A Broken Forever(11)

"Yeah honey, we didn't know there was a past between the two of you."

A past but not a future was the first thing that crossed my mind. And I despised it.

"No, no, its fine you guys. Don't get all weird about it. I knew him but I don't anymore. That's it."

The bells above the door jingled and I immediately whipped my head around to see who it was. Relief flooded me as I saw Devin walk-well, okay-saunter in.

"Thank God you're here, Devin!" I yelled out with a large sigh. Yet another thing I didn't exactly mean to express. The six-foot tall Rock God looked from side-to-side before pointing to himself. Blue eyes lit up with amusement.

"Was that for me?" He shrugged his shoulders as if thinking about it. "I'm good with that reaction. It's good to see you too, Grey." 

Kacie rolled her eyes while Tyler openly eyed Devin from head to toe. Devin's biggest fan wasn't his girlfriend Kari; it was Tyler, and honestly if it weren't for Tyler, the two of them would have never met. One night Tyler needed a wingman, and they went to a bar where Devin's band was playing, and from the moment their eyes met it was love. Even now you could see it, the way his smile spread from ear-to-ear when he looked at her. The way her entire body glowed with pure love and happiness at seeing him.

Even though they had probably seen each other just a few hours before, she ran to him and jumped into his arms. Devin readily caught her and it didn't matter who saw or where they were; they kissed as though they had been apart for years. The simple sight made my heart ache. I loved Richard so much that I missed him every second I wasn't with him. But this was different. If I let myself remember the way things once were-I had once known the love they had. That-can't eat, can't sleep, can't go a day without being together-feeling. I've had that but I mean, how healthy could a feeling like that be?

Devin set Kari's legs back on the ground and ran a hand through his dark carelessly gelled, perfectly styled hair.

"Are you ready to go, babe?" Kari nodded her head and looked back my way. It wasn't until both sets of eyes were locked on me that I realized how closely I had been staring at them. A gentle smile touched her lips as if she knew what was running through the silent depths of my mind.

"Yeah, but Grey's coming out to eat with us."

Devin looked my way with one of his crowd adoring smiles that I had seen the dozen or so times I'd seen him perform.

"Sounds good, you can go ahead and grab your things. I'll just be right out front." Kari placed a kiss to his cheek before skipping back to her station.

A tender hand pressed against my shoulder and I jumped up, startled. Kacie stared at me with the big puppy dog eyes that were famous for making me cry.

Her voice was almost silent as she asked, "Are you okay?"

I gave my most convincing smile as I nodded. "I'm just fine. I promise," I reiterated before she could question me even further.

"Alright, well, don't hurry back or anything. I've got the place under control. Wendy and Lisa come in for their short shift in a few minutes, so I'll have them, Eloise and Tyler to help out. Nothing to worry yourself over."

"Thank you," I said, giving Kacie a kiss on the cheek before grabbing my purse and walking out with Kari to meet Devin.

He smiled around the cigarette held in his lips as he saw us walk out. "Dev! I thought you said you were going to quit smoking!" Kari yelled, grabbing the cigarette from his lips and tossing it to the ground.

"We agreed I would only smoke when I'm seriously stressed. Or drunk," he said with a wink.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"No, you said that and I told you that you might as well not try to quit at all, if that's what you're going to do." A mischievous grin touched the corner of his lips.

"Sounds like a good plan to me."

Kari huffed out a frustrated sigh, but didn't press it further. I'm sure it was because I was standing right there.

"How does Mexican sound? Kari and I found this amazing little hole-in-the-wall place right up the street."

I smiled with a nod. "Works for me."

We nodded in agreement and set off down the road. Devin took hold of Kari's hand and then it hit me; sitting back at the salon with Stefan's picture staring back at me was probably a much better solution.



       
         
       
        

Kari chatted animatedly trying to include me in everything they said, but I was in another world. My mind was drifting away and only my legs followed after them. We stopped at a busy intersection and waited to cross the street. I still had no idea where we were going, but I was happy for the fresh air; that was bound to help clear the fog from my mind-right?