“I’ll get on my knees and beg.”
“Please, no. I don’t doubt that you would but this hurts me too. I’m just trying to be smart about this. If you believe it’s meant to be, then hold on to that. Okay? Maybe I’m wrong.” She fixed her fringe and spoke one last sentence. “I hope I’m wrong.”
I ran a hand over my mouth. I couldn’t speak, my emotions were too close to the edge. What else could I do? She needed to go. I wasn’t going to make her feel bad. Was this karma for my screwups?
“I’m going to go.” I closed my eyes against the pain as she spoke. “Thank you. You have no idea what this night meant to me. You’re amazing.” She pressed a palm to my cheek.
I leaned into the touch unable to watch her leave. When I opened my eyes again, she was in the lobby of the hotel. She looked back and her eyes shone as she gave me one last sad wave.
I stood there staring after her for longer than I cared to admit, hoping she’d come running out. But she never did. Whatever held her back was bigger than our instant connection.
I stumbled back across the street to the bar where my car was parked. My heart ached in my chest and I wondered how many hits it could take before it gave out.
Carillo’s was shut down for the night, the parking lot mostly empty. I was so lost in my head that I didn’t see Ty, the bouncer, until we practically bumped into each other.
“Sanders. What’s up, my brother from down under?” He pronounced under as “undah.”
“Hey, Ty,” I mumbled, getting my keys from my pocket.
“What’s wrong, man? I’ve never seen you frown before.”
“I met someone.”
“The girl from your work? I saw you talking.” He pointed to where I returned the jacket to Roxy. “I take it that things didn’t go so well.”
“Not so much.” I turned to go to my car when his words hit me. “What do you mean, from work? I just met her here tonight,” I said.
“Really? I assumed she was part of your crew since she gave me William’s name to get in.”
My head shot up. “She did?”
He looked around, my sudden shift in mood had him suspicious. “Yeah, she said she was with Outside the Box, or maybe she just said she knew him. Sorry, man, I see a lot of people in one night, I can’t remember exactly what she said.”
“I could kiss you!” I grabbed the big man’s shoulders and shook him.
He chuckled but backed away wearily. “Check with William. I’m sure that she said she knew him.”
My heart raced with hope. I hadn’t lost this day after all. I’d call Skip, AKA William—my best friend and co-owner of Outside the Box—first thing in the morning. There was still a chance.
Roxy may not believe in destiny, but I did. And the universe just smacked me in the head with the mother of all signs.
Chapter 5
Roxy
The axe went flying out of my hand and the handle hit the target. It flopped to the ground with a sad thump. Instead of our usually scheduled meetup, we’d decided on this outing last minute. Even though Kim was at rehearsal, Suzie, Gretchen, and I took the SWS on the road and headed out to Knoxville for a change. They’d been hammering me for details ever since I got back yesterday afternoon. I slept the rest of Saturday instead of preparing for my meeting with Vincent this week to discuss my promotion. They let me be, but now on Sunday they were done waiting patiently.
Tons of students milled about the surprisingly packed hipster hangout, making us feel ancient. There was a bar with a few local brews on tap and lanes designated for throwing axes. Beer and weapons seemed like a risky business venture, but even I had to admit it was fun. Us scorned women typically have a lot of energy to burn. Though tonight I wasn’t feeling very scorned, more sorry.
“And then I packed my bag and left for the airport.” The next axe flew out of my hand and hit the target but didn’t stick. “This is stupid,” I mumbled. I shook out my arm not at all surprised at my total lack of athletic ability.
Gretchen walked forward in the lane next to mine. “You just left? Without even getting his number?” Her axe flipped smoothly in the air and glided down the lane as though guided.
THUNK.
Hers hit the center of the target and stuck with the satisfying thunk I had been hoping for. Of course.
“Ugh,” I growled.
