Page 52 of A Little Broken

Seriously, I’m going to strangle the girl. I spent years—years—struggling over whether or not I made the right decision tokeep my nose out of Tatum’s marriage, knowing I was the guy who fucked over a stranger by sleeping with a girl I thought was single.

She lied to me. Right to my fucking face. And I bought it? I can’t believe I actually bought it. The girl lied at the arena, too, and I brushed it off. But twice? Fuck that shit. I’m an idiot.

“You gonna talk to her?” Rory asks. The gentleness in her voice is almost enough to soften the red I’m seeing. Almost.

It’s a good question. Should I? Could I? Without strangling her or smacking her ass?

“Haven’t decided yet,” I admit. “You gonna tell her you saw me if I don’t?” I drag my attention away from Tatum again, right on time to see Rory’s lips purse.

“Haven’t decided yet,” she returns.

My mouth twitches, and I pull her into a half-assed hug. “Good seeing you, Baby.”

“You, too.” She squeezes me back, then lets me go. “Hey, Pax?”

“Yeah?”

Her lips bunch on one side, like she’s lost in a silent debate before coming to some kind of conclusion. “Did you…” She pauses. “Did you sneak out, or did she?”

“Does it matter?”

She hesitates, studying me as the firelight dances in her eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, I think it does.”

“She left me,” I answer.

Told me she was engaged, then left me, I silently clarify. The question is, why?

With a slow nod, Rory’s gaze cuts to her best friend laughing at something the other cowboy—who is not her husband—said. And I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. Why she cares. If Tatum pushes her away the same way she does me. Not thatwe’re even in the same ballpark. Rory’s her best friend, and I’m…I’m a guy she fucked once before lying straight to my face.

“Are you sticking around?” Rory asks.

I scratch the scruff along my jaw, unable to tear my focus from the cowboy’s hand pressed against Tatum’s lower back. She’s just a girl. She’s always been just a girl. I’ve had more than I could ever want, and I’ve never felt jealous. Probably because if I snapped my finger, they’d come running. But Tatum? Something tells me it would take a lot more effort than a simple snap of my fingers to have her again. That is, if I wanted her again in the first place. Which I don’t. Although, some answers would be nice.

Why did you lie?

She wasn’t playing hard to get. She wasn’t playing a game at all. She wanted nothing to do with me, despite the mind-blowing sex we had.

Why?

Guess there’s no time like the present to find out.

“I’ll see you around, Rore.” I slip past her, heading toward her friend, well aware if I don’t, I’ll regret it.

You ready to chat, Birthday Girl? ‘Cause I’m coming for you, and our conversation is long overdue.

15

PAXTON

The heat from the fire is like fuel. It spreads through me, feeding my resentment and confusion as I grab another beer from one of the coolers, pop the top off, and close the last bit of distance. She hasn’t noticed me yet. She’s too distracted by the man in front of her. It only pisses me off more.

“I know, right?” Tatum’s laugh is as rich as I remember. Hell, it’s richer. Throatier. Sexier. She touches the cowboy’s bicep and grins up at him when her attention catches on me.

I lift my beer in a silent cheers, and she does a double take, her jaw dropping.

Surprised, Birthday Girl?

As soon as our gazes connect, she recovers and twists around, giving me her back as if it isn’t too late to fly under the radar and pretend I’m not standing two feet to her left.

---