“What’s your schedule look like today?” I ask, as I slather his wheat toast with mayonnaise.
“Meeting with the design team for the cat litter account at eight, conference calls until lunch, then a game of golf with the old man and his banker.”
“So, a late night then?”
“Probably will stay at the clubhouse, so I can go to the airport from there with Dad.”
I nod. Excitement floods me. I’m a terrible person. I completely forgot he will be gone for the next four days.
“You working the split shift at the bar?”
I smile as Holden flashes to the front of my mind. “Yeah, I get off around seven. I may catch a movie with Bailey after.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you have her to keep you company while I’m away.”
“I could come to the clubhouse and stay with you, that is if you want me too?” I offer knowing he will decline. He never wants me there. He probably has a bitch on the side there as well.
“Go, enjoy the movie. I’ll be turning in early. The car will be there at four-thirty in the morning. I’ll be sleeping as soon as I get in.”
“Makes sense.” I am surprised he is being so agreeable. After our fight, he has gone back to being his usual workaholic-self, acting as though nothing happened, as though he didn’t cheat on me.
Ezra eats his sandwich and gets ready for work. I can hear Holden downstairs working in his shop. I wish he wasn’t married, but he doesn’t seem to care. Why should I? Maybe I will start thinking like a guy and having my side piece too. Why shoul
dn’t I get the best of both worlds like Ezra and Holden.
In the bedroom, I start getting ready for my shift at the bar later and to hopefully get a car. My fingers brush across the red shirt Holden asked me to wear. As much as I want to make him happy, I shouldn’t encourage him. I should let both of them go, but this is too good of real material for my book.
Ezra comes up behind me as I take the black bar shirt from the hanger. His arms go around me and I shiver (not in a good way either). “I’m going to miss you while I’m gone. I don’t like you working at the bar.” His chin dips down on my shoulder and his cologne that I used to love the scent of makes my stomach churn as much as his touch does. “But at least I know Holden will keep an eye on you and keep any customers from attempting to steal you away from me. I love you in black, Snookems, it makes me so damn hard.”
I freeze and decide I never want to wear black again.
Ezra leaves and I grab the red shirt.
————
In the cab of his truck, Holden grips the wheel tightly. Tension surrounds us so damn thick that I have to crack my damn window. “Why are ya sitting over there?”
I don’t know why I say it, but I guess it’s eating at me. “Because I’m not your wife.”
His eyes darken as he swerves into the next lane and pulls into a car wash stall. He shuts the truck off.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he unbuckles his seatbelt.
He turns to face me. “Come here,” he growls.
“No.” I fold my arms over my chest. The chilly air seeps through my cracked window, filling the truck quickly. The windows begin to sweat and fog as the warmth from the heater mixes with it.
Holden reaches over and undoes my seatbelt. His eyes never leave mine as I glare at him. I reluctantly meet him in the middle of the bench seat. “Wipe that fucking snarky look from your face, Con. Reese and me have been over for years. I don’t have to explain myself to you. I don’t see you telling me shit all about you getting back with Ezra.”
He has me there and I pout.
“You’re jealous.” He brushes his thumb over my lips. “Did you kiss him?” I look away and he sighs. “You going back to him?”
“Does it matter? I saw you with her last night.”
He sucks in a breath. “Don’t know what you saw, but I asked you a question?”
“Not this morning,” I answer him.