Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

I grin. “I love to eat.”

“I know.” He flashes me a wide grin before sitting down, and I do the same.

I reach into my bag, ignoring my broken shoe, and grab the cupcake tub I packed. I open it, setting out the cupcakes, thankful I threw an ice pack in my bag to keep them cool.

“Wow, those are pretty.”

I beam. “They taste even better,” I promise as I place them around on the meat and cheese board he chose for us. “Perfection!”

“Agreed.” We dig in. Then, with a mouth full of cheese, I make a chicken salad sandwich while he inhales a cupcake. “So good.”

“Told you,” I say confidently before I take a bite of my sandwich.

“So damn good. You are choosing the right career, Stella.”

“Thanks.” I cover my mouth as I chew. “Hope my family agrees.”

“They will,” he promises as he reaches for another cupcake. “Just make them one of these RumChata cupcakes, and they’ll totally be on board.”

I smile as I watch him devour his cupcake. “So, I didn’t know you were adopted.”

He pauses for a second and then nods slowly. After he swallows his cupcake, he clears his throat. “Yeah, I lost my mom to cancer when I was younger, and when my dad remarried, he and his wife weren’t the best to me, and they lost custody.”

“Oh damn.”

“Yeah, it was a shitshow. But I’m better now. Loads of therapy.”

“I’m sorry. That sucks.”

“It is what is it. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I’m growing.”

I smile. “Is that why you’re open to dating me now?”

He grins. “A lot has changed over the last couple months. I made some breakthroughs with my therapist and stuff. Sucks that she’s leaving. I have my first session with her and the new lady tomorrow.”

“That’s tough. I’m sure that’s not easy.”

“Yeah, I’ve been with mine for so long, and I’d rather not get to know someone else.”

“I get that, but be open. You don’t want to stop growing because you don’t like change. Sometimes change is needed to grow.”

“Very true,” he says, meeting my gaze.

“Do you speak to your dad, since you were adopted and all?”

I see fear, I think, move across his face. “Not at all. I don’t want anything to do with him.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to ask why; if he wanted me to know, he’d tell me. I want to know, though, so badly, but I can tell it’s a story he isn’t ready to share yet. Also, I don’t want to ruin this. The picnic is perfect, the ride was incredible, and the guy sitting across from me is a dream on legs. I may want to know his past, but I’ll wait for him to tell me. Because while this has been the biggest shitshow of a start to any date ever, it’s shaping up to be my favorite.

And there is no way in hell I’m going to say or do something to scare him off.

Chapter Fifteen

Wes

I’m on cloud nine. Truly.

There have been some highlights in my life. Winning the Cup back-to-back. Being drafted. My first NHL goal. But the thing is, all that has been related to my career. I have no personal highlights. How could I? My personal life is a walking fuckup that continues over and over again. I’ve never felt like I could have a good personal life. Even with past girlfriends, I never had a moment when I felt good about where I was or who I was with. With Jessica, we dated for a year, and I feel like I tried so hard to be what she wanted me to be. But I wasn’t enough, and she cheated. Then with Cora, I wouldn’t give myself to her, and she didn’t trust me. I know for a fact that I’m not the man I was when I was with them. Yeah, I’ve been around Nashville a time or two and had a number of lovers, but I want more for myself now. I deserve more.

I’ve spent so many years beating myself up and blaming myself for what happened to me. When I finally realized it wasn’t my fault, I fucked my feelings out. I drank them away. I tried relationships, but they weren’t with the person I was supposed to be with. I’m not saying I’ve found my soul mate, but come the hell on, I don’t think I could do better than Stella. She’s undeniably astonishing. She’s funny, she’s witty, she’s quick with the comebacks. She’s fucking gorgeous, and anyone who has a sister like Emery and has survived has to be incredibly strong.

I want to tell her about my past. I want to tell her why I’m in therapy, but I have to remind myself, it’s our first date. Well, second, if you count the coffee date. Oh, and yeah, I’ve pinned her to a wall and had my hand down her skirt and in her bra, but I’m not that man anymore. Nine months ago, I was wild and trying to cover up what happened when my dad showed up in Nashville. He’d sent me into a tailspin, and hearing Stella tell me she wanted more woke me up. I took my therapy seriously. I started to trust and be honest with my friends. I got my own place. I changed. I grew. And fuck, I hope Aiden is on board. I hope I can convince him I am better.