“She’s in Charleston. I’ll give you the address, but on one condition.” She peered at him.
“I think I know what you’re going to say. Bring it.”
“Don’t you hurt her, or I will be chasing your ass to Charleston and back. She doesn’t deserve to have her heart broken again.” Blair scribbled Maggie’s address down from the contact screen on her phone. “Here.” She handed it to him.
“Thanks. And I don’t know what I think about everything with Denny Zeal yet, but I need to talk to her.”
“Yes, you do.” Blair reached up and hugged him.
“What’s that for?” He looked at her puzzled.
“Because you’re going to need a whole lotta luck.” Blair giggled.
“You’re telling me.” He shoved the address in his pocket. “Hey, I know I’ve been kind of an ass, or as you called me so many times, an asshole, but could you do me a favor? Just for the night.”
“What’s that?”
“Please don’t tell Maggie I’m on my way. I need to talk to her and—”
Blair smiled. “And you’re worried if I tell her you’re on the way she might not want to see you.”
Reid looked at his feet. “Yeah. Something like that.”
“Ok, but same goes for you. Don’t tell Justyn I’m headed to the Dock House.”
Reid extended his hand and laughed. “We better shake on it.”
Blair looked at the clock on the wall. “I need to go if I’m going to catch him.”
“Aw, you’ll be fine. He’ll be there ’til closin’ time.” Reid winced as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
Blair’s smile changed quickly. “What are you saying? He stays out all night?”
She tried to keep the jealousy and suspicions out of her voice, but it was hard to forget the fan girl groupies who were always waiting for Justyn after his shows. Any one of them would be more than happy to go home with him, if he gave them the chance. A sour pit formed in her stomach.
“You’ve been gone a whole month, girl. I think you need to get down there and see for yourself.” Reid walked to the office and turned off the lights.
Blair fumbled with the doorknob and walked out, the briskness of October wrapping around her shoulders. Reid was right behind her. She looked at the rental car and thought of the twenty-minute drive to the Dock House. She wasn’t sure she could make it there; her emotions were all over the place.
Reid patted her on the shoulder before walking to his Jeep. “Enjoy the show. It was good seeing you.” He climbed in and peeled onto the road before she could pepper him with more questions about Justyn.
Dammit. I better get this over with. I didn’t come just give up Dallas for nothing. She sent the car into drive and made her way to Beaufort, to Justyn.
Three
Blair
Tuesday nights in October were a far cry from the crowded summer nights Blair was used to. She pulled into an empty parking space close to the Dock House sidewalk. Justyn’s truck wasn’t here, but Reid had told her this is where he was for the night.
This was the last place she should be. The absolute last place. She woke up this morning in hot and dusty Dallas, and now she was standing outside of the Dock House while boats rocked in their slips.
Her heel made a hollow sound as it hit the parking lot pavement. She slammed the car door behind her and inhaled, taking in this place and all the memories they had made.
The wind whipped through her hair. She hesitated. This was all wrong. She shouldn’t be here. But she had to know. She had to see him again.
She pushed open the door, her heart in her throat, her palms dewy with perspiration, her breath fevered.
Was any of it real, or was it all just a flash of summer heat?