“Who told you that?”
“My father.”
I’m not even sure why I asked. I already knew the answer. Maybe I just wanted to hear her voice. “He was a drunk back then. He didn’t mean it.” Glancing over my shoulder at her beautiful face, I add, “If he were still alive he’d tell you that. You meant the world to him, Reese.”
“You’re right. He would.” She inhales a deep breath, then slowly blows it out. “But I’ve cried enough tears over you.”
I get it. You’ve made it clear. “I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to me.”
“I can’t talk to you.” She averts her eyes. “Please, can we just go?”
I rev the engine, honoring her wishes. Neither of us speak the whole way home.
The next day I replace the battery in her piece of shit car. If I said her shock didn’t sting a bit, I’d been lying. What does it take for the woman to realize what she means to me—the lengths I would go to make her happy? I’m convinced the boyfriend had something to do with her nixing the private lessons. He doesn’t like our working together, worried I’m gonna take back what he took from me. All I know is I don’t trust him, and I’m not alone in that opinion. Logan’s had his number from the get-go.
“What about you, boy?” I ask my furry best friend, rubbing the top of his head. “You don’t like him either, huh?” He whimpers and his ears perk up, but then he’s back to chewing on his toy. The front door swings open, and Logan strides in with a couple of beers, looking like he needs to talk. I lift my chin, and he hands one over after twisting off the cap.
“Dude, you’re gonna need this.”
I gesture to the lazy boy across from me. “Take a seat.”
“Can’t stay long. Gia and I are headed up to Heartland’s for happy hour. Come up.” He bends over and pats Chance on the head. “Hey buddy, what you got there?” He glances my way before adding, “Sean and Reese are goin’.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll pass.”
“You might change your mind after you hear this.”
“I can’t be around that prick.”
“Dude, listen.” His eyes go wide. “You know how I told you about Gia being a pain in the ass lately—accusing me of shit for no reason.”
I nod, taking a pull from the bottle. It’s all he ever talks about.
“Two weeks to the date … there’s been no sex, bro. She thinks I’m keeping secrets. One day we were talking about the future, marriage, poppin’ out a couple of kids. The next, she’s going on about bros before hos. Not making any sense.”
I try to process all that, still going over the marriage part and Logan. “Must have done something to piss her off.” I take another swig. “Talk to her, find out what’s setting her off.” Not like I’m the expert. That’s a joke.
“I’m getting to that. Hold up. It’s sort of a long story,” he says, finally sitting down. “So today we’re at the house. I’m trying to get laid, and she’s pushing me away again. I get pissed. She never used to refuse me. My mind starts going, and I’m wondering if she’s fuckin’ someone else, so I ask her.” I choke out a laugh. I’m sure that went over well. “Yeah, I know … she was so pissed, she slapped me. Anyway, she finally tells me why I’m on her shit list. And bro, here’s the crazy part. Before I start, you don’t have anything to tell me?” he asks, cocking one of his brows at me.
I pause with the beer against my lips. “I’m not following. What does this have to do with me?”
“Dude…” He snickers. “Your girl seems to think you were married.”
My forehead wrinkles, and I wait for the punch line.
“I’m dead serious. And what’s worse is she told Gia you admitted it. That’s why I had to ask.”
“The fuck you talkin’ about? Admitted what?” I rest my elbows on my knees. “Grab me a beer, will ya?” I look around for the cameras, wondering if I’m being Punk’d or something, cause this shit is crazy.
“That’s pretty much how I responded, man,” he said, handing me my drink. “She said Reese has met the girl—once at the hospital and once coming out of your house. Introduced herself as Rachelle or some shit like that. Thinks you two were fooling around when you left.”
My eyes swing to his. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me. Rachelle did this?”
“So this woman exists?”
“Fuck yeah, she exists. She’s an agent, who’s got a thing for me, but I’ve never touched the woman!” I groan, irritated, remembering the nurse calling her my wife when I was in the hospital. It pisses me off that Reese would think I’d actually do that to her. Shaking my head, I ask, “She’s sayin’ I admitted this?”