Payback

We turn back onto the main highway, and my phone starts ringing. I pull it from my pocket and look at my phone. Shit. Ty is calling me. “How the hell did he get this number?” I ask myself just a little too loud.

“How did who get your number?” Jett asks.

“Ty,” I reply, fear rolling off me. I shove my phone back in my pocket and tighten my squeeze around Jett. Ty can’t get to me now, not while I’m with him.

“After all he did, you still talk to him?” he asks, clenching his jaw.

“No, I don't. I-I have no idea how he even got this number.” The first thing I did when I left the hospital was change numbers and carriers, again.

We pull into the parking lot of the little dive. The little building doesn't look like much and the pitiful attempt to brighten it up only highlights the broken parking lot and the peeling peach colored exterior. We park, and Jett takes my hands in his and looks at me with softness returning to his eyes.

“I don’t like that he calls you.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“That he called? Or that I don’t like it?”

“Both,” I admit honestly. I don’t like i

t either. I don’t want to ever see his face again. Bastard.

He raises an eyebrow, “Well, that’s settled. At least you’re starting to understand me better.”

I laugh. “And what should I understand about you, Jett? That you hate my ex? We have that in common.”

He kisses me on the forehead. “True.”

The interior of the cafe is surprisingly bright and inviting. The tables are all full so we take a seat at the counter. A sweet smell permeates from the kitchen, and it makes my mouth water. Jett looks at me and smiles, handing me a menu. “The eggplant parm is to die for,” he says, smiling.

A little elderly lady with salt and pepper hair comes to greet us. Her bright blue eyes showcase the youth still in her soul. “I'm Adaline and I'll be serving you today,” she says, her voice rising above the busy restaurant. She looks at me and over to Jett. “Jett?” she says, scolding him with her eyes still on me.

“Hi, Ada. I know I haven’t been in here a couple weeks. Sorry, I was busy.”

“Yeah ok, can’t even take time to come see me now that you have this little number with you,” she ,says patting his shoulder and giggling. “Sweet tea?” she asks. Jett nods and Ada scurries away, coming back quickly with two huge glasses.

“Thank you,” he says and Ada looks at me.

“Oh, where are my manners?” Ada says as she reaches out to take my hand. “I’m Ada. What’s your name, honey?”

“Nice to meet you, Ada, I'm Cami.”

She looks at me and grins. “You take care of this fella here, he's a good one.” I nod, feeling my cheeks begin to flush. I am still blown away by the willingness of people to accept us as a couple, even though I’m not sure that’s what we are.

She smiles a sweet smile and winks at me. “So what will you two be having? Might I recommend the chicken or eggplant parm? Those are the house specials.”

Jett nods. “We'll both have the eggplant parm.”

As she hurries away, I turn to him. “Come here often? I thought your club was in Memphis. But you have a house here, and you’re a regular. How long have you been in Nashville?”

He shifts uncomfortably. “A couple months.”

“What?”

“I came to find you, Cami. When you left that creep back in Memphis I convinced Wilson to come here with me and look for you. We hang out at a club here. They partner with us on some stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Like kicking the shit outta guys who think hitting nice girls like you is an ok pastime,” he says, barely above a whisper. His voice sounds like gravel—he’s angry, I know it.