Page 16 of Sangre
“Why not? Time doesn’t stop friendships. We just lost touch, that’s all.”
“You were my best friend back then.”
“Mine too. Damn. You know a lot of shit about me.” He laughed.
“At least from back then I do. I don’t know much about you now.” She took another gulp of lemonade. “Are you married?”
“Nope. I’m leaving that to my brothers and sisters. They’re all saddled down with kids, except for Connor, but he’s been dating Kayla for a while, so you never know.”
“Conner? Isn’t he like nineteen or something?”
“Twenty-one. What about you? Ever been married?”
Shaking her head, she leaned over and put her glass on the table. “No. I’ve been so busy with the band. It’s hard to find a guy who gets that you may be out of town for seven months out of the year. You don’t have a girlfriend?”
“Not right now. I just broke up with someone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said, his gaze fixed on her. “It ran its course.”
The screams of the kids on the block, the whirr of lawn mowers, and the squeak of the occasional car driving past, filled in the nooks and crannies of the quiet space between them.
Sangre rose to his feet. “I should get going. I meant to tell you there was a change in plans—before I took a sip from the lemonade that opened the door to our past. I got some business at the clubhouse, so Mark’s gonna be on for tonight. Eagle will relieve him in the morning, and I’ll take over tomorrow night. Maybe we can get some dinner if you’re up to it. Do you still like chili cheese fries?”
“More than ever.”
“If you go out tonight, Mark will follow you. Don’t feel like you have to chat with him or anything. He knows his duties. He’s an ex-Marine, so you’re in good hands. Give me your phone. I’ll plug my number in, and you can call me if you need anything.” He took her phone then handed her his. “Plug in your number.”
She opened the front door and walked out with him. She saw a tall, built man with a crew cut, baseball hat, jeans, camouflage T-shirt, and black military boots getting out of an SUV. Sangre waved to him. “That’s Mark. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With her hands on the wrought iron bannister, she watched him go, admiring his corded legs and sexy butt. When he was halfway down, he turned around and threw her the most charming smile. “It’s good to have you back in town, Jordan. I missed our friendship.”
“It’s Isla. I legally changed my name. And I missed it too.” She watched him amble toward Mark, then talk with him for a few minutes before jumping on his Harley and riding away.
He just wants to be friends. I think I liked it better when he didn’t know who I was and was hitting on me. Now he just sees me the way he used to for all those years. A buddy.
Waving at Faith next door, she opened the screen door and went back inside. Feelings she tried for years to suppress dug their way through her heart and her brain. After all this time, she still cared for him. A lot… Too much… and all he wanted was to be friends. She wasn’t sure she could do it. It’d taken a long time for her to reconcile the fact that she’d made a fool of herself and had probably driven him away after he’d read her love letter.
Embarrassment strangled her, and she hid her face behind her hands.I hope he doesn’t remember about the letter. He didn’t act funny or anything. I can’t make a fool of myself again. I’m older, more mature now.But why did she feel like she was fifteen and back in high school secretly crushing on her best friend?
Not wanting to sit around all night thinking about Sangre, she tapped in Gage’s number.
“You guys going out to eat tonight?”
“Yup. Benz was just gonna call you to see if you wanted to join us. We’re in carnivore mode, so the biggest, juiciest steaks are what we’re seeking.”
She laughed. “Count me in. Did you decide on a restaurant? I can meet you guys.”
Some ruckus in the background and then Benz’s deep voice came over the phone. “We’ll pick you up. Maybe we can hit a bar afterwards. I’ve missed you.”
“We’ll have a good time tonight. Give me an hour to get ready.”
She put her phone away and sighed. It’d be much easier if she loved Benz, but she didn’t. Come to think of it, she’d never been in love with any man except for Sangre.But that was when you were a teenager. The right man just hasn’t come around. I refuse to settle like Katherine. She’s already divorcing Dan, and they just got married ten months ago.
Dashing up the stairs, she vowed that she’d have a good time that night and not think of Sangre once. She went into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, wondering if he was thinking of her.
She turned the knob and groaned as the warm water cascaded down her back.
