"Yeah, I'm fine. It was pretty crazy," I said, rubbing my temples, trying to calm the pounding in my head.
"You all right?"
"Yeah, just a headache is all. You don't happen to have anything do you?" I had figured it would calm itself, but now the pain combined with the bit of food I had in my stomach, I felt as if I could be sick.
Cara dug through her purse, finally finding a container and shaking two headache tablets into her hand. "Here you go. It was a good thing you called the police."
"Thanks. I couldn't exactly let them kill those other guys. One of them got away though."
"I know, I heard. I also heard that Jackson was one of the responding officers."
I swallowed the mouthful of food I had and my stomach turned. I set the scone down on the plate in front of me and looked at my best friend. I had forgotten how fast word traveled in small towns. I also forgot how much Ryan and Cara talked to one another. I swear they both knew we were having trouble in our relationship before we did. I blew out a breath. "How did you know that? Let me guess, Ryan?"
A small smile sat on Cara's lips. "Yes, Ryan told me that a few of the guys were called down to Hooligans. Of course, Jackson filled him in on the rest." She smiled. "So what did you think?”
I looked at my best friend and shook my head. "About?"
Cara gave me a knowing look and smiled. "Well, about Jackson. What did you think?"
I blew out a breath and shrugged, rubbing both of my temples again as the pain shot through my head at her question. "What am I supposed to think? He's still hot I guess."
"’Still hot you guess’? Any woman would have to be dead to not notice that man, I tell you. Those blue eyes against that dark, tanned skin, dark, thick hair, those shoulders, that ass..."
"Whoa, aren't you supposed to be getting married in, like, three months?"
"Yes, of course, but come on, you can't seriously say that you wouldn't notice him."
"I never said that. Besides, that was always the way with him though. I can still remember the first time I ever laid eyes on him," I said, picking at the scone in front of me, getting lost in my thoughts.
"What is it?"
I shrugged. Even though I was adamant that we were through, a part of me still wanted to know about him, if he was involved with someone. "It's nothing." I shrugged. "So tell me what you want to plan for this wedding."
"Oh no, don't you dare change the subject. Just ask me the question I know is eating away at you."
I looked at my best friend, her eyes shining with mischief. She always could read me like a book. "What question might that be?" I smiled. Two could play this game.
"Bailey, as if you don't know?"
"Listen, I came here to talk about someone’s wedding, not about what happened last night at Hooligans, nor about Jackson Walker."
Cara shrugged. "I just figured you'd want to know whether he was single or not? I mean, somewhere in that heart of yours I know you’re dying to ask. I also know that somewhere deep down inside, you still care about him, and don't pretend you don't."
I shook my head and looked out the window just in time to see a Sunnyville cruiser drive down the road. I bit my bottom lip to stop the tears I could feel building in my eyes at the fact that he could very well be happily involved with someone, maybe even have kids. What bothered me the most was the fact that if he did have that, then the thought of perhaps having another chance would be taken away. Then I turned back to face the only girl who really truly knew me.
"Look, he's obviously with someone. I mean, he could barely look at me last night. He certainly didn't want to speak to me. He couldn't even ask me questions in relation to what had happened, and as soon as his partner had finished, he ran out of there faster than the gang member who started the whole thing."
Cara stuck her spoon into her coffee and added another sugar packet before looking up at me. "Imagine that, the man whose heart you ripped out doesn't want anything to do with you. That's shocking."
"That's a little harsh, don't you think?"
"No, I don't think it’s harsh to tell the truth. You, Bailey Scott, ripped the man’s heart out, tore it into little pieces, stomped on it, and left it in the dirt. Proof's in the pudding. You can ask anyone around here, they will tell you the same I am going to. That since you left, he hasn't been in one relationship, but he's been with everyone.”
"Everyone?" I looked at her in shock.
She nodded. "Sadly, yes, ever since you left. He's had what we used to refer to as bedroom cheerleaders, but he lets know one close to him."
The information she had just given me struck a chord, and I no longer wanted to discuss Jackson, or hear about the current sex life of my former fiancé. I cleared my throat. "Okay, so wedding. We have what, about three months to get this thing together?" I said, completely changing the subject, pretending everything was okay.