Page 27 of Scoring Destiny

“Grown-up relationships are hard,” I acknowledge. “I think that’s partly why I stay single. I’m always on the go, from one project to another. I don’t have the time to put in that kind of attention.”

“It gets lonely, though,” she says softly. “I never would have admitted it out loud, but I was lonely before West. My reasoning was a little different, dealing with the stigma of being a single mom, but late at night I’d lay in bed wondering if I was going to be alone forever.”

“Like you said, it was different with a child in the mix. I’m normally too busy to worry about that. Plus I have my brothers—we have a much younger brother that we spend time with—and friends and a busy life. I’ve always been a firm believer that when the right guy comes along, I’ll know.”

She smiles as we get out of the SUV. “Yeah, I definitely knew I’d met someone special when I met West.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a relationship. Most of the guys I meet professionally are married or gay. Neither one of those works for me.”

“I would think not.”

“So, I have the occasional one-nighter, go out on first dates now and then, and focus on my career. I’m only twenty-six. I have time.”

She nods. “For sure. I wasn’t looking when I met West. Less than six months later we got married.”

“That was fast,” I say.

“When you know, you know.”

“Is it like a lightning strike or something more subtle?” I ask curiously.

She’s thoughtful as we walk up to the front of the restaurant. “It’s somewhere in between. It’s more of this weird ache in your chest. Like, you really struggle when you’re apart. You don’t just want to be with them, it feels like a physical need. For me, it was like a drug. He was all I thought about. And in a good way. I’m talking about needing what he brought to the relationship—his kindness. Generosity. The way he interacted with Joey. All of it. I’d never met anyone like him and I couldn’t get enough.” She gives me a grin. “And I still can’t.”

I grin back. “I love a good love story!”

“Me too.” We walk inside, and West immediately gets up to kiss his wife. He’s sitting at a fairly large table, and I look around.

“Are more people coming?”

He nods. “Yeah, a few of the guys were hungry so I told them to meet us here. Since it’s a Tuesday night and the place isn’t busy, I got a reservation for ten.”

Allora, Grim, Lacy, and Chris come in as we’re getting settled, and we wave them over.

I’m sitting on the end, and Serena sits next to me with West on her other side and the others settling next to them. There are three seats left, all to my left, and I hope Blaze is one of the guys coming. He’s young and sweet, if not a little lost, trying to decide when or if he’s going to come out. I think he needs a friend, and I’m happy to be that for him.

I’m just about to ask who else is coming when I spot Blaze at the door. Behind him is Simon and—oh, hell.

Wearing a pair of low-slung jeans, a Metallica T-shirt that pulls tight across his chest, and biker boots is Cash.

Dammit.

For some reason, it never occurred to me he might be one of the guys coming.

And I feel the strangest combination of relief and disappointment when it’s Blaze who moves to sit next to me instead of Cash.

Chapter Eleven

Cash

I wasn’t planning to join Simon and Blaze for the late dinner until I heard that Maya was going to be there. Then, for reasons I still can’t explain, my mouth opened before my brain had time to catch up. And before I can decide what to do, Blaze takes the empty chair next to hers.

Instead of relief, I feel frustration.

I’ve thought of little else but her since I saw her at the party, leaving me totally out of sorts. I don’t pine for women. I never have. It’s just not the way I’m built. I’ve been in love, and losing my wife hurt, but we were already in a committed relationship. This fascination with Maya is completely different, which is why I’m frustrated.

I should have just put her out of my mind after she said no to getting a drink together. The truth is, I rarely get shot down, so that in and of itself is a little annoying. But it’s more than that.

There’s something about her.