Page 60 of Loco

I shrugged. “He’s probably screwing someone in the ladies’ room.”

Suddenly everyone was looking at me. I lowered my eyes and refused to let them search the room for him. I wasn’t about to reveal that I was still interested in him. Two weeks had gone by since I’d walked in on him and that club woman, and he hadn’t made any attempts to reach out to me, to even offer some kind of an explanation for what he’ done. Even though there wasn’t any that would justify what I’d seen. My heart had broken that day, and I’d cried steadily for the first week.

His actions had only proved what I’d been worried about all along--that what we’d had hadn’t been strong enough.

I pretended interest in my salad while the others at the table talked. I listened to the conversation in case it required a response, but they seemed to sense that I wanted to be left alone.

Lulu wiped her mouth with her napkin and pushed her plate aside. “Does Bobbie need me to come back to the clubhouse and help?”

Doc thought about his answer for a second. “She might appreciate it. All the outside shit is done, so now she’s focusing on the inside. She’s stressing about everything. Wants it to be perfect.”

“And it should be,” Lissa joined in. “A girl only gets married once. It’s the most important day of her life.”

Some might argue with her about that.

“I’ll give her a call.” Lulu got up with her tray. “I’m ahead in my school work and can afford a few days off.” She walked off to one of the trash barrels.

“Should we offer to help too?”

Doc shook his head at V’s inquiry. “No. Thanks, though.” He looked over at me.

I could see that he wanted to say something, but was hesitant. I offered him a small smile, thinking that it would encourage him to continue. It did.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

No. I wasn’t okay. I might look like a woman out having a good time with her friends. I might smile and go through the motions. I hadn’t stopped eating. But that was now, and once I got home to my silent little apartment I’d go right back into the emotional wreck that I was. Nights were the worst, and I didn’t understand why. Why this was affecting me so hard. It’s not as if Loco and I had been in a long-term relationship.

When Doc reached over and put his hand over mine, the damn threatened to burst. I ground my back teeth together and begged God to keep the tears at bay. I took a deep breath, and then another, until the feeling passed. The girls knew what I was feeling, I’d told them what had happened. They’d helped take my mind off things, and talking with them about it was cathartic, but if Doc knew what I was going through, he would probably go back and tell Loco.

I leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek for caring. “I’m perfectly fine.” I straightened my back and held my head up.

The look in his eyes said that he wasn’t buying it. “If it’s any consolation, he knows he fucked up. He just doesn’t know how to fix shit.”

His comment surprised me. “There’s nothing to fix. We hooked up a few times, had a meal or two. That was it. Fun times.” If I could just believe that, I would be okay.

Lulu rejoined us, picking up on the gist of our conversation. “Loco is a jerk,” she said with conviction, anger filling her eyes. “He’s lost the best thing that could have ever happened to him.”

I gave her a thankful smile.

“Ditto,” V and Lissa said at the same time.

Suddenly Doc looked down at his phone. “Well, ladies, it’s been nice. Gotta go.” He stood up. “See you at the wedding.”

“Doc’s a nice man,” V said after Doc had left as she rose to her feet. She picked up her tray.

“Yes, he is,” agreed Lissa, doing the same. “I wonder why he doesn’t already have a woman.”

“He’s the one you should go for,” Lula said. “You two would have beautiful babies.”

I picked up my tray, smiling at their comments, and turned to follow V to the trash barrel. Just as I glanced up I saw Loco, and stopped abruptly, afraid to move in case he saw me. He was walking toward the front doors, carrying a package in his hands. I could see his eyes taking in his surroundings, something I’d noticed that all of the men did. I guessed they were always looking for trouble. As his gaze scanned the busy food court, it eventually came to me. He did a doubletake and stopped.

Our eyes locked. I was still smiling over what the girls had said, vaguely aware of Lissa moving past me on her way to the trash. He looked good. Sexy as ever. His hair was a little longer, the scruff on his face just right. The look in his eyes was intent, his jaw was taut, and I wondered what he was thinking. For a spellbinding moment we were frozen in time.

It took me a minute to realize that he wasn’t alone.

I’d seen the woman before, but I couldn’t remember where. They were together, but they weren’t. While she seemed to be overly friendly and chatty, Loco appeared to be annoyed by her presence. When her eyes followed to where he was looking, she frowned and purposely stepped in front of him, blocking his view.

I released the breath I hadn’t been aware I’d been holding and continued to the trashcan.

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