Page 11 of Sometimes You Fall

“So uncomplicate it.”

She stirs the ice cubes around in her empty glass, avoiding my eyes. “Chase’s dad…” My hackles instantly rise. “I thought I knew him, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s that people can surprise you. He was controlling and I didn’t realize it until it was too late.”

“Did he hurt you?” Murder wasn’t something I thought I was ever capable of until this moment, but if I find out her ex put his hands on her, I might just accept my fate to make sure he never does it again.

“No, he didn’t hurt me, not physically,” she interjects quickly. She blows out a breath and forces a smile. “But thankfully, that’s not something I have to deal with anymore. I’m proudly divorced and have no regrets about leaving him.”

“I’m sorry.” Reaching between us, I grab her hand, our fingers threading together. It feels so natural touching her like this, hearing her voice again, waiting anxiously for what’s going to come out of her mouth next. I swear, I’m seventeen all over again, sitting in math class, wishing our time together wouldn’t end.

“No need to apologize. Things worked out the way they should have.” Her words sound rehearsed, like she’s said them so many times now they come out with ease.

Guess I’m not the only one who’s gotten good at giving people the response they want rather than the freaking truth.

“So please tell me your girlfriend knows you’re out drinking alone tonight,” she says next, her assumption catching me off guard.

“Is that your way of asking if I’m single?”

She smirks around the rim of her glass. “Maybe.”

“No girlfriend, Scottie. No wife either.”

“You never married?”

“Didn’t really have time to focus on that aspect of my life.”

“I always wondered. There wasn’t much about your personal life in the news articles and stuff.”

“You were keeping tabs on me?” I pinch her knee, making her squeal.

“Hey! I told you I would be rooting for you. I just did it…quietly.”

“What are you up to now?” Our hands remain linked between us as I wait for her reply.

“I work in education now. My degree was in early childhood development, so I decided to become a teacher. Now I’m in administration.”

“Good for you. I bet the kids love you.”

“Not as much as I love them.” She clears her throat and directs the conversation back to me. “I heard you turned into a grease monkey.”

I lift my glass to my lips. “You heard right. I bought the Carrington Cove Garage from Mr. Rogers shortly after I moved home.”

She studies me for a moment. “I don’t see it.”

“See what?”

“You. Working on cars.” She pauses, a pinch in her brow. “Wait. No shirt on.” She draws a check mark in the air. “Overalls with one strap undone.” She shakes her head. “No. Just a pair of jeans with grease stains and a rag sticking out of your back pocket.” She nods, drawing another check mark in the air. “Sweat trailing down your temple.” Another check mark. “Grease covering your forearms, and the band of your briefs sticking out of the top of your jeans.” She licks her lips. “Yeah, okay. I can definitely see it now.”

The temperature in this bar just rose twenty degrees—because while Scottie was describing her little fantasy right there, I was imagining spreading her out over the hood of my Nova and eating her pussy until she screamed.

Yeah, I can definitely see it too.

Clearing my throat, I swirl my glass in my hand. “I can’t believe you’re here, Scottie.” And then I ask the question that instantly pops into my mind. “Are you staying?”

She shakes her head twice. “Just here for the holidays.”

“When will you be back?”

She shrugs. “I have no idea. I don’t come home very often. In fact, it’s been years, but something told me it was time to face the past.”

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