Page 14 of Midnight Mate
“Your mom told me he had some bigshot career as a snowboard instructor for a fancy resort in Breckenridge,” Rudy said.
“Apparently, the resort was sponsoring him to compete, too.”
Rudy was silent for a minute. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was: that East’s life back in Colorado sounded a hell of a lot better than the life he’d have here. I couldn’t blame him for leaving. And yet, I couldn’t seem to stop my heart from aching over it either. He’d taken the coward’s way out. No amount of apologies or excuses could excuse that—not that he’d offered me either one.
“Do you think he’s going to stay in town long?” Rudy asked.
“Probably not. Up until now, he’s had zero trips home.”
“Doesn’t his family still live here?”
“Parents. No siblings. Why?”
“And he didn’t come back to visit them even once?”
I shrugged. “Not that I heard.”
“Wow. Yeah, sounds like there are definitely issues.”
I didn’t tell him what I’d figured out about East’s dad over the years. It wasn’t my secret to tell.
He glanced at my nearly untouched takeout. “And something tells me seeing him again wasn’t the fairytale reunion you’d hoped for?”
“Depends on which body part you ask,” I admitted.
Rudy grinned at that.
“It’s not funny,” I moaned. “Ugh. Maybe I’m doing this all wrong,” I said, tipping my head back against the couch and staring at the ceiling. “Maybe I should take a cue from you and just play for my same team.”
Rudy snorted. “Girl, it’s not about same team. It’s the fact that men are too irresistible for their own good. And judging from the photos I saw, Easton Raines is in a league of his own.”
“I think it’s just more proof I’m bad at picking men.”
Rudy glowered, and I knew he was about to start spouting some next-level mindset advice at me. I braced myself, ready to head him off even if it meant divulging my plans to hang with East tomorrow.
A knock interrupted us both.
“You expecting someone?” I asked hopefully. “A repairman to adjust the water heater, maybe?”
He stood and hurried to answer the door, silent enough that I had my answer about that.
Damn.
I rose and rounded the corner into the foyer just as Rudy pulled the door open and his reaction registered.
One look at his curled lip, and I knew who stood on the other side of the threshold.
“Is Cat home?” asked a familiar voice.
“No, she died. You should give up and never call or come by again,” Rudy said.
“What?” Travis sounded more confused than upset.
I sighed and nudged Rudy out of the way. Bracing a hand on the door for strength, I looked at my ex. He held a bouquet of roses out, but I made no move to take them. Or invite him in.
“Hello, Travis.” My stomach lurched at the sight of him. At my own fear. And nerves. And fury.
“Cat.” His expression sagged in silent apology. “I’ve been calling.”
