Those two words: Robert committed. I nearly wet myself.
My body just about levitates out of the booth, and I open my mouth to say something, but no sound comes out, so it shudders shut, and my eyes wet like rain instead. I sit back down and grab my glass of water, guzzling it down. Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
Then my words come to me. “No fucking way! Really?!”
“Swear jar!” she yells and points to it, hopping in her seat. “Yes. Really.” A genuine smile lights her face, and her own eyes mist.
“Oh… my god.” My hand covers my mouth, my own eyes wide this time. I whisper, “Mom, we’re really gonna do it.”
2
Ryker
I crash through the door to the restaurant as I exit, and it bangs the bells at the top. A startling, stupid, high-pitched jingle. I flinch. Maybe it’s less offensive when a raging gorilla isn’t bursting out.
My lunch sours in my stomach, and I take off my jacket, throwing it into the back of my black Bentley Continental GT convertible. I slide into the plush driver’s seat and exhale loudly. I wish the beauty of my new car eased my colossal angst. But no way. I lean my head against the headrest. I can’t believe it’s her. Aspen. That fucking girl. Though, she’s not a girl any longer. I chuckle darkly. She’s not at all what I remember from high school. Her hair wasn’t that blond. Her tits weren’t that filled-out either. One look in her glittering brown eyes and I almost forgot how much I hate her. Almost.
Glad for the warm summer weather, I push the button to lower the convertible top on the car. Maybe my ride to the gym, with the top down, will blow some anger out of me. I crack my knuckles, and then my neck. I try taking a deep breath. Fuck. All I notice is my body doing stupid—and weird—things. It’s like there’s ice in my chest and lava in my legs.
What the fuck?
If I could punch myself, I would.
She was gorgeous.
Big fucking deal.
Aspen. Her long, bright, pearly blond hair was sexy as hell, and I don’t even go for blondes, but she drew me in, and her big brown eyes, like melted chocolate. I wanted to grab a raft and float in them. And those lips! Holy hell. Her plump, juicy, red-painted lips were like fresh summer cherries. I hate her, and I wanted to fucking kiss her. Yeah, I understand what the lower half of my body is screaming.
Too bad.
She’s poison. A witch.
I’m about to pull out of the parking lot, and my phone buzzes. Eager for the distraction, I’m glad to see my assistant, Patrick, sent me a message. I’d call him a friend, because I don’t have many, but he’s an employee, and I know better.
I’ve been waiting for this information all morning, so I delay driving and open up the message.
Patrick: The owners of the Kauai house accepted your offer.
Me: I should think so, I offered the asking price. Get the contractors there to start the remodel. I want to be in there by January.
Patrick: Yes, sir. And did you decide about St. Kitts?
Me: I’m putting that project on hold. I’m undecided on dual citizenship.
Patrick: Sounds good.
Patrick: Did you decide on how much you want to commit this year to Plant Trees, Save the World?
Me: Twenty million.
Patrick: I’ll take care of it.
Me: Thx
Patrick: How’s Michigan?
Me: The weather is great, but I haven’t seen my family yet. I’m headed to the gym. Please don’t interrupt me unless it’s an emergency.
Patrick: No problem.
I close the messaging app on my phone and set it in the center console. I was pleased by the distraction of my new house in Hawaii, but I look up, and I’m still in the parking lot of the diner where she works. My shoulders tighten, and I shake my head.
What a joke. I hated her then for what she did in high school, and I hate her now for how fucking hot she is, and I hate myself for how I felt a pull to stay in that diner. It took a concentrated effort to walk away.
I had no idea she worked there. But when the most amazing laugh I’d ever heard echoed through me, I looked across the restaurant to find its source. When I laid eyes on her, there was something faintly familiar about her, but I didn’t know what. Then I heard the lady from the kitchen call her name. Aspen.
And it clicked. There was only one Aspen in school back in the day. The name isn’t common, and this town isn’t big. And, sure enough, that full-throated, unabashed laughter came from that beautiful woman, who is the same girl I’ve hated since high school.
Well, to be fair, I only hated her junior and senior years of high school, but she was gone senior year and not there to endure my hatred spewed at her. It didn’t matter. When she tore my family apart, I had nightmares wishing she was dead.
By the time I went to college though, my life settled down, and my hatred subsided. Life went on. My parents remarried. I never thought about her again over the years. I made a billion dollars. The end.
Now, though. Here she is. And while the repercussions of her actions aren’t an issue anymore, I’m a miserable son of a bitch, and bored enough to obsess again, stewing in my hatred. But, damn, she was beautiful. My toes clench.
I pull out of the parking lot and crank Marilyn Manson’s Great Big White World and let it settle my soul as I drive to the gym, which is in another town, twenty minutes away. The best way to burn Aspen out of my mind is through a hard workout.
I pull into the parking lot of my gym, The Rock. I like this gym, and I work
