Page 96 of Forgotten Pieces

“Yeah man, not a word.” He scratches the back of his head. “So when are you breaking up with Shelley?”

“As soon as she remembers she has a damn fiancé she should call.” I feel Tacoma tense in my arms.

“Right, well then. I will just be going,” Mac says.

Tacoma breaks free of my hold. “I’ll go. I need to go to work soon anyway.”

“Yo T,” Mac calls as she starts out of the bedroom. “I won’t say anything. You know that right?”

She nods and then heads out.

I punch Mac in the shoulder the second she is gone. “What the fuck, man?”

“I just needed to make sure.”

“Of what?” I ask.

“That the rumors I was shutting down weren’t true.”

“Fuck,” I mutter. “How is that possible?”

“This is White Creek, man, anything is possible.”

“Should I stay away from her?”

Mac shrugs. “Maybe just don’t make out in public. No one that lives here knows Shell or is friends with her so she won’t find out. But I don’t want you or T gettin’ hurt because the Sergeants start some rumors.”

“Got it man. Thanks.”

“No problem, cuz.” He doesn’t say anything for a minute, but I know he wants to. “Is she worth it?”

“She is worth everything.”

He nods at me and heads to the bedroom door. “Then don’t fuck it up.”

“I won’t.”

“Cool. Now get your ass dressed and come help me with a project.”

I laugh and do as he says.

Chapter Thirty

Tacoma

I get stuck working a double because Johnnie is sick. It’s slow as shit for a Friday. I had a rush during happy hour and that was it. There is a big band playing at The County Line so I am sure the entire county is there.

I finish my second crossword puzzle when the door opens to the bar. I was really hoping no one would walk in so I could shut it down. I haven’t had one person in here in the last hour and a half.

When I look up, I see Ryder walking toward me, visibly upset.

I look around out of habit even though I know no one is here. I round the bar and meet him halfway. He wraps his arms around me and buries his head in my neck.

“I talked to Shelley earlier,” he says as he pulls away.

I tense up, that was not what I was expecting. And now I am concerned where this conversation is going. “You don’t have to talk about it right now,” I say to him as I pull back and look into his dark eyes.

“Can I have a whiskey?”

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