Page 182 of Come Break My Heart Again

“They might,” Elle replies.

“Great. I like lobster.”

I spot a parking space right in front of the restaurant and take it. Climb out of the car quickly and frown when I see Elle already has her door open.

“You were supposed to wait for me to open it,” I grumble.

This is our first date. I’m trying to do everything right.

Elle smirks.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, jogging toward the closest meter.

This night doesnotneed a parking ticket.

I’m waiting for the paper for the dashboard to print when I hear, “James.”

I glance away from the meter, stilling when I realize who’s walking toward me. I haven’t seen Zane in years, not since the fateful night I accepted Phoenix’s offer of a ride to Hathaway’s party.

“Hi, Zane,” I say carefully.

“I heard you were out. Nice to see you, man.”

I nod, knocking the fist he offers.

He glances past me, his smile widening when he spots Elle waiting by her car. Whistles. “Damn. Elle Clarke. I guess things kinda worked out for you, huh?”

My guard goes up. “What do you want, Zane?”

He lifts his hand in a placating gesture. “Nothing. I’m out of all that shit. Have been for years. I just saw you and wanted to say hello. Always felt bad you got the short stick with none of the perks.”

“You keep in touch with Phoenix?” I ask. More for Reese than myself.

Zane shakes his head. “Haven’t talked to him in years. He was in California, last I heard.”

“With Cruz?”

He shrugs. “No clue.”

“He set me up?” I ask.

That’s always been a nagging uncertainty in the back of my head. It seemed too … convenient, how the one time Cruz’s suppliers were tailed were when they delivered to my trailer, not his.

“If he did, he didn’t tell me,” Zane replies. “Wasn’t much of a democracy, but he didn’t usually keep us in the dark.”

My nod is slow. Maybe it was just shitty luck. “You still live around here?”

“Nah. Just visiting. Not a bad place, in certain circles.” He glances at Elle again. “Guess you know that.” His gaze lands back on me. “I’ll see you around, maybe.”

I nod.

Zane continues walking, right past Elle.

I finish paying the meter, then head back toward her. “Ready?”

“Who was that?” she asks.

“Just a guy I used to know.”

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