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“Um, hi, I’m Simon,” the other side of the heartbreak duo offered.
“Darcie, LJ’s Nashville Bestie. And I know all about y’all. I think you’ve got some ‘splainin to do.” I could’ve kissed her for giving it to them, supporting me despite the fact a mere ten seconds ago she was swooning. Girls unite! I hadsoneeded a friend like her in my life.
“Ouch, you wound me with those words. Say it isn’t so, Lenn. Have I been replaced?”
“Well…” I shrugged, not having it in me to soothe him. I held his eyes, and he nodded, accepting my words. His face fell, and I felt terrible, but one night of secret revealing didn’t mean I magically forgave them for all the pain and events that had led to me being here in the first place. Darcie picked up on the awkwardness and, in her bubbly self way, jumped in to save the conversation.
“So, I know y’all have some things to work on, but any plans while you’re here? Gonna check out the Wild Horse Saloon?”
“Oh, um. Not sure,” Simon answered, finally dropping my eyes as he turned to her. “We hadn’t really made plans other than to find Lennox.”
“Well, that settles it then. We’re all going. Tonight! I teach a class at 5 pm, and I expect you all to be there. Even you, grumpy butt.” She lifted her eyebrows to Slade, who only smirked, not answering. He stretched and laid his arm on the back of the booth like he was some guy out of a romcom. The move was so casual and innocent, yet when he started playing with my hair, it felt like he was caressing my entire body with reverence based on the attention he gave to each strand.
Pull it together, girl! You will not be swayed with sexy boy magic.
He reached over to grab a piece of bacon off my plate, and I shifted out of his reach. Taking a bite, Slade held my gaze as he licked his lips slowly, dragging his tongue intentionally over a corner lip piercing. Hot jealousy rushed through me at the realization he’d gotten a piercing done by someone else done during my absence, or worse had replaced me at Emblazed Tats. The factI’d quitwas lost on me at the moment.
Scowling, I turned back to my plate, pulling the rest of my food out of his reach. I couldn’t stop the words from rising up out of me though a second later, spewing the visceral rage onto him.
“Nicepiercing. Hope you checked their references thoroughly as you did mine. Though, it’s a little off. Clearly you had to get sub par help in my absence. I’m sure they’re not as qualified or as friendly as me.” Sitting back, I huffed in annoyance, crossing my arms.
“Oh, this?” He brushed his thumb over it, carefully dragging it across his mouth, dropping the lower lip as he did. Hot chocolate lava cake, that was hot! The fart knocker was deliberately trying to seduce me! At this point, the rest of the booth and the restaurant faded away and I became lost in his espresso eyes, now so full of light at knowing he had me.
I didn’t want to admit how hot and bothered it made me. Stupid boy! Stupid boy and his hot guy swagger! Clearly, I needed to put him in his place.
“No, the one on your dong, buttmunch.”
The level of sarcasm in my tone was top notch, and I inwardly applauded myself for the zinger. In fact, it was so stellar, it took Slade by surprise, causing him to choke on the bite of bacon he’d just stolen. He coughed, his face turning red at the violent motion, and I worried I’d killed the dude. Wouldn’t that be just the way it would go? Curse 2.0.
Breaking news! Lennox Elaine James, murderer! The weapon used? Sarcasm!
Thankfully, Darcie shoved a glass of water at him, and he drank it, saving himself from choking. Once he’d collected himself, he wiped his mouth and gave me a rueful look.
“James, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve missed that mouth of yours.” He leaned closer, moving my hair back so he could whisper into my ear. His fingertips brushed lightly against the pulse point in my neck causing my heart rate to speed up. His breath skated along my skin, goosebumps rising to the occasion as he spoke, and I concentrated on releasing my breath I’d unknowingly held. “Oh, the things I want to do to you. You’ll cave first,Peach. You can’t be mad at me forever.”
The usual obstinance I felt in his presence rose, and I found myself laughing in his face. “We’ll see aboutthat, Evans.”
Turning back to the table, I found Darcie and Simon watching us from across the table, heated looks on both their faces. When they saw me turn, Simon winked, not hiding his desire, while Darcie fanned herself with her hand.
“Oh, wow! I mean, I thought I knew what sexual tension looked like, butnope, that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I think I need to go find a cowboy and save that horse, pronto!”
Shaking my head, I chuckled at her nonsense, she was too much not to love. “They’re all yours, Darce. I gotta go anyway. I’ll see you tonight, though.”
Pushing on Slade’s arm, he didn’t budge, only lifting his eyebrows in question. Clearly he had no intention of letting me leave here. Too bad, Tatzilla. Tossing my purse strap over my body, I pulled out cash and placed it on the table, silence all around me as the three of them watched. Leaning over the table, I gave Darcie a hug before vaulting over the back of the booth. Slade and Simon gaped at me while Darcie just laughed, catcalling me the whole way out of the restaurant. I stopped at the door to look at them, but neither had moved, too shocked at my maneuver. Winking, I pushed open the door, waving my fingers at them as I exited. I vaguely heard Simon say something to Slade as I left, making me chuckle.
“I told you she was wiley!”
Feeling pleased with myself for outsmarting them, I found a skip in my step as I quickly made my way around the diner. A fire also burned in my belly, a feeling that hadn’t been there in months, waking me up and warming my insides. I didn’t want to admit it was because of them, two pieces of my heart returning to me, the smudges coalescing as they blended our lives together. The lines between us were no longer as clear, becoming more and more blurred with each new revelation. Hope sparked to life in the pit of my heart, an emotion I hadn’t thought I’d truly ever feel again. It lit a tiny ember of belief that maybe I could have an epic love story that didn’t end in tragedy.
I didn’t want to forgive them yet. I needed time to heal and trust them again, but it no longer belonged in theneverhappening column. That was a truth I could accept for now.
Mostly, I just needed to figure out what the h-e-double hockey sticks was going on.
* * *
Walking into the dim bar,I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the lighting. It had been so bright outside, the sun shining high in the sky that it had taken me a minute to adjust. Surveying the bar, I spotted him at our usual table. He lifted his hand, waving to get my attention, a warm smile on his handsome face. Walking over, I tried to squash the anxiety rising up, wanting to flood my system. This was probably a stupid idea, one I knew the guys wouldn’t approve of or understand.
But I needed to do this.
