There were five more texts after that one, but I stopped looking. The only reason I had checked was in case something happened at the house again.
“Do you need to respond to any of that?”
“Nope,” I said as I took a sip of my coke. When Greg gave me a look, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to explain. “I have this personin my life who I once considered a friend - a very long time ago. He pulled some heinous shit and chewed me out for the lies his wife told a couple times. Since I’ve been back, he’s tried to make amends and start a friendship up again, and the other day, he made a move that was a bad look. He’s just trying to get me to talk to him so he can clear the air - again. I’m tired of bending over backward for people to clear the air they polluted, though.”
“I see. Is this a romantic interest?”
“No,” I blushed and had to elaborate because Greg didn’t miss a thing. “I had a major crush on him when we were still teenagers, before he was a complete jerk to me. I think he’s the one with the crush now.” I left out the part about us making out in the back of my box truck because it really wasn’t relevant and it was my personal business.
“Ah, so the man wants the girl who doesn’t want to forgive him.” He chuckled. “I’d wish him luck, but I’d rather not add competition to what I want.”
“And what do you want?”
“Another date, but I have to go back to see to some business and I have a proposition for you. I feel like maybe you need a chance to get out of town and avoid that situation as well as the bullshit with Tiffany Baker. My guys will be here to back our friends up if she shows again. This gives you a chance to relax and let your guard down a bit. If you don’t want the second date, the option to come to Phoenix for a few days to decompress is still on the table. I can be friends even if I’d rather be more.”
“I’m going to take you up on that offer,” I told him as my phone buzzed again.
“Which part?” He asked with a wicked grin on his face.
“The part about the trip to Phoenix. When we get there, you can ask me on a second date and I’ll give you an answer.”
“That’s all I can ask for.”
And a little peace and quiet sounded like heaven. I didn’t know what kind of game James wanted to play with me, but I wasn’t the same girl whose heart he broke in high school. I was a woman who knew her worth and I wouldn’t wait around for the excuses he had or for another woman to slip onto his lap while I wasn’t around to see it happen.
17.THE EX WIFE
KNUCKLES
“I’m just saying,it feels like Bigfoot sent us here on a fool’s errand.”
“Of fucking course he did. He’s probably doing damage control with Cassidy in your absence. Our club brothers and their families have been eating really well a few days a week since she signed that contract. Do you think he wants to see that disappear because of your dumbass bullshit hangups surrounding your ex-wife?” Grunt asked. We stopped in front of the restaurant we were about to go to.
The serious look on his face told me that none of what he just said was an exaggeration meant to make me see the humor in the choices I made. He held a mirror up and made me look hard at how Simone still fucked with my head without even trying.
“Honestly, I think the club would riot and vote you out before they let Cass go.” That time he was joking, but I had a sneaking suspicion some people might truly feel that way. My girl might have been ignored by the assholes in high school, but there was no way for anyone to miss her presence now that she was all grown up.
“Let’s get some food, so we can get back on the road and get home. She never responded to a single text I sent and Ican’t have her sitting with the idea that I moved on to another woman.”
“I wouldn’t call it an idea. You had another woman bouncing around on your lap the day she saw you, man. No mistaking that for something it wasn’t.”
“I didn’t fuck Tay.”
“Maybe not, but anyone with even a passing romantic interest in you would have considered that a boundary that shouldn’t have been crossed. I haven’t had a whole lot of experience with relationships and even I know that much, asshole.”
“What the fuck ever. I’ll find a way to explain and maybe she can forgive me for one more lapse in fucking judgement where her name and Simone’s in tandem caused me to doubt everything.”
He threw me a dubious look over his shoulder as the hostess moved us toward our seat. It wasn’t until he stopped cold and stared at something off to our left that I finally turned my head and saw what, or rather who, he stared at.
“Is that who I think it is?” Grunt asked.
Before I had a chance to answer, the fucker with the crew cut and a little too much silver at his temples leaned across the table and cupped the face of his companion before their lips met. The kiss was short and probably what women would call sweet, too. It was nothing like the smoldering hot kisses I’d shared with Cassidy in the back of her work truck.
My feet were in motion before I could stop myself. “Didn’t know you were in Phoenix, Cass.”
Her head whipped around and eyes rounded out comically wide. “James? I mean Knuckles? What are you doing here?”
“I had some business in town this week. Not sure if you got my texts telling you about it. I think the better question is: whatare you doing here, and kissing a man who is old enough to be your father?”
