Bama, being the sweetheart he is, hesitated a bit, but I told him I really needed to find him and make sure he was okay. I might’ve even plastered on the puppy dog eyes and pout, and the guy folded immediately. I figured Bama would, though. He’s hands down the sweetest guy we have here at the club now. So, Bama told me where Hammer probably was, considering they hang out quite a bit, and now I’m at the other end of the bar, drinking a Corona, staring at the man who’s taking down another shot of whiskey.
After I finish my Corona, I pay my tab and strut straight over to where he’s sitting. He’s staring into the amber liquid, kind of like he’s not even really here in the first place. “I’ve been watching you sit over here and drink for the last half an hour. What the hell happened earlier? Why did you act like that?” I thought about going in calmly, but I’m far too upset. Ruby didn’t deserve that. Hammer pulled the past out of a hat and I know the guys can be dicks to one another quite frequently. I just firmly believe Ruby didn’t deserve to get hurt in the process. It’s one thing to fuck with one of the guys and be rude, but entirely different when you hurt one of the ladies.
Hammer pulls his eyes up from the glass and looks right at me. One look and I can tell he doesn’t give a damn about who he’s hurt today. Part of me thinks there’s something else lying underneath those eyes, something else bothering him and he’s lashing out for some reason.
“He pissed me off, and he shouldn’t be hiding shit from her anyway.” Hammer picks up his glass and takes another swig of the whiskey.
“It wasn’t your place to tell her. Zorro should’ve been the one doing that, and you look like a giant asshole. Do you have any idea what you did? You hurt Ruby, Hammer. You hurt her and she has nothing to do with the pissing contest between the two of you.” God, he’s totally ignorant to what his actions caused.
Hammer rolls his eyes and sets the glass back down on the bar. “Look, I don’t know why you’re coming up to me and acting like this anyway.”
I grab what’s left of his whiskey and pour it straight over his head. “You’re not the man I thought you were, and I’m damn sure of it.”
I start to head for the door and the crowd of patrons go, “Oooooo.”
My hand’s on the door pulling it open and Hammer grabs onto my other hand, trying to turn me around. I look right at him with anger lacing through my eyes, ready to set his fucking world on fire. My entire life, men have hurt me more than helped me. “What is that supposed to mean? I thought we were workin’ toward somethin’ here.”
I shake my head. “We were, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think we’re going to have anything now. This shit . . . it’s shown me a part of you I don’t want to ever see again. I thought you were better than that, Hammer, but obviously, I was wrong.” I keep my emotions in check as much as I can, yank my hand from his arm and walk out of the bar. I walk until the end of the block before the tears start pouring out of my eyes in an effortless flow. I’m fucked and I know it.
I may have acted like I don’t give a damn like I’m this strong woman who can handle this, but the reality is that I’m not.
I’m a woman who was starting to fall in love with him and walking away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Chapter One
To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already 3-parts dead
~ Bertrand Russell
Hammer
Present Day . . .
Ma said the sink was leaking, so I got under the island in the kitchen and took a look at it. She’s right. It sure was leaking, so I tightened the elbow to the drainpipe. I’m not a plumber, but I already did contact one and they’ll be here tomorrow to take a look. At least this will have it fixed until they can come out and take a look at it.
My phone rings on top of the island, so I grab it and press it to my ear. “What’s up?”
“I convinced mom to come home for a couple hours and take a shower, get some time away from the hospital and all that. You’re still there working on the sink, right?” Jada, my little sister, says on the other end of the line.
God, she hasn’t left the hospital in almost a week now. I didn’t think she was ever going to come back to the house at this point. “Yeah, I called a plumber. He’ll be here tomorrow, but I’ve got the thing tightened up so it won’t leak.”
“Okay, thank you. I know I’ve inconvenienced you enough, but can you stay and hang out with Mom for a bit? Someone needs to stay here and the last thing I want to do is leave dad by himself.”
“Sure, it’s no problem. I’ll just call Zane and check in with him.”
“Thank you so much. I owe you one,” Jada says to me, but she doesn’t owe me shit. We’re doing what we need to to get through everything right now. No one prepares you for a parent being sick, especially not like this.
“Don’t say that shit to me. You know I’m here for whatever they need. Now, go back and tend to dad. I’ll handle mom when she gets here,” I tell my sister and we quickly say our goodbyes, but as soon as we hang up, I’m already dialing
