Page 52 of Coty

“If he hadn’t left, you’d already be that boy’s ole’ lady. We all know it, you included.” Nana starts another pot of coffee.

“He’s not a boy,” I mumble. It’s the only comeback I have for her.

“Good. Glad you see it. Now, stop acting like some high school drama queen and treat him like a man.” Nana doesn’t tolerate nonsense. Guess she’s tired of mine.

“Coty only left because of me. Sorry bout that,” Jack apologizes.

“Coty did what any good friend would do.” Nana pats Jack on the back. She comes to the opposite side of the counter and faces me. “But that ain’t all that’s itching your craw, is it?”

I lean back, unsure of what to really say. “Nana?”

“One, your parents are harsh people. Demanded things of you they shouldn’t have. Not your fault.” She gives a quick little point to me. “Two, you went off to college. Got tangled up with a man you shouldn’t have. Now, you’re bleeding on a man who never hurt you. You’re blaming him for leaving. Your bad things aren’t his fault.”

“Nana, that’s…”

“No, ma’am. I’m talking. You’re listening.” Nana doesn’t wait for me to acknowledge her. “You didn’t let Coty in when he tried to get close before he left.” She motions to Jack over her shoulder with her thumb. “If you had, he may have talked this yahoo into coming home after a couple of months, not two years.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“No,” she agrees. “And what happened to you isn’t Rodeo’s fault. He’s not the board you get to throw darts at because you can’t throw ‘em where they need to go. He’s a safe place. He loves you. You’ve loved him longer.” She slaps her palm on the counter. “Now, go make peace with it, and give that man the chance he deserves.”

Nana turns around and goes back to cooking like she didn’t just drop some truth bombs on me. What do I do with all that? Telling her she’s wrong will get me tossed out of here and banned from the club forever. She’s not wrong. I’m not sure how to process it, though. No one likes having the truth thrown at them.

“Thanks, Nana.” I sigh in defeat. “I think I’ll go home now.”

“Patches is waiting for you,” Jack says.

Fine. I roll my eyes, nod, and keep my mouth shut. I don’t want a prospect following me around. It’s better than being stuck here all day, though.

Sure enough, Patches is waiting by my car in his truck. I feel like a prisoner with him following me. Thankfully, he stays in his truck in the driveway while I go inside.

My apartment is dark and lonely. I used to think living on my own proved I was independent and successful. I preferred being by myself. After spending the week with Kira and last night at the Haven House, I’m not so sure I like being alone.

I go to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I’ll need to go to the grocery store tomorrow. My University of Tennessee coffee mug in the sink catches my eye. I don’t remember leaving it there. I left in such a hurry on Monday. Maybe I had a cup before I left. I don’t remember. Most of that morning is a blur to me. Oh, well. I need a shower.

My bedroom is exactly how I left it. A big mess. It’s kind of like my life right now. The sheet Coty had wrapped around him is still on the floor. The comforter is on the bed, but it’s not made. I really did leave a mess in here and in the bathroom. My fluffy cream colored towel is hanging over the shower rod. I usually hang my towel on the clothing rack behind the door. At least it's dry and not a damp, crumbled heap on the floor. It’s my favorite towel. I’d hate to have to throw it away because it mildewed while I was gone.

I don’t like a messy apartment. There’s plenty of time to clean before I go to work. First, a nice, long, hot shower sounds like heaven.

Chapter 25

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Coty

Nothing I hoped for happened today. Absolutely nothing. My plans, which I should’ve never made, were to meet Kayla when she left the Haven House. Nina won’t let a man inside unless it’s an emergency, when an angel is here. With two, one with a little boy, and Kayla sort of being a third, it was pointless to even knock on the door.

My bad day started before my feet touched the floor. My phone rang out on the nightstand and started again by the time I grabbed it. Not a good sign. Dad was on his way to my grandparents’ ranch. One of their ranch hands was thrown from a horse, and an ambulance was on the way. I expected my grandfather to be on the verge of a heart attack when I arrived. He cares deeply for his workers. Instead, I found him walking around the yard, shaking his head.

One thing’s for sure. Lee Howell doesn’t belong on a horse. He’d be better off working at one of the stores or shops around town. He’s eighteen and said he knew how to ride and herd cattle. He knew nothing. If you can’t ride and you can’t herd cows, just say so. The herd was scattered between three pastures and down by the creek. It took us all day to round them up. Dolly, the sweetest horse on the ranch, had had enough of Lee and threw him, breaking his leg. The medical bills will fall on my family, but the boy will never set foot on C. Michaels Ranch again.

“Heads up.” Hendrix nods toward the two men who just walked into JB’s Roadhouse.

The only way to be near Kayla tonight was to trade places with Cole. He’s helping out at the Den. I’m playing bouncer. I don’t mind tossing a man out the door. I’ll do it in a heartbeat. I just hate that it’s an office job. With all the people coming and going tonight, I can’t go to the bar and talk with Kayla anytime I want. At least, I can see her from here. It helps calm my nerves knowing she’s safe.

“See ‘em,” I confirm.

The two men who creeped out Angie and several of her customers make their way through the crowd. They join two clean cut younger men at a table halfway along the back wall. Hendrix and I narrow our eyes. He stands on one side of the front doors. I’m on the other. The two younger men narrow their eyes, too. The bigger, dark-haired man from Angie’s speaks. We can’t hear what’s being said from here. The younger two men move to another table across the back like they had been set on fire. Good. They aren’t working with these guys.

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