Page 6 of Baby Me

“You look as though the world is on your shoulders and you only just now realized how heavy that is.”

I turned to see Davina leaning against the wall, lingering in the shadows cast by a tree that needed trimming a couple years ago and no one had gotten to it yet.

“Getting my mind right about a few things,” I answered as she stepped out into the beam of the security light Breakneck and I had triggered when we pulled up. “What are you doing out here alone?” Davina shrugged, which forced her wavy blond locks back off her shoulders to drape down her back. Swear to all that is holy, the woman looked like an angel in that light. Her blue eyes sparkled as she cocked her head to the side and really took me in.

“It almost looks like someone broke your heart.”

“Not my heart. Someone broke my trust, though.”

“For some people, it’s the same thing.”

“Nah, those people never had their heart involved if it feels like the same thing,” I countered.

“Is there anything I can do to make your night better?” Her question came off shyer and more concerned than alluring and full of inuendo as any of the other girls would have sounded saying the same thing. I shook my head because one thing I wasn’t going to do was use sweet Vina as a release while my mind was on another woman.

“I appreciate the offer, but I have some business to deal with tonight. Why don’t you take the night off and give yourself a break, though. If anyone gives you a hard time about it, tell them to come see me.”

“It’s not necessary. I know my place here.”

“Your place here isn’t conditional on you never having a minute to yourself, sweetheart. Take the night and do whatever you want. Read a book, get some extra sleep, or whatever it is you enjoy.”

Her eyes lit up when I mentioned reading a book, so I assumed that was something she enjoyed. It made me smile because I remembered a time when a book was the best gift I could bring someone.

“What do you like to read?” I asked as I got to the door of the clubhouse.

“Anything with a good story and a happy ending,” she admitted shyly. I could almost see the blush that bloomed on her cheeks, even though it was too dark for it to be real.

“Good to know. Have a nice night, Vina.”

“You too, Prez.”

By the time I got inside, the office no longer appealed as a destination, so I grabbed a couple long neck bottles of beer and headed back to my room. I downed a beer, took a shower, got comfortable, and sat in my chair with the other beer and my phone before I bothered to read the messages that flooded my phone on the way home from Augusta.

June: I know that was you.

June: Please, pick up. It wasn’t what it looked like.

June: Okay, so you’re probably headed back to Danville and can’t look at these messages yet. Please, call me when you get in. At least text me to let me know you got there safely.

June: I’m worried about you. You should have been back by now.

June: Seriously, Tripp, it isn’t what it looked like. That couple work with my parents and we had to keep up pretenses.

That was the message I decided to reply to.

Tripp: You could have been keeping up pretenses all night long and it wouldn’t have bothered me. Fact is, you lied about where you were and why tonight. You could have just been honest about a dinner with business associates, and all would have been good.

June: Says the stalker who followed me.

Tripp: I didn’t follow you. Went on a ride with a club brother to Augusta after you cancelled. What were the odds that I’d see you in a fucking restaurant in Augusta when I thought you were home sick? The lies are the problem, June. They’ll always be a problem for me.

June: I’ll be back in about an hour. Let’s meet and talk.

Tripp: No need.

I powered off my cell. There was a landline in my room in case someone needed to get in touch for an emergency. There were also plenty of assholes in the club who could come get me if I was needed. I sucked back the rest of the second beer and then went to climb in bed. I snagged the book I’d been reading the night before and smiled at the thought that maybe Davina was similarly curled up in bed with whatever held her interest.

My eyes inadvertently scanned to the other side of the bed, the one that remained empty, and a longing to fill that spot hit me down to my soul. I was man enough to admit to myself that I was fucking lonely. After having Kim as my partner in life so long, it had been more than difficult to adjust to all the small things where she was missed. Having that person beside you at night to decompress with – even if we’re doing our own things – was one of the moments I missed more than I ever thought possible. My mind tracked back to a certain blonde beauty who was probably reading another page of her book at that moment. I allowed myself a minute to indulge in the fantasy of having her here, snuggled into my side as we both read our own books. Fuck.

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