Page 19 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“She’s offering to go because she’s your friend, Lachy. Don’t feel bad about it.” Lorena looks at me so intensely, her eyes could be shooting death rays. “Right, June. You understand Lachy and I have much to talk about.”

I glance at Lachy and read the horror in his eyes. I could be wrong, but it doesn’t seem he wants to spend another second in her presence.

I raise my brows. “I understand you betrayed him in the worst possible way and didn’t lose a minute of sleep over it.”

Her eyes round, matching the shape of her lips. “Excuse me?”

“Besides, if you really wanted to talk to him, you could have picked up your phone and called.”

“He blocked me!”

I wince, not having expected her to be candid about that. Winston decides he’s been ignored long enough and that Lorena’s fancy shoes need some watering.

Lorena shrieks and jumps back. “Your stupid dog peed on me!”

I flatten my lips, trying not to laugh out loud. Then I glance at Lachy, expecting him to be amused as well, but he just looks sad, and that wipes the amusement right off my face. My heart becomes small and tight. He might not want to talk to her, but that doesn’t mean his feelings for her are gone.

“Sorry about that.” I take Winston’s leash from Lachy and tug him away from her. “Come on, Winston. Let’s find you a tree instead.”

I don’t look back to see if Lachy is following us. Right now, I’m just trying not to cry.

CHAPTER 10

LACHLAN

The last person I expected to see today is Lorena. I haven’t seen her since she ripped my heart out of my chest and tore it to pieces. It took me a long time to overcome the pain of her betrayal. I know I’m not in love with her anymore, but that doesn’t stop me from spiraling.

“Aren’t going after your friend?” Lorena asks, sounding annoyed.

Shit. June left with Winston, and I didn’t even notice, trapped in my inner turmoil.

“I blocked yer number for a reason, Lorena. I have nothing to say to you, and I sure as hell don’t want to hear what you have to say. Don’t ever ambush me like this again.”

“Fine. Be like that. I know once you get over your wounded pride, you’ll regret shutting me off. I was the love of your life, and you’ll never get over me.”

Crazy laughter bubbles up my throat. “Love ofmylife?” I shake my head. “That’s the joke of the year.”

She narrows her eyes and then looks over my shoulder. “Does she know you said you’d love me until you died?”

My spine goes taut. I don’t want Lorena to start gossiping about June. “Why would I ever mention you to anyone? You’re nothing but a bad idea. Have a nice life, Lorena.”

“You can’t walk away from me.”

I shake my head and walk faster. She’s not worth a reply. I’m concerned only about June. She’s already left the market, and I can’t see her.

“You’ll come back crawling, Lachy!”

With every word that leaves Lorena’s mouth, I question my state of mind when I thought I loved her. I should thank the heavens she showed her true colors before I married her. I’d have been committing to a lifetime of misery.

Once in the parking lot, I veer toward my car, but June didn’t go that way. She probably decided to walk home. I’m such an eejit. I should never have wasted precious minutes with Lorena.

I turn around and run toward the sidewalk. June has already crossed the street with Winston. Bloody hell. Is she running away from me? The light is now red to cross, but I don’t care. I brave the traffic and zoom after her. A driver has to stop their car suddenly to avoid hitting me, and a loud horn and curses follow. The noise catches June’s attention. She looks over her shoulder and stops.

“Did you just cross the street when the light was red?” she asks when I stop in front of her.

“I didn’t want to let you get far.”

“It took you long enough to come after me.”

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