Jesse (Damage Control 2)

“Why would I want to talk to you?” I bite out the words, surprised that the tremor inside me doesn’t reach my voice. “Go away, Nick. I’m not weak anymore.”

“You never were,” he says, and I wait for him to catch up with me, not even sure why. “Would you have coffee with me?”

“No, I wouldn’t.” Is he serious? “What do you want?”

“Fair enough.” He smiles, rubs his chin. His blue eyes are clear when he looks back up. “I know I hurt you in the past, Amber, and since I found out you were back in town, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Why?” The million dollar question.

“To say I’m sorry.”

His words hang in the bright sunlight, incongruous and unexpected, despite what Ev told me this morning.

I don’t know what to say, how to react. Is everything okay because he’s sorry? Can I forgive him? He pushed me to the very edge of sanity. He pushed me until I thought life wasn’t what it’s cracked up to be. That ending it might be a solution.

I turn to go, my muscles shaking with the need to start running until I can’t go on anymore. “Good for you,” I whisper.

“Please.” He circles me, holding out something. “My card. Take it. I know what I did was unforgivable. But who knows? Maybe one day you will find in you to forgive me. If there’s anything I can do for you, all you have to do is ask.”

Okay. Who is this guy, and what has he done with Nick Harris? I take his card, numb, nod, and watch him walk away.

Jesus. With a shudder, I stick his card into my purse and draw in a fortifying breath. I survived the meeting. I faced my bully and didn’t flinch. Didn’t run away.

A smile spreads on my face. I did it. I faced my fear.

With this, I figure I’ve had my dose of unwanted encounters for the day. Things can only get better, right?

So it’s a shock to my system when I arrive at the café on Lake Street and find Cassie outside, by the door.

Blond hair loose, dressed in a long dress, she looks like a fairy.

An evil fairy.

I stop and face her. I’m on a roll. “You. I don’t believe Jesse came onto you. Not for a second.”

She shrugs, her mouth downturned at the corners. “I never said he did.”

I gape at her. Words are failing me. I never thought she’d admit it.

“You and everyone else assumed he was the one who flirted with me and kissed me. You have no faith in him, and you’re right not to.” She pushes off the wall and sighs. “I’m doing you a favor, don’t you see? Jesse is like me: he doesn’t like attachments. He’s not the kind of boy you need.”

“But I’m the kind of girl he needs,” I say, finding I believe the words as they spill from my mouth. “And even more importantly, he’s the boy I love. So I’d appreciate it if you stopped getting in the way.”

Looks like the strangeness of the day isn’t yet over, but damn, saying those words to the bitch’s face sure felt good.

Chapter Twenty

Jesse

Weaving through the familiar narrow streets and back alleys, I try to ignore the feeling I’m being followed, because that’s just… paranoia. Nobody’s behind me when I turn.

Except for a tall shadow that vanishes behind a dumpster.

Still… No. Just no. Get your shit together, J.

Jason is having a quick smoke behind the Golden Dragon, a new Chinese restaurant near his usual spot. He gets up when he sees me, a dark brow arched, and whistles. “Man, who pissed on your parade?”

I pull out my pack of smokes and light up, then rub at the stubble on my chin. “Aren’t whores supposed to be sensitive and empathic and not ask such stupidly blunt questions?”