Secrets & Lies (Roughshod Rollers MC 3)

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “It’s good to meet you.” I glance at Allison. “What about Owen?”

“Taken care of,” Allison says dismissively. “Hazel is picking him up.”

I stare at her. “When did you get Hazel’s number?”

Allison just grins impishly at me and steers me toward a small black car. I slide slowly into the back seat. It’s very clean inside, and it still has that new car smell.

The drive back to Allison’s apartment is quiet. I can see Allison shooting glances at me, but I don’t look back, not wanting to meet her eyes. There’s something shameful about knowing that she’s realized that something is wrong. I should have just answered those damn messages.

When we get to the apartment, I’m not surprised to see Kyle there. He glances at me as we walk in, frowning.

“Is everything okay?” he asks me. “Allison was worried sick about you.”

No, it’s not, I want to scream. You didn’t see the look I put on his face!

“It’s fine,” I say. “Sorry for worrying everyone.”

“Kyle, can you make coffee?” Allison asks hopefully.

“Do you want me to go?” Georgia asks.

“No, stay,” Allison says, giving her a meaningful look.

I shrug, not caring one way or the other. I can guess, from the way Allison looks at the woman, that Georgia probably knows a few things. I might have cared about that on Thursday. I don’t care now.

“So?” Allison asks, leading me to the table. “Why did you suddenly go MIA?”

“I had stuff to think about,” I tell her.

She narrows her eyes at me. “I’m not going to beat around the bush with you, Jessica. I know what you were going to tell Grant. You said you were going to tell him the truth, right? I don’t really know what you said to him…but, seeing you like this, I take it that it didn’t go so well?”

Grant’s blank eyes flash across my vision again.

“I don’t know,” I say quietly. “We… He didn’t say much. He just asked me to leave so he could think. I haven’t heard from him since.”

There’s a clatter in the kitchen. Kyle has dropped a spoon in the sink.

“Have you?” I ask him.

Kyle’s lips purse. “No,” he says. “I can’t get a hold of him. I went to the bar last night, but he just told me he didn’t want to talk about it.” He pauses. “Alex was there though.”

Alex. I close my eyes. Have I ruined that friendship? I hope not. Alex tried his best and was loyal to his friend. The only reason I discovered anything was because I broke into his office.

“I think Alex knows what happened,” I say quietly.

Georgia is sitting quietly. She isn’t saying anything, and she isn’t looking at me, giving me the illusion of privacy. Allison, on the other hand, is staring directly at me, her gaze challenging, It’s almost amusing to see how different these two women are.

“So what happened?” Allison presses.

My eyes burn and my hands quake on the table as Kyle brings over coffee.

“I messed up,” I choke out. “Big time. And I don’t think I can go back from it. If Grant ever forgives me…it’ll be a miracle.”

“It can’t be that bad…” Allison tries.

I lift my head and look at Kyle directly.

“Do you…know much about Grant’s past?” I ask.