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Searching Rae’s friend’s face, like it could give me the answer, I waited for her to say more.
When she didn’t, I tried to grasp onto what she was expressing.
“So, you’re saying I need to push harder for her to explain what happened?”
“I’m saying you need to push, pull, and don’t take no for an answer.Makeher talk to you.” With that, she untucked her hand and sauntered away toward a cotton candy stand.
* * *
The festival,or whatever they were calling it, was in full swing by the time I maneuvered into the center of the town square. Billy Jameson and a few of his friends were up on a makeshift stage, strumming guitars and singing a happy melody that had people dancing and laughing. The overall vibe of the town was jovial and carefree—it was the happiest I’d ever seen anyone in Macon. That flicker of pride grew into a roaring flame for Rae. I didn’t know of anyone else who could have done this for our city. No one else would have cared enough to.
The more I thought over what Nora had said, the more I realized how much of an idiot I had been regarding letting her go. She wanted to end it with a text, and I fucking let her. She wasn’t the coward, I was—but I was about to fix that.
Along the outside of the square, rows of partitioned booths were neatly arranged, open and ready to greet customers. From what I could tell, every single shop from Macon had a little tent, showcasing what they offered. Even the coffee shops had a spot, although theirs were set up in small food trucks, serving iced coffees for a dollar and black coffee for just fifty cents. I scanned the different shops represented, seeing Roger and Millie greeting people while they sold pies, and there, two spots down, was Rae.
My stomach flipped, and my chest seemed to expand at seeing her stand there in a pencil skirt and flirty blouse. She was talking to the owners of the Pine Stop—a small market that saw about six customers daily, if that.
Walking slowly, I edged to the side so that she wouldn’t see me. Just watching her in her element, pointing to the tablet she was carrying and using her hands to talk, made me smile. I liked seeing her beam as bright as a ray of sunshine. But with that pride came swift possessiveness. I wanted that light all to myself. I wanted her in my life—in my dark, cloudy existence. Currently, it felt as though all of Macon had a piece of her except me. My chest felt empty, my head dizzy as I continued to walk in her orbit without her knowing I was there.
Finally, she smiled and said goodbye, heading in the direction of her parents’ tent. There, she set her tablet down, glanced at her phone with a cute furrow to her brows, and said something to them both before slipping through the back of their tent.
Where was she going?
Quickly, I cleared the last tent in the row and veered to the small alleyway that acted as a sort of backstage for the event, cluttered with overflow packing materials, little camping chairs, a portable bathroom, and a few rolling coolers. Just beyond the alley was a glass door leading into city hall. That was where I found Rae, tugging out a key and unlocking the bottom lock then slipping inside.
She had an actual key to the city. The pride growing in my chest swelled.
Within seconds, I was silently slipping in, seeing she was already up a level and seemed to be headed to the public works office. I quickly followed, ensuring I kept pace with her. I cleared the steps right as the glass door to one of the offices swung shut, and a lamp clicked on inside, acting like a beacon.
Twisting the brass knob, I tugged the door open and let it shut silently behind me. The floor was covered in old, worn carpet, but past the receptionist desks were two offices, one of which was a corner office. I would bet money that was where Rae was. Thankfully the door to the office wasn’t shut all the way, just cracked. Carefully placing my hand against it, I found Rae inside and tried to make sense of what I was seeing.
29
DAVIS
Rae stoodin the middle of the floor with her shoes and skirt on the floor around her. Her ass and white lacy thong was on display and music played from her cell as she began unbuttoning her shirt.
What the fuck? Was someone in there with her?
Anger and jealousy swept through me so fast, I nearly lost my breath. It clouded my vision and made it impossible to think, which was why I pushed on the door and ambled through with a curse on my lips.
I began searching the room frantically, but the room was empty. The shades were slightly open, but not enough that anyone could see her.
“Davis, what the hell?” Rae yelped, grabbing the lapels of her blouse and hugging them close to her body as she stared at me, mouth hanging open.
“What the fuck, Rae?” I argued, my eyes still shifting around the room, searching for her lover.
Clenching her jaw and tapping her foot, she shook her head. “No, you first. What the heck are you doing up here? Did youfollowme?”
Obviously, I had.
“I was trying to talk to you, but you seemed like you were on a mission. I didn’t think I’d find you in herestripping.”
A little frustrated growl emanated from her chest as she moved to the corner of the room, snatching a bag off the floor. “I wasn’t stripping! Well, I was, but only because I can barely breathe or take a full step in that skirt. It’s so insanely uncomfortable. It’s my lunch break—an entire hour alone, where I get to rest, and eat, and not wear that demon skirt or this fucking bra.”
Oh.
Well, shit.
