Anger mixes with sadness and disappointment at seeing this. I cannot let him hurt me anymore— I need him to know that this is done. Over.
I race home and strip out of my work clothes and into a pair of jeans, my burgundy Doc Martens, and a T-shirt, before slipping a plaid shirt over the top. Clipping half of my hair up, I race back to my car and drive to where I know the race is.
My heart thumps in my chest, my fingers flexing tightly around my steering wheel the entire drive there.
So many things rush through my head that it makes me sick to my stomach. My anxiety is building, making it hard to concentrate. I almost collide with a car when changing lanes, which scares the crap out of me but does not deter me from getting to that freaking race.
This man has made me see that I need to stay away from men. Freaking twice he has lied to my face, and I can only take so much. It is something that I never understood: the lying and cheating.
If you want to sleep around then fucking end the relationship that you are in. Believe me, a break-up hurts far less than finding out that your partner cheated.
Arriving in the desert, I find a parking space, and lock my car as I climb out. Tucking my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I go on the hunt for Crash and his club. Oh, and the ex-bestie, who is fucking my man.
Well, ex-man now. I am done being made a fool of.
My temper rules me in this moment, and I cling to the feeling, knowing it will help me get my point across without him or her steamrolling me.
“Hey, Stevie. Long time no see.” I turn to see Oscar.
“Oh, yeah. Hi, Oscar.”
“You here to watch Logan?” He walks beside me, a smile on his face.
“No, but have you seen him?” He nods.
“Oh, yeah, he is with his club and Val. I didn’t know they were back together, but I guess with the history they have, it was bound to happen, right?” My heart stutters at his words.
I know that he did not say that to hurt me, he probably has no idea what Crash is to me. So they are back together. He fucking lied to me, or the space I asked for gave him the opportunity to start something with her again. Clearly, I am not worth the effort.
We break through the crowd and my steps freeze in place, but Oscar keeps walking, not noticing that I have stopped.
Crash leans against his car, ankles crossed, his hands moving animatedly, while he speaks to his brothers. Val is at his side, smiling at whatever he is talking about.
My skin feels tight around my body, and my chest feels like it is being cracked open watching him being this close to her and not moving away. That just solidifies what they are.
As if she senses me, she looks up, and her eyes widen in glee that I have caught them.
She moves in, her face moving closer to his like she is whispering in his ear. Her hand lands on his arm, he doesn’t shake her off, and I feel sick.
My stomach churns, and my heart breaks.
I am not usually one to jump to conclusions, but this is not jumping, this is witnessing everything first hand.
Tears blur my vision, my anger fading, as heartache takes over. My fists clench at my sides, and I will myself to move, to walk away but I am frozen. Valarie, the woman I thought would be my best friend for the rest of my life, is taking great fucking pleasure in my pain.
People walk around me, some nudging me as they pass, but I cannot look away. It is like a train wreck that you know you have to look away from but can’t.
I get knocked forward a step, and the ‘Sorry, sweetheart’ catches the attention of Crash and his brothers.
Crash’s eyes widen in shock at seeing me, then it fades and he looks pissed. His lips press into a thin line, his steps heavy as he comes at me. I know he won’t hurt me, not physically, but my fear amps up the closer he gets.
I cannot take my eyes off him, as he storms in my direction, but it is his words that drive a blade right through my heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CRASH
My skin is crawling having Valarie so fucking close to me, and her little touches piss me off, but Racer gives me a look that tells me to suck it up and deal with it for tonight.
