Page 8 of My Heart To Heal

Moving around my car to see the scrapes and dents on my passenger door, I release a growl.

‘My door is in bad shape,’ he says, and I spin on my heels to glare at him.

‘Are you fuckin’ kidding me right now? Look at my car.’ I point at my door, and he shrugs.Shrugs.

‘Well, we both have damage, so…’

‘So,it’s an expensive day foryousince it was your fault.’

‘I’m not paying for both. You drove into me.’

‘Nick, I swear to god you are lucky I’m in a rush to go and get my son right now…’

‘Ah, so you admit you were rushing.’

I’m going to kill him.

‘You shouldn’t even be driving, given how wasted you were last night. Maybe I should callBree.’

‘I don’t drive drunk, Missy.’ His words are sharp, and they hit home, so I freeze. ‘I parked here yesterday. I live close by, and I was just getting something out of my car, not that I need to explain myself to you.’

‘You’re paying for the damage, Nick.’ I point at him as I walk away and climb back into my car, ignoring him telling me that he isn’t and flipping him the bird as I drive away.

I gave him another shot at that first impression, and it was even worse than before.

Rightfully, She ThinksI’m An Asshole

Nick

Christ.

I’m a fucking moron.

I knew I was an idiot before last night, and my behavior confirmed it. I had hoped Missy might see me as a decent guy, someone she’d like to have dinner with, but then I got shitfaced and pretty much told her I wanted to see her naked.

I could see it all happening, playing out like I was watching a movie, but I was not in control of my actions. Not that any of it matters because clearly, she has a thing going on with her guitarist, but I didn’t give the right account of myself, and she left thinking I was an asshole.

And now this.

I stand in the street, looking at my car door. I wasn’t looking; she was right about that. I walkedto my car to look for my wallet as it wasn’t at home and had been sitting here mustering up the energy to walk my hungover ass to the diner when I opened the door without a glance to see what was coming.

She was right about the damage to our cars being my fault, but something about her made me fight it. I dug my heels in and argued the point and I don’t know why.

‘Ouch, what happened?’

Doug’s voice has me looking up to see him approaching. Fuck. Given Missy’s close relationship with his girl, he could be about to kick my ass.

‘Uh, I fucked up.’

Doug clapped a large hand on my shoulder and shoved me toward the pavement. As we walked together toward the diner, I told him what happened.

‘Ask her out.’ Ipause, coffee cup mid-air on the way to my mouth, and he laughs from his position opposite me. ‘Brother, it is abundantly fuckin’ clear you’re into her.’

‘Didn’t you hear a word I said? I hit on her in all the wrong ways while drunk, then busted up her carand acted like it was her fault.’ I sip my coffee as he smirks at me. ‘Besides, she’s not available.’

‘Missy? She’s single.’

I shake my head. ‘No, I saw her with her guitarist. He called her baby.’

---