Page 111 of Sassy Love
Every time we drink, they let rip with the country boy jabs. Hate to break it to them, but this man hasn’t been on a horse for over ten years. Honestly, compared to my brothers, I’m no country boy. Just a joke straight outta small-town Montana.
I don’t fit in here any better than I fit in back home.
Figures, since I literally work in a homeless shelter.
Fuck, this is depressing.
I sway on the stool, and strong arms prop me up. I turn back to find Miles. His kind eyes are lined with worry and a dash of amusement.Fuck off, buddy.
“Come on, my man. Time for bed.”
“No, I need to get this off my chest.” I struggle to stay on the stool. But being manhandled by three guys makes my fight fruitless. A heartbeat later, we’re standing on the sidewalk, waiting for an Uber. Miles is strong-arming me so I stay standing on one side, Dex has the other in his rough grip. Griff waves at the Uber driver as the car slows, and we climb in.
Sounds like a bad joke... Two lawyers, a fireman, and a businessman climb into a cab. I chuckle, and Miles shakes his head at me. “Bud, the hell. You’re going to be hurting in the morning.”
I turn my head, slow like, since every effort takes so much. Only to meet his deep browns, and all I can think of is Carlie and the way she’s going to rip my heart to pieces. I groan. “Already am, Milo. I already am.”
Chapter 28
CARLIE
Mills wanders through her favorite shit-and-glitter shop, as she calls it. The cheap shop is what it is. Where you find all sorts of mindless items to waste your change on.
She got home last night, not wasting a second to connect with Henry, as they sat on the phone for hours planning their first date like a couple of teenagers. Now she’s nervous and in need of distraction, so here we are.
Me, on the other hand? After an entire day without Rawlins, who called in sick, I was up for anything besides sitting around, overthinking. So, shit-and-glitter retail therapy it is.
“Oh, this is pretty.” She holds up a pink glass heart that fits in my palm, almost. It’s a little too big to fit comfortably. “You should get this for your desk. It matches your aesthetic, or whatever you young people call style these days.”
She drops the glass heart into my hand, and all I can do is stare at it. The replica of my own heart is uncanny. Shiny and unused, really. Hard but fragile at the same time.
I can just imagine it would smash to smithereens.
The sliver of doubt that crept in with Lawson’s absence raises its ugly head.
“Put it back, Mills. I have enough crap.”
Her face falls. I don’t miss the way she slips the heart into her shopping basket as she walks away from me. I won’t be surprised when I find it later in my room somewhere. Her heart is always in the right place, unlike mine.
“You almost done, my sweet?” I ask, following her, lost in my own turbulent thoughts.
“Nearly. I want to grab some more bathroom supplies.”
She disappears around the end of the aisle as I slow to peruse the candle section. I could use some more tea lights. One can never have too many candles.
My phone pings in my bag. I slide it out and swipe the message open.
Ruby.
Joy floods my veins like it does every time she texts or emails. I will never get over being in her circle... Am I in her circle?
Lawson surely is.
I shake my head and focus on the message.
All set for the 24th at the Met. How’s the guest list RSVPs coming and the catering?
Guest list is stellar. We are almost at capacity between both our lists and your invite method. Caterers are a go. We should pull this off
