Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Good night.”
CHAPTER TEN
Kon
Despite wanting to see Lucy again, duty called the following night. Boone had been struggling since his breakup with Missy and I could only handle one grief-stricken friend at a time. Sawyer was being incredibly difficult. He’d been a grumpy ass the last seven months. He needed to join the land of the living again, and I was willing to—gently—beat some sense into him if it came to that. However, tonight I was going to use his situation to snap Boone out of the funk he was in.
We met up at a sports bar in the suburbs, a place where we hung out when it was just a few of us. We couldn’t come to places like this as a group because we were too recognizable, but when it was just two or three of us, it was a nice place to watch Monday Night Football or a basketball game. Personally, I thought American football was boring, but my teammates seemed to love it so I tried to follow as best I could.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked when the second quarter of the game ended and halftime started.
“About Missy?” He shook his head. “Not really. It was…eye opening. I had no idea she was using me. I just don’t know for what since she obviously wasn’t after my money. Like, am I really some kind of bad boy?” He wrinkled his nose as he turned to me. “I’ll cop to being badass in bed, but the rest of it? And anyway, how come a guy who makes a lot of money, knows how to get a woman off, and doesn’t abuse you isn’t husband material? What the fuck is that about?”
“I do not understand either,” I admitted. “You are very…” I paused, trying to think of the right phrase. “Normal? I don’t know what word to use. I look like the bad boys you see on TV, maybe a biker or something. But you? You are very boring. Very much like someone’s husband.”
We both laughed since he understood what I was trying to say.
“And that’s just it—she was kind of boring too. I thought a girl like that, someone sweet and kind of modest and very professional would be the right kind of woman to marry. Instead, she was using me to add a notch to her fucking bedpost. Fuck that and fuck her.” He motioned to the bartender. “Bring us a couple of shots.”
“Not for me,” I said. “Someone has to drive.”
“Oh, come on, live a little. We can Uber home if we have to.”
Then I wouldn’t have my truck in the morning. I could call someone to pick me up, but that was a hassle. I was only twenty-seven, but a little set in my ways and I hated not having my own vehicle. Having a way to escape if I needed to. My past stuck with me in some ways, no matter how much my life had changed.
But my buddy needed me.
So I’d do one shot and then we could order food. I’d be okay if I ate and drank plenty of water.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out, surprised to see Lucy’s name flashing on the screen. We’d texted earlier, and I’d told her I would be going out with Boone tonight.
“Hi,” I said. “You are okay?”
“No.” She sounded breathless. “Today while I was out, I thought I saw this red SUV following me but it was hard to be sure and then it disappeared, so I forgot about it. But I was about to take the garbage cans out to the curb for pickup tomorrow and the same red SUV is parked across the street. I’m sure of it.”
“Where is Sawyer?” I demanded.
She hesitated. “He’s passed out in the basement. I tried to wake him up but he’s out cold. Today is Annie’s birthday, so he was worse than usual.”
“What happened to the police security?”
“They were here for two nights and then that was the end of it.”
Fuck.
“The alarm is set?”
“Yes. Once I saw that SUV, I immediately closed the garage door and double-checked that everything is locked.”
“I am coming. Stay in the house, okay?”
“I will.”
“Fifteen minutes.” I threw a couple of twenties on the bar and turned to Boone. “I am sorry. I have to go.”
“Was that Lucy? What’s going on?” He stood up, frowning.
“We think her ex is stalking her but—” I cut myself off. “Long story. I don’t have time.”
“If something is going on, I’m coming too.”
I hesitated but then nodded. It might be good to have backup and a witness since I had no idea what I might find.
Boone jumped into my truck instead of driving his own car and I drove to Sawyer’s place faster than I should have. My chest was tight because I was both worried and annoyed. Lucy had been cagey about what had gone on with her ex. We never had much time alone together, to talk or anything else, but she needed to tell me the whole story if I was going to help. One way or another, I needed to know what was going on.