I've moved on to a better life that’s free of trouble. I hope you understand and give me the space I need to heal.
I want you to move on. Make something of yourself. Not every Barrett has to choose that path.
- Josie
Luke
I should’ve slept like the dead after the opening, but thanks to Josie’s late-night meltdown, dreamland was evasive. I spent the night staring at the ceiling, wishing the mental replays would stop.
I figured she’d apologize in the morning, but she didn’t come knocking. By eleven, I headed to the brewery, not waiting around any longer.
I’d waited eleven years for an apology and an explanation, and I had yet to receive either. I wouldn’t hold my breath over Josie ever admitting she was in the wrong.
Saturday’s crowds were just as large as day one, and I was surprised to see Ed and Trish in for dinner again. The parents of the succubus settled in the same booth as before, blissfully ignorant that I was circling nearby.
After their daughter’s rant, I couldn’t help throwing some kindling on whatever brush fire was raging between her and Ed the day before.
I took every opportunity to fuck with Ed Roberts. He could bully me as a kid, but he couldn’t once I was old enough to know better. Not when I was armed with the truth.
I strolled over, giving a gentle wave to Trish, who was looking as prim as ever in her polished pantsuit, not a hair out of place. “Hey there, Mrs. Roberts. How did you like your meal?”
“Luke, it’s incredible!” she gushed, a hand flying up to cover her mouth while she finished a bite of mac and cheese.
“I’m glad to hear. Ed, how’s your meal?” I should have ignored him, but I still had manners buried deep down somewhere.
He grunted, tossing his napkin. “It’s okay.”
Trish smacked her hand on the table, her charm bracelets rattling. “Ed, that’s a load of bologna! That’s his second bowl of coleslaw.”
I chuckled at her outing her husband as a liar. I swore he only got elected to anything because of her, a woman born to host and schmooze. Like Josie, you couldn’t help but adore her.
“No Josie?” I asked, sending a verbal jab to Ed’s throat. He could swallow that to join the mounds of coleslaw sitting in his stomach.
He reddened as expected, lips tight. “No, she’s probably with her new boyfriend.”
I raised a brow, knowing he was full of shit as I went in for the kill. “Oh, she didn’t mention a boyfriend when we were together last night.”
Ed coughed roughly while Trish gaped at me, her poise fraying at its edges. “You were with our Josie last night?”
“Yeah, we’re neighbors,” I replied, shrugging. “She likes my dog.”
Trish cocked her head, her blond bob swinging. “Oh, that’s new. Josie is afraid of dogs.”
“She loves mine,” I lied, smiling. “Played with it all night long.”
“She’s dating Dan Sutton,” Ed proclaimed, ripping off a corner of roll and shoving it in his mouth. “Great guy. Very respectable.”
“Huh, that’s funny,” I muttered, shrugging again. “I know he’s her landlord, but she doesn’t seem to be a fan. It seems more like he’s bothering her — not dating her.”
Ed glared my way. “Things aren’t always as they appear.”
I met his eyes. “Don’t we both know that, Ed.”
He carried himself around as a respectable man, but I knew all his secrets. How he treated his daughter. How he all but abandoned his dying wife. What dirty deeds he’d done, deeds so filthy I never told a soul. They would destroy everything he had and everyone around him.
“There you are!” a shrill voice called, and I wished I had time to see it coming. Before I could react, I had arms looped around my neck and a kiss planted on my cheek, Lynette appearing in all her glory, a low-cut pink dress baring almost all her secrets. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“Busy,” I muttered, pulling away, desperate for air that wasn’t clouded with her perfume.
The Roberts looked on in horror, Ed particularly disgusted. “We’re trying to eat here. Can you take your indecency elsewhere?”
Lynette wasn’t having it, sneering down at him with a luxury bag clutched at her side. “Pipe down!”
“Netty, I’ll have to catch up with you later,” I declared, hoping a nickname would get me some slack towards freedom. “I’m working.”
Her pursuit of my cock was relentless. I wanted no part of someone with her moral compass, something destroyed long before she started tangoing with Pervy Pete.
“You’re such a busy boy, Luke.” She pouted before turning back to Ed. “See ya, Father Time.” She sashayed away, swinging her hips, though she didn’t catch any eyes except Ed’s who practically turned purple.
“It was nice catching up with you. If you see Josie before I do, tell her I’m working late.” It was petty, but it felt good to kick him one last time.
“Why don’t you text her?” asked Trish, not missing a beat. “We’re going straight home. We’re old farts, Luke.”
I patted my phone in my pocket. “I only have my work phone on me,” I lied, knowing damn well I used one phone for everything. “I don’t have her number saved in it.”
“Oh, just a second!” Trish reached into her handbag and pulled out a pen and a pad of sticky notes. In a flash, she had the number down and in my hand with Ed looking on in horror.
“Trish!” Ed growled, reaching for the paper that was already on its way into my pocket.
“Thanks.” I smiled and left, ready to have some fun.
* * *
By midnight, my ass was dragging, so I headed home, Abby assuring she could close for the night. I pulled into my driveway late, the ride home taking longer than necessary thanks to a few moose crossings, the massive meatheads still bumbling around with newborns.
As expected, Jason, Elena, and Ethan were all around the fire pit, Tally enjoying pats from Elena, head over heels for
