His arm brushed my side, and I had to hold my breath to keep from making a noise. Flashes of our night against the palm tree came back to me, and my face heated. This was not the time to remember that. I used those memories at night to keep me company in my lonely bed. In the beginning, I’d felt guilty about getting myself off to Tripp’s dirty words, but I needed it. And now I accepted it.
Tonight he’d be using his dirty words on someone else.
Tripp
London crossed her legs beside me and rubbed her foot against my calf. Last week, I had been walking from the course to my Harley after playing a round with Woods, and London had been stepping out of her Mercedes, which had been parked right next to me. I didn’t notice her at first, but when she’d said my name, I recognized the voice. It was older now, more mature, but it was London.
We had talked, and it had been surprisingly nice. She seemed different now. The spoiled brat I had grown tired of was gone. She had matured and turned into a more confident woman.
And I needed a distraction.
Moving on and letting Bethy go wasn’t easy. I thought about her all the damn time.
London was in Rosemary Beach at her parents’ place for the next month, so I figured why the hell not—I asked her out to dinner. Since then, we’d been out three times. Tonight made our fourth. She was still wrapped up in a world I wanted nothing to do with, but she liked me. She seemed to enjoy being near me. I had spent so much time being pushed away by Bethy that it was refreshing.
I hadn’t realized Bethy was going to be serving our meal tonight. If I had, I probably would have made some excuse to miss it. Seeing her wasn’t easy. Putting space between us didn’t seem to matter. One look at her, and I was right back to being that guy, desperate to get her to forgive me. To love me again.
During the past three months, I had accepted the fact that she may have been my big love but Jace had been hers. It hurt like hell, but it was the truth. Whoever she ended up with would be second-best. I wasn’t sure I could live being second-best for Bethy. Not when she’d always be my number one.
“That server keeps staring at you,” London said in an annoyed whisper. Immediately, I snapped my gaze up from the shrimp on my plate to see Bethy taking Blaire’s empty plate. Her eyes had been fixed on me, but the second I looked up, she quickly looked away.
Well, what the fuck did that mean?
“See? She’s been doing that all night. I was trying to ignore it, but it’s getting ridiculous,” London hissed. “Do Della and Woods not notice? Is she a friend of Blaire’s? They seem real chummy.”
I watched as Bethy took the last empty plate and hurried off. Had London not pointed it out, I wouldn’t have noticed, because I was trying not to look at Bethy. I had done a damn fine job of it all night. OK, no, I hadn’t. Every time she came to the table, I hadn’t been able to look away. I was trying not to look, though.
“Do you know her?” London asked, getting frustrated. I wasn’t answering her questions.
“Yes. She was Jace’s girlfriend. She’s very close to Blaire and Della,” I replied, reaching for my glass of wine.
“Jace dated a girl who works here?” she asked, obviously horrified.
I set my glass down and tried not to get annoyed by her tone. She was an elitist. It was how she had been raised. “Blaire and Della once worked here, too. Rush and Woods married them. I don’t see how that’s an issue.”
She gasped. “Ohmygod! You’re kidding me! I’m so behind on gossip around here.”
This time, I did roll my eyes.
I caught Blaire’s gaze as she looked from me to London, then gave me a tight smile before she looked away. I wondered if she’d heard London. Surely not. If she had, Rush would have, and if Rush had heard her, we would all know it.
Woods stood up, and everyone followed suit. Conversations ended, and the women picked up their purses. Della looked at me. “You’ll be at the barbecue we’re having on Saturday, right? Woods told you about it, I hope.”
Woods had sent me a text inviting me a couple of days ago. I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Della shifted her gaze to London. “Will you be bringing a date?”
London’s hands wrapped around my arm as if she was claiming possession. Which was good. Right? I wanted to be wanted. She sure as hell seemed to want me. “Yeah, uh . . .” I glanced at London. “You want to go?”
She nodded, clearly pleased at the invite.
Della didn’t look thrilled, but she covered it up well. “Great. See you then.”
I said my good-byes to the others and bent my arm so London could continue to hold on to me, since that was what she seemed to want to do.
I was aware that neither Blaire nor Della cared much for London. Neither spoke to her directly, and their facial expressions said it all. They needed to get over it. Bethy had made it very clear that she would never want me. This was me moving on. Just like Bethy wanted me to.
As we walked toward the valet, I heard Bethy’s laugh, and my body came alive. It was a sound I hadn’t heard in a while. One I loved. One I couldn’t fucking get over.
Glancing back, I saw her talking to Jimmy as she walked toward the back entrance. He was making her laugh. I wanted to make her laugh. Jimmy’s eyes lifted and met mine. Bethy turned to see who he was looking at, and her smile fell away. She started to trip, and Jimmy grabbed her arm and said something in her ear.
With his arm around her, they disappeared outside.
“Are you ready for your car to be brought around, Mr. Newark?” the valet asked as I stepped outside. We had come in London’s car tonight. She wasn’t a fan of motorcycles. But I didn’t correct the valet. I simply nodded.
“Do you think I can come inside tonight?” London asked as she stared up at me through her lashes. I didn’t need her to spell it out. That look told me all I needed to know. If I wanted it, I could have it.
Problem was, I wasn’t feeling it. Not after seeing Bethy. “I’m beat,” I replied.
“Really? You’re beat? That’s what your excuse is?” She was angry. But I knew she would be. She had taken it well when I’d dodged the last few advances she’d made, and now it was time for her to start getting more blunt. I got that. But I wasn’t ready.
“OK. You want the truth? I’m not over my last relationship. I need some time. If you can’t deal with that, then we need to end this now. If you can let me deal, then we’re good. But don’t push me, London,” I said, dropping my arm and putting some space between us.