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“It’s the name of the bar they own together.” She shakes her head.
I nod back. “Yes.” She’s still shaking her head slowly, and she looks like she’s not going to stop. “Shay, unless you’re trying to hypnotize me, could you stop that, please?”
“What did he say?” she asks, voice flat, with zero emotion, robotic.
“Are you okay?” Maybe I shouldn’t have brought this up.
“I’m fine. What did he say? Did he ask...”
“He didn’t ask about you. But we didn’t have much time to talk. I was trying to get away as fast as I could after meeting Bree. Are you sure you’re okay? I wouldn’t have brought it up if I knew it was going to upset you.”
“No, no, I’m not upset. I couldn’t care less.” She gets up off the couch. “I have to go. I’m happy things weren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be.” She heads to the door like she needs a fix or something.
What the hell? “Shay, call me if you need to talk, okay?”
She turns and smiles. “Why would I need to talk, when I’m fine? See ya. Don’t forget to lock up, love you.” She closes the door, effectively cutting off anything else I would say.
What the hell? I guess Trigg was right. Some things are better left alone. No need to poke the injured bear.
All the locks, all the windows are closed, Jacob is safe sleeping in his bed. As I’m going through my nightly checklist in my head, the phone rings. It’s the last person I expect.
“Hi, Landon.”
“Hey. I was wondering could we meet up somewhere else for the project, if you don’t mind?”
If she didn’t before, I’m betting Bree knows who I am now. And it didn’t go over well. We won’t be meeting up at his house. “Let me guess. Bree wants to throw me a great big surprise party to celebrate our impending friendship as BFFs.”
His silence means I’ve hit the nail on the head. “Maybe if you got to know each other you could get to be friends,” he offers cautiously.
“Not with our crash and burn past.”
“Lace—” his voice sinks.
The low way he says my name, I’m sorry I made the sarcastic remark. “No, let’s not go there. Too late in the night. Let’s stay on the surface of it. I couldn’t be friends with your wife. Would you really want me to? Trading relationship stories?”
“You have a point.” He sighs.
“You told her who I was, and she didn’t take it well?” Who would?
“It has nothing to do with you personally.”
“Sure. I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yes. You and Jackson can come to my house.”
“You don’t mind? If you don’t want me there, I’ll find somewhere else, or we can come back to the bar. It’s just I don’t bring Jackson to the bar a lot. Only when I’m working and Bree’s working.”
“Landon, take a breath. It’s fine. I don’t mind you being here. We discussed this already. We’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
“Great,” he sighs, sounding relieved more than stressed this time. “Thanks for understanding.”
I bob my head, as if he can see me I nod. “See you Saturday. Oh, and, Landon, the address hasn’t changed. I still live at my mother’s. The garage and first floor have been converted into my apartment.” He’s about to say something, but I end the call before he has the chance.
My phone chimes, and I look down at it. I knew he had more to say. I smile before looking at the text.
Landon: I’m not sure we should meet at your place. Wouldn’t it be strange, bring up things we don’t want to revisit?
