Page 69 of Clueless
“Why would I do that to myself?”She pressed her fingertips against her temple.“Why would I subject myself to life with a teenage girl who hates me and wants me out of her life?”
“Because,” I whispered.“You fell in love with her old man.And you want him as much as he wants you.”
She shook her head.“I’m a professional.I know how to control my emotions, and set healthy boundaries, so I don’t continue getting hurt.”
“I never meant to hurt you, baby.You gotta believe that.”
Her eyes lingered on mine for a few seconds before she said, “You may not have, but the outcome was still the same.I was… devastated.”
I hated knowing I’d hurt her, but if she didn’t love me so much, she could have let me go.And she clearly hadn’t.“You’re still in love with me.”I knew it was time to challenge her, because if I didn’t, I may never get the chance again.
She pinched her lips together, her eyes filling with tears.“Of course I do, you smug bastard.You don’t just fall out of love with someone like that.”She snapped her fingers.“But I think I hate you too.And that’s made it easier to sleep at night.And work, socialize, you know, have a life.”
“Hate me all you want, I deserve it.But let me be a part of your life again, Grace.Please.”
Shaking her head, she said, “I can’t.I’m sorry.”She rested her hand against my chest.“You’re not a bad guy.If you were, this would be a lot easier.And I take back what I said about you being a coward.It took a lot of courage for you to come here, and tell me the truth.”
I curled my hand around her wrist, my eyes pleading with her.“It’s not supposed to end like this.You and me, we’re not done.Can’t you feel that?”
“What I want doesn’t matter.When I met you, your only goal was to have your daughter in your life.And I refuse to get in the way of that.”Her eyes drifted to my mouth.“I can’t.I love you too much.”
“Can I at least kiss you… one more time?”
She shook her head, finally letting the tears glide down her cheeks.“No, because if you start, I won’t ever want you to stop.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Grace
I was still shaking when I walked into Jimmy’s and slipped into my friend’s waiting arms.I’d known Jay Cooper for years.We’d become friends when I took a few self-defense classes at the karate studio he owned.
Ironically, we were now moving in the same social circles, since his father, Josh, was Trey Turner’s close friend and head of security.And Trey had become Mav’s musical mentor and A.A.sponsor.
Small world.Sometimes too small for my liking.Especially since Taz had also become an unavoidable part of my social circle, through my sister and brother-in-law, and their extended music family.
“Hey, you okay?”he asked, pulling back to look me in the eye.“You’re shaking.”
“I will be, just as soon as I have a glass of wine,” I said, sliding into the booth across from him.“How’s Victoria and that gorgeous baby girl of yours, Jay?”
His face lit up, just like it did every time someone mentioned his family.“Amazing.Gotta tell you, girl, they’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”He grinned when I reached across the table to squeeze his hand.“And marriage and babies?”He winked at me.“I highly recommend it.”
My heart squeezed a little, because there was only one man I could imagine wanting to marry and have babies with, and he was firmly out of reach.
J.T.took the stage and we turned to listen.
“I want to thank y’all for coming out tonight.”He grinned when everyone cheered.“And you’ll be glad you did, because I’ve asked a friend of mine to stop by.He’s fresh off the road with Mav Stone?—”
The crowd roared and my heart sank.No, hell no!Not Taz.
“Y’all, I want you to give it up for the guy country music fans can’t get enough of… Taz!”
The crowd went crazy when Taz walked on stage, with a guitar strapped to him, and gave them a wave.
Country music fans weren’t the only ones who couldn’t get enough of him.The sexy bastard was highly addictive.Especially once you’d been in his bed.
Unlike me, he hadn’t changed clothes since I saw him at my office.But that didn’t surprise me.I’d never met anyone more down to earth or authentic.He didn’t care about impressing people, but somehow everyone who met him was impressed.
“I don’t believe this,” I whispered, as he claimed the stool and adjusted the mic.“Of all the dumb luck.”
