Page 2 of Raised On It

“He did, but…”

“No buts. He told you he wasn’t ready to commit, so why would you want him back?”

“I know I seem pathetic, but we were together for five years, Miles. Five years! I ran into his sister the other day, and she saidthat he ended things after he lost his job because he didn’t feel he was good enough for me. It turns out, it wasn’t that he couldn’t commit to me, but he just wanted me to have more. Well, I don’t want more, Miles. I just want him.”

Oh, you sweet girl. Suze better not be messing with you.

“So if you want him back, why do you want him to see you with your hands all over me?”

Again, she doesn’t need to say a word, her eyes say it all.

“Let me guess…if he sees you with a man-whore like me, his protective instincts will kick in, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get you away from me before I get you in my bed?”

The blush from her embarrassment is deepening with every word that comes out of my mouth.

“Why, you little vixen, I do believe you’re using me for my unsavory reputation with the ladies.” I bring my hand to my chest and feign my disbelief.

“Oh, my gosh. I am so sorry, Miles…” Her eyes glisten, and she gets up and rushes to the bathroom.

Shit. I didn’t mean to make her cry. I was just giving her a hard time.

Adam’s a good dude. He may go from one roughneck job to the next, but he’s not an asshole. I can’t say the same for some of his friends, but Adam is a decent guy. And he’s noticed us. He watched her rush to the bathroom, and he’s trying his best not to storm over here and tell me to keep my hands to myself. It’s pretty clear he’s still crazy about her. It must be real because I’ve never seen a man watch a woman walk away like he was watching her. You can see the longing as well as the misery on his face from across the bar.

Damn, the asshole really does still love her.

Well, if she wants to put on a show, then we’ll put on a show.

Mission: Get Her Man Back is in full effect.

“Miles, will you take me home please? I’m sorry I thought this was a good idea,” Scheana says once she’s gathered herself andreturned from the ladies’ room with a fresh coat of paint on her lips.

“Oh, sweetheart, we ain’t goin’ anywhere. He can’t take his eyes off you, and we’re gonna show him just what he’s missing.”

Swinging her out in front of me and then twirling her back into my arms, I two-step my way with her to the dance floor, and we proceed to dance our asses off for the next thirty minutes. We pass on “Islands in the Stream”this go round and sing “My Boo”instead when our names are called for karaoke. This seems to be the last straw because I can see Adam’s jaw clenching from the stage.

When the song ends, I excuse myself and pretend I have to use the facilities, but what I’m really doing is giving him an opening. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll take it, and if she knows what she’s doing, she'll leave with me and let him stew for the night.

After wasting what I hope is sufficient time in the john, I make my way back to the dance floor only to find the two of them slow dancing.

That’s what I’m talking about.

I know at the moment she’s going to want to kill me, but I also know what I’m doing, and it’s the right thing to do if she really wants to get him back.

Tapping on Adam’s shoulder, I clear my throat. “Excuse me, but I think I’d like to cut in and dance with my date if you don’t mind?”

Her eyes are pleading with me not to interrupt their moment while his warn me that if I’m not careful, he may just try to kick my ass.

He can try, but it will never happen.

“Sorry, Adam, but I’m a firm believer in that whole dance with the one you brought. So if you don’t mind, I’ll finish this song up with the one you let get away.” I wink in Scheana’s direction, and she catches on.

She takes a step away from him, and he turns around dejected. He heads back to the bar, leaving me to fill the space he’s left behind.

“I know you probably want to kill me right now, but trust me on this one, okay?”

She nods.

“What did he say?”