Waylon shrugs. “Nah, not unless someone comes in. I’m not entirely sure why he had you come in today.”
With nothing to do, I go to a booth and settle in. I take out my notebook and work on the outline for my book.
There was a curveball Miranda hadn’t seen coming. Bryant had a past. He was harboring a dark secret. One that would wrack her to her core. He was already taken. His heart stolen by someone when he was just a boy. He hadn’t gotten his heart back yet and until he did, Miranda would never fully be his nor he hers. There was one problem among many that stood out to her. It coiled under her breasts, and weaved its tail through her ribs, cracking them as it constricted her bones. The monstrous thought clawed at her heart. What if Bryant didn’t want his heart back? What if he loved this other woman? What if he wanted to go back to his wife?
The door chimes and pulls me from my heavy thoughts. I look up to see a pretty woman smiling as she walks toward the bar where Waylon is swaying from side to side with his baby cradled in his arms. This must be Missy. She’s a petite woman with dark features, heavy lashes, and wide hips.
“How was your appointment?”
“It went great. I have the all clear to return to work.” I don’t miss the pout on her lips.
&
nbsp; “We’ve talked about this. If there was a way you could stay home full time, I’d give anything to make that happen, but even with me working two jobs, we can’t afford it.”
“I know.” She sighs, and he steps around the counter to hand the baby to her awaiting arms.
I feel awkward listening to such a private conversation, but it isn’t as though I can abstain from listening.
“Oh, Babe. This is Conleigh.” Waylon waves a hand in my direction and I smile.
“Hello. Lovely to meet you. I hope my husband isn’t giving you a rough time.”
“Not at all.” I wave dismissively. “You have a beautiful baby.”
“Thank you.” She turns her attention back to him and gives him a soft peck on the lips. “We will see you at home. Don’t be too late. Tell Holden, I’d prefer you home before two am.”
He grins at her. He attempts to drop his voice down low, but I can still hear what he says to her. “You want me home, so I can pay worship to that pussy that’s been without my attention for far too long.”
“Way!” She averts her eyes as her cheeks flame in embarrassment.
My cheeks redden as well but I think it is sexy and sweet that he talks to her like that. I look down at my notes pretending I didn’t hear their exchange.
“Hey, Conleigh. Hold down the fort, I’m going to see them out.”
“No problem. Take your time.”
I get up from my spot and decide I had better start doing something to earn my pay.
Chapter 20
Holden
It’s been days since I slept with my best friend’s girlfriend. It’s been days since I’ve slept at all. Conleigh, her name leaves a bittersweet taste on my tongue. I can still taste her on my lips and I wonder can she still feel me between her thighs. How does she do it? How does she lay next to him at night with me across the hall, knowing she would rather be lying next to me? Knowing that he will never make her feel the way that I do…alive.
I don’t know what he said to her to get her to ignore the fact that he’s a cheating slimeball. I don’t know what she’s trying to prove. Unless he was right. She got even with him and now she can move on and continue to live in denial. Is it his money? I want to believe that I know Conleigh better than that. I want to believe that she’s better than that.
I feel as though I have been on a weeklong bender but instead of being drunk from the alcohol, I’m drunk on her. Every day she gives me a weak half-hearted smile and shows up at the bar to work as though nothing has changed between us. I told her I could pretend it never happened but I lied. How can I forget the one night, the best night of my life that has ever actually meant something to me?
I know she isn’t fucking him, I lay awake every night listening like some sort of sick perverted weirdo, making sure he isn’t having what should be mine. Making sure she isn’t doing to him what she should be doing to me. I’ve played my part. I lied for her and told Ezra that she wasn’t at the apartment when he came home that night. I even drove her to Bailey’s dorm myself once Ezra passed out in a drunken haze. I even made the sorry bastard breakfast the next morning with his girl’s claw marks fresh on my back and he didn’t even notice, or if he did, he pretended not to see them.
Does he know the dirty things I want to do to the woman he plans on marrying? Does he know I want to lay her out on my bed and cover every centimeter of her skin with my cum like a crazed lunatic? Does he notice that I am always watching her, begging her to just fucking look at me like she did when I was buried deep inside her.
She doesn’t look at me often and when she does it cuts just like a knife because there is something wrong. She looks dead inside.
I’ve been trying to give her space, trying to keep my distance but I can’t keep going on like this. I don’t only want her…I need her.
I try to keep busy down in my workshop and at the bar, but I can’t stop from thinking about her. I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking about me too. Does she really love him that much?