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The thought of her rushing off to see the suit from last night knots my gut. It’s not my business, but I haven’t been able to shake the image of her holding his hand as they walked down the sidewalk.
“I’m not answering that.” She says harshly, her arms crossing her chest.
“Are you seeing him again?” I push for more because I want her to tell me that he’s nobody.
Her bare ring finger gives me hope, but it doesn’t mean that she’s not in love with the guy.
“Who?” she spits the word at me.
“The guy you met up with last night.”
Her eyes narrow. “Preston.”
I don’t want to know his goddamn name. That only adds to the hell I’ve put myself in.
“Preston,” I repeat it back in a low voice. “Is Preston your boyfriend?”
Her fingers skim over the top button on her blouse. “He’s a man I’ve been seeing.”
The heavens must be smiling down on me tonight. He’s not her boyfriend. She would have confirmed that. It’s a casual thing.
I take that as a sign and jump in with both feet. “I want to talk, Katie. I want to explain what happened five years ago.”
Her gaze darts to the shelves on the wall behind me. I watch her face intently as she scans each of them. I see the moment when realization hits her.
Memories of the life we shared back in California are on one of those shelves. I’ve never let them go. I’ve carried them with me everywhere.
Chapter 14
Kate
My gaze catches on the wall behind the bar.
A large mirror hangs in the center, but the glass shelves that border it are crowded with liquor bottles.
My eyes lock on a leather-scented candle, a collection of poetry books, and a chess set on the top shelf.
I take in each item. All are a memory of my past. The past I shared with Gage.
My heart feels like it’s squeezing into a tight ball inside my chest.
I tap my hand over it, willing it to stop aching.
“Do you want me to clean these flowers up, Gage?” A deep voice asks.
I turn and look into the face of a dark-haired man wearing glasses. He shoves his hand in my direction. “I’m Zeke.”
His arms are covered with tattoos. He’s wearing a black T-shirt with Tin Anchor printed across the front in white lettering.
I take his hand for a soft shake, not offering anything but a half-smile.
Gage slides a glass of water toward me. “This is Katie.”
Zeke’s eyes widen. “I’ve heard about you.”
I’m tempted to ask what he’s heard, but I stop myself. I don’t care what Gage has told him about me because I doubt like hell he included the part where he dumped me days before our wedding so he could sail the high seas.
“I’ll take care of the flowers,” Gage pats Zeke’s forearm. “I’d appreciate if you take over the bar. Callie’s got the floor covered.”
