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But for some reason, I really wanted to find out.
13
JANE
Pullinginto the clubhouse parking lot, I took a deep breath and put my SUV in park. I hadn’t seen or talked to Tank in over a week even though he texted me a few days ago. He wanted to know how my night out with the girls was, but I didn’t answer him. I had a lot to think about, and I knew if I talked to Tank, I would be too distracted. But he deserved an explanation for my silence, and I wanted to do that in person.
I refused to consider why it was so important to me that I talked to him in person. Refused to admit that in the past month, Tank had become the one person I talked to who told me the truth.
Every. Single. Time.
Whether I liked it or not.
Looking to the left, I saw the large garage doors were open and took a deep breath. I’d hoped he would be working because it was a Friday. I didn’t want to bother him while he was working, but the likelihood of him having a lot of extra time to talk me out of my decision was nil or at least that was my hope. With one last look, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I’d procrastinated long enough. I owed Tank an explanation, and that was what I would give him.
Pushing open the door, I stepped out and closed it behind me. I ran my hands over my hips, feeling the rough denim below my palms. My blouse sleeves billowed in the slight breeze while I moved, and my heeled boots clicked against the hard pavement.
I was almost to the open doors when I saw Ritz look out. Lifting his hand in a wave, he faced me when he spoke, but it was obvious he wasn’t talking to me.
Stopping outside the doors, I saw Tank leaning over the front of a car, but he was looking over his shoulder at me.
“Hey, Jane.”
Smiling, I glanced back at Ritz. “Hi, Ritz.”
Tank pushed to his full height, and Ritz glanced at us before gesturing toward the clubhouse. “Gotta get ready for work. I’ll catch up with you later, brother.”
“Yeah,” Tank muttered.
“It was nice seeing you again,” I said politely as Ritz walked out of the garage.
“Surprised to see you.”
I turned my head back to Tank when I heard his voice, but it wasn’t his words I noticed, it was his tone. I didn’t know how to answer him, how to explain why I was avoiding him. I’d had two hours in the car on my way here to figure it out, and I still hadn’t. I knew that was because I didn’t want to say the words I needed to.
Turns out, I didn’t need to yet.
“Haven’t seen or heard from you in over a week.” He slammed the hood shut, pulled a rag from his back pocket, and began wiping the grease from his hands. “Figured you got what you needed.”
Taken off guard by that, I shook my head. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” He threw the rag on the table by the door and finally faced me. “You have fun with the girls?”
“Yeah,” I replied, hesitating only a moment before continuing. “They helped me figure out some things.”
He put his hands on his hips. “Like what?”
“Just…” I started but then paused. This was my chance to tell him everything I discussed with the girls. They gave me a lot to think about, including what was best for me and my future. They didn’t realize they were talking me out of everything I’d wanted when I walked through the clubhouse doors a month ago. They thought they were encouraging me, but I knew myself, and the idea of losing everything and everyone terrified me. I was afraid to walk this new path, and even more, I was afraid I’d have to walk it alone. I didn’t know what Tank was to me, but he was important, and if I stayed in contact with him any longer, it would hurt too much to leave. It actually hurt just thinking about it, but it was for the best. “What’s good for me, that’s all.”
He studied me before moving a little closer. “Heard Bree offered you a job.”
“How did you know that?”
“Talked to Becs,” he explained. “She said Bree was really impressed with your house pictures and the events you’ve done.” When I nodded, he continued, “You gonna take it?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted.
“What’s stopping you?”
