Chapter Thirteen
Dylan
The last tracesof daylight faded as countless stars took over the inky sky.I tipped my head back, took them in, and finished my beer.
Jamie was probably having her first dance right about now—glowing and surrounded by people who adored her.The way I’d always pictured it being for us.
Fuck, this sucked.
Being alone wasn’t new.Jamie was the only one who’d ever stuck around long enough to call what we had a relationship, and even that was probably because we were too young to know better.
I was too damaged, too fucking stubborn to connect with someone.
My afternoon with Sean had been proof enough of that.The minute I’d left him in the shower, I was done.And he knew it.
I’d tried not to be rude—it wasn’t like I didn’t want him here—but I’d closed myself off.The emotions of the day were mixing me up.I couldn’t tell what was real between us and what was just me reaching for something to dull the fucking pain.
Where did my feelings for Jamie end, and those for Sean begin?Did I even like him?Or was this all just a misguided attempt to feel better for a while?
Either way, I couldn’t afford to get invested.I’d already given one person that kind of power over me, and I was still wallowing in the fucking aftermath.
Sean hadn’t stayed long after the shower.He’d guzzled a beer and then made an excuse about needing to find a hotel for the night.Said he wanted to get back on the road early in the morning.
But I knew the truth.He didn’t want to stick around and watch me brood.
Couldn’t say I blamed him.And I sure as hell hadn’t tried to stop him.
So now I was alone and hating it.Hating myself for being the asshole I’d become.
The glow of my cell phone lit up the dark of my yard.I didn’t recognize the number, but the only person who’d possibly call me at this moment was my mother.I loved her, but after multiple affairs and countless lies, trusting her was a different story.She was just as closed off and selfish as me.
“Hey, Mom,” I answered, walking inside to grab another beer.
“Oh,chéri, please never call me that again.”
“Chantel.”My throat went dry and my gut clenched.“What’s up?How’d you get my number?”
“Well, I was bored and lonely, watching everyone else have a good time and thought…who else around here could possibly be as bored and lonely as me?So, I stole your number from Aunt Sylvie’s phone and called you.”
“Sounds like you’re saying I’m pathetic,” I managed through a tight laugh.
“Not at all,chéri.I was hoping we could be bored and lonely together.Want some company?”Her voice reached through the phone line and stroked a hot trail down my spine.
“Aren’t you at the wedding?”I popped the top off my drink and tried to sound casual.Tried to keep the need from affecting my tone.
“I was, but now I’m sitting in your driveway, watching you through the front window.You really should get some better curtains.”
“Get in here, stalker,” I growled, hanging up and meeting her at the front door.
“Nice place.”She greeted me with a peck on the cheek.
“Nice dress,” I murmured, kissing the shell of her ear.
After closing the door, I inspected the blue silk gown that hugged all her curves.“What are you doing here,enchanté?”
“I already told you…” She rolled her eyes, tempting me to take her over my knee and spank the petulance out of her.“I was lonely.”
“And I’m having a hard time believing that a woman as gorgeous and magnetic as you could ever be bored or lonely in a room full of people.”
