He nodded and headed to the bedroom. His absence made the room feel cold and lonely. I walked over to the bedroom doorway, watching as he got dressed.
His dark boxer briefs slid up his legs, hugging his ass and strong thighs. He pulled on his old, worn jeans that hugged his ass and didn’t hide how well-endowed he was. I watched the muscles of his shoulders and upper back as he slipped his arms through the sleeves of the shirt and tugged it down.
He was the epitome of a sexy man. My nipples puckered and my pussy clenched. I wanted to go to him, strip him, and have my way with him. But I didn’t. See, I could be strong.
He ran his fingers through his hair and then turned, stopping as he saw me.
Since his return, I'd seen Sam’s cocky expression, his annoyance and anger, and even his regret, but this was the first time I've seen pain so raw and real in his face.
I hated seeing him look so unhappy. I hated that I was the reason for it.He hurt you first, I reminded myself, even though it sounded like something an eight-year-old would say. Even so, it was true. I didn't want to hurt him, but neither did I want to be in a position where he could hurt me again.
"I guess I’ll run. I'm sorry for showing up wasted last night."
"It's all right." I gave him a small smile. "It turned out alright." Inwardly, I rolled my eyes at the lameness of my words.
He nodded and strode toward the bedroom door. I stepped back, giving him room to exit. I watched as he made his way to my front door.
I had the weirdest urge to stop him. "What about breakfast? Didn't you say something about getting something to eat?"
He stopped and turned toward me. "I thought you said you didn't want to date."
I shrugged. "You've got to eat, I've gotta eat."
His expression was uncertain, but finally, he nodded. "You have to drive, unless you want me to get a rideshare and we can go separately."
At first, I thought he was being snarky, but upon studying his face, I saw he was trying to give me the space I needed.
"I'll give you a ride."
I quickly showered, trying not to remember Sam's mouth on my pussy the last time I was in there, and then I dressed in long shorts and a sleeveless blouse so I could go from breakfast straight to work at the Sea Siren.
We got into my little all-electric car, Sam impressing me with his ability to fit his long, lean body into it. Then I drove us out of the condo complex and toward a nice little diner I knew of not far from work.
"How long have you lived here?" he asked as we drove.
"About a year, I guess. I opened the Sea Siren and bought the condo all around the same time."
"What did you do before that?"
I glanced over at him, wondering whether he was just making small talk or if he was genuinely interested in knowing what had happened to me after he'd left me broken-hearted. It didn't matter, because I didn't want to tell him my sob story about how he had left and my grandfather had disowned me, leaving me destitute. Fortunately, I was a scrapper, and while I had Ethan as backup, I did my damnedest to make it on my own without anyone's help. That was what Sam and my grandfather had taught me. The only one I could truly trust was myself.
"Not much,” I answered.
I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. The conversation ceased until we were seated and had ordered breakfast.
When I first met Sam, conversation was easy. Everything with Sam had been easy back then. Today, that wasn't the case. The sex was easy, but sitting across from him in the restaurant, I didn't know what to say that wasn't snarky, reminding him of how much he had hurt me. I wasn't going to forgive him, but that didn't mean I had to harp on it all the time.
"So, you and your brother opened some clubs?" I asked lamely.
He nodded. "Yes, we have three now. We have plans for one here and one in Las Vegas."
I nodded. "That had been your plan in college. I remember you had this really obscure major in techno business or something."
He laughed. "Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation. Plus, a regular business degree, and don't forget I got a food industry certificate." His humor lightened the atmosphere, and I was glad for it.
"Oh, yes, we can't forget the certificate. Where would you be today without it?"
"I'd probably still be bartending at my Aunt Bri's club." He poured cream into his coffee and then took a sip.