Page 10 of The Leaving Road

“I bet Sloan is flipping his shit right now. Has he seen you yet?”

My heart was beating so fast, I couldn’t get myself to respond. Part of me hoped he had moved away and I’d never have to see him or deal with him again. I knew that was a dream since it had always been a family restaurant and he wanted nothing more than to take it over.

“Babes, what’s the hold up?”

Saved by Lexie, again.

“Lex, this is Jace, an old acquaintance from high school.” I didn’t miss the way Jace’s eyebrows furrowed when I called him an acquaintance.

“My god, you’re a tall glass of water. Please, tell me you’re unattached?” Lexie said, eyeing him up and down.

Jace’s face flashed crimson as he held up his left hand, flashing his ring. “Uh…sorry, I’m married, kind of.”

“How are you ‘kind of’ married?” I blurted out, then waved my hand. “You know what? Never mind, not my business.”

He chuckled. “It’s a long story. We should meet up sometime. We will all be at Montgomery’s tonight, and you should swing by, Magnolia. It’s been too long.” I didn’t miss the double meaning in his tone.

“Maybe…” I started my usual brush off.

“We’ll be there. Better get going before this one changes her mind.” Lexie dragged me by the arm away from Jace, and I heard his roaring laughter behind us.

“We are not going.”

“Oh, yes, we are. You can’t hide forever, babes. I’ll do your hair and makeup. Wouldn’t you rather ‘bump’ into him on your terms?” Her eyes bore into mine.

She had a point.

“Fine. We can go, but only foronehour.”

Chapter 7

Sloan

It was business as usual over the lunch hour at Montgomery’s today. It was busier than normal for a Tuesday, but with it being early September, it was still tourist season. The nights could go either way, so I figured I would stick around, catch up on some paperwork, and help wherever I was needed. Just a typical Tuesday night. My cell phone rang while going through last month’s numbers.Cassie. I shook my head. We hadn’t been together in almost four years. I thought Ilovedher.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was young and dumb, and quite frankly, thinking with my dick. She was the first girl who let me round the bases, and because of my overactive hormones, I thought that meant I was in love with her. I shook my head in disgust at myself. It took me a long time to wise up and realize what kind of person she was.

I hit decline without giving it a second thought. She always called begging for another chance, sobbing over voicemails, or sending sappy text messages. It was all an act, because the second I told her that was never going to happen, she turned vile, spewing every awful thing you could think of my way. I grew tired of it, so now I no longer answered. Thankfully, a knock on my door saved me from the voicemail I knew would be waiting.

“Jace, you’re here a bit early, aren’t you?” Glancing at the clock, I realized it was six-fifteen. Jace and the guys usually came around seven on Tuesday nights for their weekly dart league.

“Yeah, I just haven’t seen you in a few days so I thought I’d come in early so we could catch up. You know, if there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here.”

I couldn’t help myself from looking at him like he had two heads. “Uh…thanks, man. I appreciate that? But I’m good.”

His gaze trained on me as if he were waiting for me to say something else.

I threw my pen on the desk in frustration. “Dude, what gives?”

“I’m going to tell you something, but I need to know you aren’t going to flip out.”

“If you don’t tell me, I’m going to flip out.” I was two seconds from losing it.

“Magnolia’s back.”

His words stood frozen between us. This had to be some joke.

“Say that again,” I growled.

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