Page 10 of Creed

She will hardly look at me and it’s killing me. There’s so much that has been left unsaid between us. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to give into these impulsive thoughts.

I ground myself by focusing on one thing in the room. The noise.

Classic rock hums through the sound system coupled with the noise of pool balls clacking against each other occupy her attention while the awkward silence stretching between us fills mine. The surrounding air is tense and heavy. Thick enough to cut with the blade of my pocket knife.

Henley strums along on his guitar, matching the chords to Hotel California as Darlene watches him dreamily, hoping he’ll rail her tonight.

Twilah Jane and Kitty keep looking over at us from the bar. It’s not like me to bring anyone to the clubhouse. At least not on display like this.

“Why am I here?” Lottie finally breaks the silence.

“To have a drink with me.”

She shoots me an exasperated expression, lifting her brows. “Why am I really here?”

I’d be skeptical too if I were her. After the way I treated her back then. I should have handled her with more care. “I fucked up. Back then. You needed me and I wasn’t there for you.”

“We seriously do not have to talk about it.”

I peel the corners of the label on my long neck. “I owe you an apology.”

“For what?” She angles toward me. “Turning me down and hooking up with my best friend instead?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Ha.” She slaps a palm down on the table in challenge. “It was exactly like that.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“If this is your way of apologizing, you could use some work.”

“All right. I’m sorry for being such an asshole. Becky had great tits, though.”

“I hate you.” She shoves against me.

“No, you don’t.”

“All men suck.”

“Not all.” I take a hard drink.

“Name me one good guy.”

“Tyrant.”

She snorts. “Yeah okay.”

“I’m being serious. You should see him with his ol’ lady and kid.”

“He’s a father?”

“Well, Gracie Joy is Blair’s kid from the guy she was with. Her ex was a real piece of work.” I dive into the story about Tyrant picking up Blair on his way to Vegas when she was hitchhiking and what crazy religious fanatics his group of followers were. Fucking cult.

“Hearing that.” She shakes her head slightly. Her dark hair falls around her shoulders in silky waves I want to run my fingers through. “Cade doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Who the fuck is Cade?”

“Easy, killer. No one you need to concern yourself with.”

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