aguyfriend. A possibly soon-to-be boyfriend. He’s really hot, and between you and me”—and the asshat you’ll share these details with—“I’m going back to his place to bone his brains out. Gonna be the best sex of my life.”
Poor Justin looks mortified. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Oh, Justin. It’s a great idea. Thanks again for everything. Good luck with Ruth and the baby. And don’t forget, Mindy’s a great name!” I wave to him and step back as Vince and Vanessa exit the store.
I walk off and catch up to them. “Okay, ready. Where to?”
“How about we start with dinner? Unless you already ate? I know a place off the grid that has a street lined up with all the taco trucks you can dream of.”
Things are already looking up. “You had me at tacos.” He unlocks his car, chuckling. Vanessa offers to let me sit shotgun and climbs in back.
“I feel bad if you two had plans. We can always do this another time—”
“And risk you not calling? Not a chance. Vanessa will be fine.”
“You wound me, dear brother. We can at least get the party started before you ditch me.” She reaches over my shoulder, handing me a mini bottle of tequila. “One for you.” Then she holds one out to Vince and snatches it back. “None for you. You’re driving. You can catch up later. Cheers.”
We twist off the caps and clink the tiny bottles together. “You sure you don’t want to stick with us? I have a feeling you and I could be great friends.” I hide my snicker as we slug them back.
“I wish. I have a feeling you’re going to havemuchmore fun without me.”
Chapter twenty
Tate
The drive back to New York is hell. My hands are sore from hours of gripping the steering wheel. I’m twenty minutes outside town when Rochel calls, bringing me up to speed. “Tell me everything you know.”
“They snagged him an hour outside of Vermont. Lucky for us, he never made it across the state line. A trooper transported him back here. They got there about fifteen minutes ago and currently have him in holding.”
“He talking?”
“Not a peep. Did you prepare Mindy for this?”
“She’s not with me.”
“What do you mean she’s not with you? You left her at the cabin?” he asks, surprised.
Tension bleeds into my muscles, and my jaw turns to stone. She just couldn’t trust me or listen to me for a goddamn second. If he’d made it to the cabin and caught me off guard—which I constantly seem to be lately with her all up in my head—he could have gotten to her. After everything, she still thinks this is a fucking game. Her childish behavior almost cost her her life.
But that’s not why I’m drowning in anger.
I’ve spent the entire ride replaying our fight.
The way she looked at me was a stab to the gut. She saw a future—something I can’t give her. I’m not made for a wife. For kids. I’m not guaranteed tomorrow.
It’s why I made my intentions clear from the beginning. She was a job. It’s the lie I had to tell myself. I wanted her so badly, but the thought of not having her threatened to bleed me dry. Why did she have to cross the line? Spew those three words? I love her, too. Fuck, I can’t breathe without her. But what I want and what is right are two very different things.
“I’m not your happily ever after, Minds.”
