Before I could respond, she hung up.I stared at the screen, trying to process the throat punch I’d just received.I expected her to hate me.I knew she’d probably blame me for everything that had ever gone wrong in her life, but hearing the venom in her voice only made me hate myself more.
I stared up at the iconic brick building that had been a landmark in my hometown for as long as I could remember, considering whether I should cancel on Austin.But I needed a beer… and to see Grace’s face.
I slammed the driver’s door harder than necessary, as I stalked toward the bar.Instead of being Grace’s designated driver tonight, I may need her to be mine.Getting shit-faced sounded like a hell of a plan right about now.
I spotted Grace right away, in a corner booth in the back.Her best friend was sitting across from her, but they weren’t alone.That bastard I’d seen in her social media pics was with them.Brandon.And he’d picked the wrong night to cross my path.
I held up a finger when I spotted Austin, letting him know I’d be right over.
As soon as Grace spotted me, her face drained of color.
I hadn’t texted to let her know I planned to meet her at Jimmy’s.I thought I’d surprise her.But she’d surprised me instead, by cozying up the sonofabitch whose number she claimed she’d blocked.She’d been in my bed every night for the past week, but she was still screwing around with this asshole behind my back?So much for shooting straight.
“Taz,” she said, jumping out of the booth before I reached it.“What are you doing here?”
“I came to have a drink with Austin.”I side-stepped her, giving her ex a fierce look.“Better question, what the hell is he doing here, with you?”
“He’s not with me,” she said, shooting a pleading look at her best friend as she planted her hands on my chest.“Brandon and Kaitlyn’s families have been friends forever.They were just catching up and I didn’t want to be rude?—”
“Who the hell is this?”Brandon asked Kaitlyn, hooking a thumb in my direction.
After the conversation I’d just had with Quinn, I could have torn this little puke apart with my bare hands without a second thought.
Grace turned to face her ex, planting her body in front of mine.It wasn’t a very effective barricade, since she was half my size.
“Brandon, this is um, my friend, Taz.”
“Try.Again.,” I growled in her ear.
She splayed her arms out in front of her.“He’s— we’re— we’ve been—” She looked so desperate it made Kaitlyn cringe.
“Let me help you,” I said, pointing at him.“He’s my boyfriend.We’re sleeping together.We’ve been spending every goddamn night together.Is that clear enough for you, asshole?”
Grace turned into my arms.“Please,” she whispered.“Don’t do this.Think of your career.Someone is going to record this and post it online.”
“You think I give a shit about that?”
She grabbed my hand.“Come outside with me.You need to cool off.”
I knew she was right, so I didn’t fight her.I owed it to Luc and my label to get my shit together and quit acting like I had nothing to lose.
As soon as we were outside, I laced my hands behind my neck and started walking in circles.I was losing my mind.First my daughter goes off on me, then the only woman I’d ever really let myself care about, gives me reason to question everything I thought we were building.
“Taz,” she said gently, resting her hand on my back.“You need to calm down and let me explain.”
“You told me you blocked his number!”I stabbed a finger in the direction of the bar.“You said you wanted nothing to do with him!”
“Sssh.”She faked a smile for a group of people who pulled up to the curb in an Uber and hopped out before casting a curious look in our direction and rushing inside.“You have to calm down and listen to me.What the hell has got you so worked up?And don’t tell me it’s just seeing me with Brandon.You wouldn’t?—”
“You really want to know?”I narrowed my eyes, curling my hands into fists at my sides.“I just talked to my daughter.”
She gasped.“You did?”
“Yeah, and just like I suspected, she hates my guts.”I flattened my palm against my chest.“I hate my guts.But I thought if I saw you, if I could talk to you about it, maybe I wouldn’t feel like the biggest asshole on the planet for abandoning my daughter,”
“Baby, you didn’t abandon her.You didn’t have a choice.”
She tried to reach out to me, but I stepped back, out of her reach.“Don’t even try.I got to get the hell out of here before I say or do something we’ll both regret.”
