So. Long(218)

I suck in a deep breath, knowing this is stepping backward, right into the role that everyone I grew up around expected me to play all along. My stomach turns inside out.

Well, fuck them. They can just kiss my ass. I’ll take care of those I love, no matter what. That’s the thing that separates me from my mother.





I watch the mirror. Fucking Thugs. You’d think they were the ones stalking me and not the paparazzi.

Fuck it. They’ll just have to keep up. I white knuckle the hand grips, pushing my old bike to its limits. Next time I go somewhere, we’re pulling the fucking bike on a trailer—my new bike, the one with all the power.

Damn her. My gut simmers as I burn up the road toward Slidell. When she said she was starting her new job, I thought she meant a different job. What the fuck is she thinking? And working for that douche, Lonnie Fisher?

I hit the parking lot, skidding to a stop. I jump from my bike, pulling my helmet from my head as I yank open the door to the club. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the dark penetrated by beams of flashing lights. It’s enough to give someone a fucking seizure.

The place is packed. Good, maybe they won’t notice me. I doubt very much Lonnie’s going to welcome me, especially after last time.

A blonde approaches, running her fingers along my arm. “Can I get you a drink?”

I give a slight shake of my head. “No, thanks. Maybe you can help me though.”

“Sure, Sugar.” She shimmies a bit closer. “Hey, do I know you? You look like someone I know.”

Well, if she was here a couple of days ago, she might remember me. But, maybe she’s seen one of my movies. Time to put this fame thing to good use for a change.

I grin. “You might recognize me. I’m an actor.”

Her eyes narrow. “Yeah, sure. Slidell, Louisiana’s a hot spot for celebrities to get a little R&R.”

“No, really. I’m Buck Wylder.”

She looks at my offered hand, and her eyes grow wide. Her jaw drops just before she throws her hands over her mouth and jumps up and down, squealing. Her tits bounce; the sheer top she wears does nothing to conceal them. But that’s good, it draws my eye to her nametag.

I give her a second before I touch her elbow. “So, Cindy, can you keep this on the DL? I don’t want to cause a scene. I’m just looking for a friend, her name’s Lou—no, I mean, Honey. I think she works here.”

She fans her face. “It is you, isn’t it? Holy cow!”

“My friend? Do you know if she’s here?”

“I’m not sure, the wait staff doesn’t mingle too much with the dancers. But I’ll go ask.”

I slide a bill from my wallet and press it into her hand. “No. Don’t ask. Just go take a look; if you see any new girls, ask their name. Don’t tell her I’m here. I want to surprise her.”

She peeks at the money in her grasp, a big smile sliding to her lips. “Sure thing, Sugar.”

I find a dark corner to wait for Cindy to come back and tell me if my suspicions are true. My gut wrenches as the music cranks up for the next dancer. When the girl who comes onto the stage isn’t Lou, I breathe a sigh of relief.

The idea of her taking off her clothes for other guys is enough to give me a fucking aneurism. The Lou in my mind doesn’t mesh with the hot mess from the other day. I can’t stand the thought of men ogling her beautiful skin, of her shaking her ass for someone else.

My brain knows she’s moved on from the relationship she and I had years ago. But I guess I never really thought about her moving on to have relationships with other guys. And I sure as hell never thought I’d see the day when she’d take her clothes off for strangers.

Especially after the bullshit her mom pulled.

It was the tail end of Lou’s junior year of high school. I was a senior, and, miracle of all miracles, I was about to graduate. I’d given her a phone, because her mom wouldn’t pay for one. I made enough at my job that it wasn’t a big deal to add a second phone to my plan. Not like I was going to attend college and needed to save every penny. And with all the shit she put up with from Lonnie and those douche bags he hung out with, I felt better knowing Lou could call if she needed me.

I’d pulled into the parking lot at the SuperMart, just in time for my shift. My phone vibrated. I slammed my door as I dug it from my pocket.

“Hey, Lou, I’m just getting to work. I’ll call you later, okay?”

The voice was strained as it whispered. “Mom’s lost it.”

I looked at the screen. Surely this was someone else, not Lou. What the hell?

“Lou? Is that you?”

A gasp was followed by pop and a howl of pain.