Page 8 of Ruin

I feel…I don’t know how I feel. Angry. Hurt. Angry. Frustrated. Did I mention angry?

I’ll just get another job at another club. It’s not my main source of income anyway. I have a day job. I work admin at the police station.

I got the job at the club, so I could keep dancing. I put the money I earn into a savings account for Gigi for when she’s older to pay for college or dance school, whichever she chooses. She’s got the dance bug like her mama. And I know I’m biased, but she’s good.

So, leaving there won’t be the end of the world.

Seeing Zeus again would be.

The whole of my journey home is spent having internal arguments with myself.

Part of me thinks I should have said more to Zeus tonight. That I should have said all the things I wanted to say to him five years ago but never got the chance. The smart side of me knows that I did the right thing, walking away and not looking back. But…I don’t know.

I just know I want to get home and hug my daughter.

It hasn’t been long since I passed the Welcome to Port Washington sign when red and blue lights flash in my rearview.

Flicking on my turn signal, I slow my car down and pull over to the side of the road.

“If this is one of the guys screwing around, I’m gonna be pissed,” I mutter to myself.

I could really do without this tonight.

I glance in my rearview, and in the dark, I see the officer getting out of his car and walking toward mine.

I definitely wasn’t speeding. I know that for a fact. But, if I did do something wrong, trust me, being the niece of Detective Reed won’t get me out of a ticket. Not that I’ve tried to play that card.

Okay, well, maybe I have once or twice. But it’s never worked.

I roll my window down and wait to see who it is. I know all the cops in this town. I’ve lived here for close to five years, but working at the station and having my aunt on the force mean I’ve gotten to know all the cops.

“You’re heading home early. Everything okay?”

I know that voice, and it brings a smile to my lips. Something I didn’t think could happen tonight.

Rich Hastings is a guy I date. Well, maybe date is the wrong word. We hang out…in bed together. Sometimes, in his shower. Or on his kitchen table. Anyway, you get the picture.

I’m not looking for a relationship, and neither is Rich.

After getting burned by Zeus, letting a guy into my life, and Gigi’s, is not something I want to do.

Gigi thinks that Rich is just a guy Mommy works with. And he is. We also just happen to get naked together, too.

What I have with Rich works. We’re on the same page. Sex, no strings. We have good chemistry. The sex is great. He’s a nice guy. He makes me laugh. We have fun together.

I tip my face up to him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just felt a bit tired, so I left early.”

He leans down and puts his forearms on my car door, and I stare at his lovely face.

Rich is hot. Not Zeus hot. I don’t think anyone could be. Zeus is on a different level to all other men. I hate that.

But Rich is attractive in that all-American-boy kind of way. The exact opposite of Zeus. Blond hair. Green eyes. Six-two. Used to play college basketball. Athletic…hot. And he wears a uniform, so…you know, hot.

Rich’s eyes go down and widen as he takes in my outfit, which is showing beneath my open coat.

I have to stifle a laugh. Men are so easy.

I didn’t change out of my club clothes and into normal clothes like I usually do before heading home. I was in a rush to leave because of Zeus.