“Damn right!” She frowned but still had a hint of a grin behind it. “Now get outside, you filthy animal!”
I winked and continued toward the door, the two women dawdling far enough behind that I could make it to freedom unnoticed. I weaved through familiar faces, surprised people weren’t flocking around the long-lost classmate. A new name in the mix was fresh meat and gossip material.
As the door swung wide, a cool breeze cut through. I held it open for a gaggle of women entering, a habit courtesy of Nan. Even in an all-out panic, I couldn’t ignore manners thanks to years of her drilling.
To my horror, Lynette and Josie strolled through, smiling and exchanging laughs. Josie’s floral perfume drifted over — the same brand she’d worshiped as a teenager.
I gritted my teeth and looked away, hoping Lynette wouldn’t notice me. If she did, I prayed she wouldn’t say a thing. She shouldn’t, given the sour history.
But of course, she lit up like a goddamn Christmas tree once her eyes fell on my face. I offered a quick head shake, hoping she’d take the hint.
“Oh my gosh, Luke Barrett! Well, I have a blast from the past for you! Look who’s in town!”
Son of a bitch.
The door shut with a loud thump, sealing the sound of country music inside and leaving me in my personal hell with the ocean breeze as a soundtrack.
She gestured to Josie, who looked as horrified as I felt, those big brown eyes impossibly wider, her smirk falling into a thin line. “It’s Josie! You two knew each other, right? I think I remember you hanging out.”
Hanging out? Try fucking like rabbits.
“Yeah, we knew each other,” I replied, not interested in taking a stroll down memory lane. A memory lane dotted with potholes, debris, and straight-up carnage. “Hi, Ms. Roberts.”
“Hello, Luke.” Josie’s voice was small, and I almost felt a lick of pity. Almost.
“I was just telling her about you!” Lynette gushed, not picking up the obvious signs of discomfort from either of us.
“All good things, I’m sure.” I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to bolt.
“Absolutely!” Lynette cooed. “Busy day at the shop, hon?”
I nodded, hooking my thumbs in my pockets, tremors of adrenaline rippling through the limbs. “Busy month.”
We had enough appointments booked through summer that hiring another guy was a must if any of us wanted to see the sun again. Four men wouldn’t cut it, and as the preferred shop in town, there was money to be made.
More so, the brewery opening meant I’d be spending less time working on cars in town and more time on the ridge overlooking it.
Lynette smiled, reaching to fluff her hair, her tits jiggling wildly. “Well, I’ll be in for servicing soon,” she declared, sliding her tongue over her lower lip, taking a streak of pink lipstick with it. “He does incredible work, Josie.”
“Thank you.” I kept my focus on Lynette, hoping to get the chat over with.
“We were about to head over to Pete Parvin’s place for a party if you’re interested.”
Pervy Pete? Hard pass.
It was funny how morally ambiguous people were when money was involved. There I was, a dirty mechanic tatted to high hell, and I wouldn’t be caught dead in Parvin’s company. These two polished pinheads were desperate for it.
“I’m sorry. Plans.”
“Bummer! It’ll be so fun!” She pouted, her artificially plumped lips nearly bursting at the seams. I always imagined them feeling like gummy worms, a blow job on par with fucking a calamari ring.
I suppressed the urge to shudder. “I’m sure.”
She put a hand on her hip, not used to being shot down. Money always got her what she wanted. Unfortunately for her, I had plenty. “Well, why don’t we go to dinner another night?”
Josie was uncharacteristically quiet, her cheeks dusted in red. Apparently, someone snipped her balls over the years.
“I’m awfully busy, Lynette….” I trailed, ready to bolt.
Lynette shot me a hard look, ticked off at the rejection. “Too busy to chat with old friends?”
“Someone is waiting for me. Have a good night with Perv-er… Pete.”
A smile touched Josie’s lips at the slip-up, and for a moment, I didn’t hate her. That shared inside joke stretched over a decade to bind us.
“Hey, dude!” Marsh greeted, bursting through the door and shattering the microsecond of peace.
I glared his way, frustrated he hadn’t come sooner. What if some guy was kicking my ass? There weren’t many men bigger than me in town, but still. MUSKRAT meant now. “Just heading out.”
He rolled his eyes. “Obviously. I’m going home with Alanna.”
I rolled my eyes right back, disgusted that she was the holdup. He ignored a MUSKRAT for that? “Not a surprise.”
He and Alanna were the eternal on-and-off couple. No matter how many times everyone told them they were a bad mix, they’d get back together, likely hooked on the wonders of make-up sex. Apparently neither had heard of role-play.
He offered a weak grin, but then caught sight of Lynette and Josie, his smile fading in a flash. “Oh..uh… hi!”
“Hi, Marsh.” Josie’s voice was steadier with him, as it should have been. She had no reason to fear him exploding. She hadn’t shit inside his heart.
“Haven’t seen you around here in a while.” He crossed his arms, his eyes darting between us as if awaiting a dog fight.
That was my opening.
“Well, I’ll see you around. Can’t leave her waiting too long.”
“Tally?” he asked.
I nodded and offered a stiff wave to the two Stepford wives before rushing to my truck, fleeing the past.
Josie
Chatting and networking were my bread and butter, dealing with pushy authors and even pushier publishers regularly. Yet, a backwoods bad boy wannabe let me speechless.
As much as I wanted to slap him across his bearded face, I wouldn’t. I’d moved on, and he had too, morphing into a six-foot-sexy grown man.
Lynette had raved about how hot the Barrett
