Page 14 of Unleashed

The truth spilled out, leaving Hadley flustered and me in shock. Hadley stammers, “Why did you sleep with her? You said it was all fake.”

I heave a frustrated sigh and throw my hands out. “The truth? Because Simone is hot as fuck, and she was naked. She urged me not to waste a good hard-on and offered me a place to park it while I inflated my tires.” I laugh, but my chest aches.

Recovering from the TMI, she says, “I’m not asking for the fun of it.”

I shrug as I remove a Butterfinger from my bag. “I know. You’re snooping for a motive for us getting married other than for money. There isn’t one. Can we let it go now?”

“I still think it was more than that for her. You two fought often, but she also had a crush on you. I don’t see why she’d end it all.” A damn crush. Simone sure got over it fast, while I’m the one crushed.

Whatever. I’m doing fantastic. Good riddance.

“I snore,” I say, watching the Bugle Boys finishing the chips and crumpling the bag. No one bites a bugle’s end and blows it like a horn. Another tragic waste.

“Not that much,” Hadley argues. Right. Hadley would know from our hotel slumber party. “I think she fell for you, Rod. Like, the real thing.”

I laugh but crumble a little more. “Okay. So?”

Hadley pushes hair behind her ear. “You didn’t love her?”

I force a smirk as I look away from Hadley, focusing on a cafeteria relic wiping empty tables past her expiration date. “Be serious.” Poker face. Poker face.

“I am!”

A familiar sandy blonde catches my eye, entering the dining area, and I grin. “Hey there, Ronnie.”

Rhonda’s eyes light up like firecrackers, but she stops short. Hadley follows my gaze, and Rhonda’s smile turns contrite, which fuels me. I wave her toward our table, thankful for a third wheel on this trip down misery lane. Rhonda chews on her lip but approaches our table. I rattle the chair next to me. “Saddle up, partner.”

She looks from me to Hadley. “I don’t want to intrude.”

Before Hadley answers, I say, “You’re not. Just shooting the breeze. So, how’s Ronnie?”

Rhonda swallows as she sits next to me. “I’m doing okay. You?”

“Couldn’t be better,” I reply as I finish my candy bar while practicing my nonchalance. Rhonda smiles, clutching her lunch bag like she’s D.B. Cooper. I nod toward her loot. “You gonna eat?”

“Oh. Sure.” Rhonda shifts, and her leg bumps mine, almost sending her into orbit. She squeaks, “I’m sorry.”

I laugh. “Chill.”

Rhonda clears her throat. “So, a lawyer?”

“Do you need one?”

She scrunches her forehead before she laughs. “No. You’re becoming one? Brandon mentioned it in the meeting.”

“Right. Yeah. I guess I’m pulling the trigger. Why? You think it’s a horrendous idea?”

Without hesitating, Rhonda grins, and I miss seeing her wearing one. “I think you’ll be awesome.”

Hadley hums in agreement and Rhonda asks, “Do you think you’ll work here with Amos?”

I laugh, catching the buglers’ attention. “Holy hell, never in my wildest nightmares.” What a thought. Shrugging, I add, “I want to help kids, so I’ll be in the juvenile arena.”

Rhonda nods, her smile unwavering. “Suits you. Very honorable.”

“Being Peter Pan, I’ll never grow up. Are you excited about another stellar softball season?” I ask with exaggerated enthusiasm.

With Hadley watching us, Rhonda opens her lunch. “I suppose.”

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