Royal(63)

Leaving his place, I miss him already. Or maybe it’s the comfort I find only in his arms. In two short weeks, we’ve settled into this easy place, this happy medium between not asking too many questions and not giving too many answers.

I need to know the truth about that night, and I know the truth is coming.

But if it changes everything, if it steals him away from me again, I don’t know that I want it anymore. Despite everything that’s happened in the last two weeks, I haven’t felt this kind of contentedness in years.

And I’m holding onto it with every fighting breath I have.





Chapter Thirty-Three




Royal



The trim on the Challenger is gone, and I’m all masked up, sanding the faded paint off my Challenger. Music blares from the shop speakers. For once, I get to control the radio. That’s the beauty of having the place to yourself on a closed Sunday morning.

Four quarts of OEM royal blue are shaken up and ready to go. I’ll sand this thing down, apply filler as needed, prime, and paint. It’s going to take a couple of days, but I’ll be working all day tomorrow, so it won’t matter.

By the time this thing leaves the shop, she’ll look brand fucking new. She’ll finally have some look-at-me shine to go with that hear-me-roar growl she’s got under the hood.

Crouching down and checking a rusted spot behind the rear left tire well, the music comes to a dead halt.

I yank off my mask, rise to my feet, and scan the place. The glass windows toward the lobby shake, telling me someone’s opening doors.

I’m not alone.

I call out a couple of times. No answer.

Rod said I could have the place to myself today.

The door between the shop and the lobby swings open, and from the dark struts Pandora Patterson. Her plump lips are twisted into a devilish smirk, and she’s wearing a mini skirt that leaves nothing to the imagination.

Pandora’s top hangs low, her cleavage on full display.

“Hey, Royal.” Her eyes flash, gliding to my lifted car. She knows damn well I’m marooned here. “Daddy said you were borrowing the shop today. Thought I’d come by and see if you needed a hand.”

Her fingers tug at her blouse, pulling the sheer fabric aside as she leans over.

“Whatcha working on?” She snaps her gum.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Pandora pouts, her brows meeting. “That’s not a very nice thing to say, Royal. Not when I practically own this place.”

“Rod owns it, not you.”

She bats her hand. “Same diff.”

I re-mask and crouch down, giving my undivided attention to my more-deserving Challenger.

“Saw that rich bitch leaving your place this morning.” Pandora’s heeled feet come into view in my periphery. “She was dressed to the nines.”

I ignore her.

“You know, I thought she looked familiar when I saw her the other day.” There’s a vindictive chuckle in her words. “And then I figured it out. She’s engaged to that coma guy.”

“Not anymore.”

Pandora bends at the knees, coming down to my level. Her hand on my shoulder makes me cringe.

“I don’t know that rich bitch that well,” she says. “But I’m guessing she doesn’t deserve some scumbag loser like you, Royal. And I’m sure you agree that your ugly past is going to do her no favors. No favors at all.”

My fists clench. “Leave, Pandora.”

“Her future’s going to be a whole lot brighter without someone like you in it.” She moves toward the lobby, the toes of her Lucite heels dragging on the concrete. “But I think you already knew that.”





Chapter Thirty-Four




Demi



My family home has a sickening silence in the air. It’s not warm and bustling. The smell of my mother’s Sunday dinner doesn’t greet me. There’s no garbled blare of the TV fading in and out from the family room.

But I know they’re here.

Their cars were in the garage, and Derek’s shiny loafers were parked by the front door.

“Hello?” I call out.

The thumping of feet coming down the stairs precedes a solemn-faced Delilah.

“Hey,” she says, unsmiling. She must know the fate I’m about to face. “They’re in the kitchen. Waiting for you.”

“Have you told them anything?” I whisper.

She shakes her head. “I wasn’t sure what you were going to tell them, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Were they freaking out?”

Delilah tromps down the rest of the stairs and slips her arm around my shoulder before resting her chin against it.

“Yeah,” she says. “But don’t worry. I’ve got your back. We’ve got this.”