Page 498 of Not Over You

Slowly we became too busy to catch up, and we made a point of escorting some of the women on our staff to events around town so she could see we were moving on, but I don’t think either of us really did.

After a while, the calls from her dwindled, then stopped all together. I still get one email from her, but I don’t think she’s aware I’m on her company’s newsletter list.

A couple of years out of high school, she opened up a coffee shop. It was a great location, nestled right in between our club and the busy office buildings of downtown. She was never far out of our reach and we watched, hidden in the shadows, as she worked around the clock to make it a success.

A couple of favorable reviews online mentioning the decent prices and homemade desserts and her business quickly picked up.

Then she met Dale, a real user and a fast talker. Her kind heart never saw his opportunistic ass coming.

In high school, Shane and I kept losers like him away from her, but our adult lives distracted us, and before we were able to properly catch up with her, he had weaseled his way into her heart and her apartment.

Once he had her, the gloves came off. We heard stories about him not finding work, and using her as his own personal bank machine. It became obvious to us what he did during his days as he was always in our club watching the girls or looking for free lap dances.

Shane and I had hit our limit, and we decided to set Dale up for a fall he was more than happy to walk right into. After Willow caught him in bed with a girl from our club, they were done, and she finally kicked him out shortly after.

We didn’t see Willow around for months after their break. She was never at work, and she hired a temporary manager to run the store for her. Just as we were both ready to go check on her, she appeared back like nothing had happened.

And now here we are.

Looking across the table, I meet her eyes straight on for the first time tonight, and her shoulders slump.

I know that look.

She’s disappointed in herself.

She knows she’s deceiving us, and she hates herself right now.

I know her that well.

I don’t have it in me to continue.

I’m done playing my hand.

The money she’ll walk out of here with should more than help her out for whatever she needs.

I drop my cards, face down, onto the table and lean back to join Tony in defeat hoping Shane follows my lead.

Except he doesn’t.

“That looks like just under one hundred grand, Ms. Martens.” Shane speaks cordially as he slides his chips out to match hers and ends it. “I call.”

As Willow glances at the dealer, he nods at her to show her hand.

Stretching her arms onto the table and setting her cards down face up, three aces greet us and she takes a long drawn breath as she looks over to Shane who drops his smirk, his eyes lowering to his cards.

Whatever is in his hand is no longer making him happy.

The room goes silent as everyone waits for Shane.

As Shane tosses his cards onto the table, I watch her glance over his hand, and a hesitant smile crosses her lips as my stomach drops.

She thinks she’s won until—

“Flush takes the pot.” The dealer calls out, pointing at Shane and ends the game.

Willow’s body goes rigid at the announcement and takes a second look over his five cards—all hearts—looking up at her.

She slumps into her seat as realization sinks in.

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