Page 35 of Smooth As Whiskey

What the fuck was going on now.

I answered, “Cynnamin, what’s going on?”

What I missed was that Sutton’s body tensed.

Her teeth clenched.

And her hands fisted.

“I need your help. I’m close to doing it again. Can I come to you, Irish? Please?” If it weren’t for the tears in her voice, I would have said no that she needed to confide in someone who was close to her.

I sighed, “Yeah, come on. Call me when you make it to the clubhouse. I’ll meet you there.” I said and then hung up the phone.

Sutton gasped, then her eyes narrowed, then she stood, stepped to Maisie’s side, kissed her forehead, then she stepped to my side, opened her mouth, then closed it, and then she did something I never thought she would do.

She grabbed my plate that I had yet to touch, walked it over to the trash can, and dropped it in.

Then I sat there as I watched Sutton storm out of the house without a backward glance.

Then I looked at Maisie and asked, “Well, I guess she made her point, you want to share your food with me?”

She narrowed her eyes at me and tugged her plate closer to her chest.

Guess that answered that question.

Why? Why the fuck had I answered my damn phone?

Jesus Christ.

Why was I taking the woman that has been there for me for granted?

And as many times as I had asked myself that singular question.

I just keep fucking doing it.

Come the fuck on brain, make up your goddamned mind.

Either you fucking want Sutton, or you don’t.

***

When my phone rang, I took the call, “Yeah?”

“I’m here,” Cynammin said.

I nodded, then said, “Be there in fifteen.”

Once I made it to the clubhouse, I headed to Sutton’s room, hoping she wouldn’t hold it against me right now, and thought about what I could say if she did.

Thankfully, or rather not, Sutton wasn’t in there.

I sighed as I placed Maisie in Sutton’s room, where she had things already there.

She snuggled into the blanket that Sutton used, sighed, and whispered, “I miss Mommy.”

I knew she was talking about Sutton, and when I really thought about it, I realized that I did, too.

With Maisie tucked safely in Sutton’s bed, I headed to my room and saw Cynnamin standing there with pale cheeks.

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