Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 (23 page)

Elle: We need to talk. Meet me at Linden Park in thirty minutes.

I hit
Send
before I change my mind. Done. I throw my phone onto the sofa and change out of my clothes. If I’m going to put my thoughts into action, it happens tonight.

Time seems to pass quickly when you’re enjoying yourself, but when it’s something you dread, it seems to drag. Arriving at Linden Park, I’m not sure what to expect. I smell the familiar scent of the magnolia trees, another reminder of him. Opening the gate, I fight the urge to turn around and run back home. No. It’s just Reed.
The same Reed that said he would give you the world and turned around and left you. Be angry.

I make my way around the park to the bench and recall that first night. How that chance meeting turned into so much more only a few weeks later. If he knows me and if he wants us, he’ll be here. I don’t see him. Disappointment sets in, then anger again. I’m giving him the opportunity he wanted, but he didn’t accept it.
Give him a few minutes. You’re the last person to be complaining about someone being late.
I shove my hands into the pockets of my jacket and settle on the bench, staring toward the gazebo, and out in to nothing.

Twenty minutes have passed, and the air has gotten chillier. I’m not sure if I should be furious or depressed that he hasn’t shown up. I’ve experienced this feeling before in the airport. I should be mad, but for what? What did I expect from him tonight? What I wanted was for him to be here, to prove me wrong, and to somehow mend things so that I can at least put everything behind me. That’s what I wanted. Why would he reach out to me with his text and not acknowledge mine? I pull my weary body up from the bench and attempt to clear my mind of the chaotic thoughts. I leave Linden Park with none of my questions answered, wondering if I meant anything at all to him, because right now I really don’t think I ever did.

I need to head over to the Middle East tonight to work the door. Brains got tied up with something so I was called in to cover. I’m fine with that since I can always use the extra cash. All Danny told me is that it’s some kind of private party. I doesn’t matter to me either way, but I am pissed that I’m going to miss the Dallas game against the Eagles in the comfort of my own place. I guess I can catch some of it at the bar.

I hop out of the shower, grab a towel and wrap it around my waist. Standing in front of the mirror, I scrub my face and debate whether or not to shave. Elle liked the scruff on me so I decide to pass. I’ve been getting no sleep the past few weeks. I’ve never had a problem with sleep. I can usually sleep through a fucking tornado, but with the combination of seeing Elle and my lack of sex, that’s been nearly impossible.

I cross the hallway to my bedroom and rummage through my closet for something to wear and decide on a thin, black V-neck T-shirt, my favorite pair of faded jeans and a pair of black boots Juju picked out for me when I was home in Texas. I laugh, remembering how she told me that I needed to take more fashion risks. Like the only risk I will take is whether or not I go without socks.

“Where are you headed tonight?” Luke asks, walking in uninvited. He just finished working out. His T-shirt is damp and clings to his chest while his shaggy blonde hair sticks to the nape of his neck. I cringe when he proceeds to sit on my bed, leaning back on his hands and crossing his legs in front of him.

“Work.” I deadpan.

“On a Sunday? Who the fuck works on a Sunday?” he asks, shaking his head.

“Yeah, Brains called in last minute, so I was asked to cover.”

“Shit,” he chuckles as he continues, “I was gonna see if you wanted to head out to the Glass Slipper.” He smiles slyly while scratching his chin.

“Glass Slipper? Sounds like some place I’d find Cinderella.”

“Strip club, you fuck. You forgot about our convo from the other night?” He laughs loudly and shoots me a look that he won’t take no for an answer.

“I’ve just got a lot on my mind lately.” I turn my head and exhale loudly.

“Well, we can find you a nice... actually, let me take that back. You can find a naughty and willing Cinderella, Snow White, or whatever you want to get your mind off her.”

“Sounds tempting.”
Not really.

“Besides your woman troubles, how’s everything else going?”

“All right,” I reply, checking my reflection in the mirror. “I’m getting through classes on top of training for tryouts and work. I’ve got my hands full.”

“You never talk about that football shit with me. Are you that bad?”

I grin and turn to my roommate. “Landon Hunter, ring a bell?”

“Sounds familiar.”

“That’s me. Look me up and let me know what you think.”

“Damn, who am I living with? Some fugitive?” he replies with a wide grin. That’s one thing I like about Luke. He’s cool with anything, doesn’t pry and goes with the flow. He understands that we all have something in our closet that we want to keep hidden.
I’m sure he has a shitload in his.
Even when I left and came back, he didn’t ask too many questions. Maybe he would be a good person to confide in some more.

“Nah, man,” I say, grabbing my wallet and keys from the dresser. “I wouldn’t put your ass in the line of fire like that.”

“Either way, man, you know I’ve got your back.” He slaps me on the shoulder as he follows me out the bedroom.

“Good to know.”

I’m able to escape from Luke and all the social events he’s planned with scantily clad females. He mentioned something about female mud wrestlers, or was it Jell-O? Either way, my roommate’s fucking testosterone levels are through the roof. I laugh to myself as I head down the street past the center in my Hummer. I can’t help but look over. I think I do this unconsciously just to see if I can catch a glimpse of her. I haven’t driven down her street since I’ve been back. It’s not like my ride is unrecognizable like a BMW or Toyota Camry; it takes up a whole block. It’s pretty hard to miss. I pull up to the stop sign. If I go straight, I go where I’m supposed to, but if I take a left, I go where I want to.

I take a left.

Night has fallen and it harder to see as I approach her house on the right. I know she doesn’t live there anymore, but I don’t care. I notice the leaves have changed colors and have started to fall. A car idles in the driveway as I pass her house and instantly my heartbeat skyrockets. There is someone sitting in the passenger seat as Elle’s mom walks out to the car. I can’t help but think it may be Elle. I pull my hoodie over my head, unsure if her mom knows what kind of car I drive. I hope she doesn’t. I feel somewhat creepy doing this, but somewhat relieved that everything seems okay.

I make the loop around the street and glance back as she reverses the car out of the driveway and heads in the opposite direction. Watching the car disappear pisses me off. I pull over and roll down the window, slamming my palm against the steering wheel. “Why the fuck am I doing this?” I grumble through clenched teeth. I throw my head against the back of my seat. I’ve got to keep my shit together, not being able to see her is fucking harder than I thought it was going to be.

The ringing phone jars me from the thoughts. I let it ring a couple of times before I snatch it, cursing under my breath when I see that it’s Sierra.

“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound composed.

“Do you have time to talk?” she coos. Hearing her voice fucking grates on my last nerve for some reason.

“I’m on my way to work, but I’ve got a minute. What’s up?” I ask.

“We’ve got to work out the details of our plan.”

Shit.

“About that...” I say, thrusting my fingers through my hair.

“What? Don’t tell me you’ve changed you mind,” she says, sounding annoyed.

“No, not yet.” I grimace. “Depends on what you have in mind. I don’t want this to blow up in my face.” My frown deepens, wondering what her plan entails.

“It won’t.” She laughs. “Can I swing by your job when you get off?

“Not sure. I...”

“We need to chat. We can’t sit on this,” she interrupts.

I definitely don’t want any more time to pass. I want to be with Elle sooner rather than later.

“Fine,” I reply, reluctantly.
What other options do I have at this point?
“Meet me at midnight. I should be done by then.”

“Cool. See you then.”

I hang up without saying bye and power off my phone. I don’t want her harassing me while I’m at work. I throw the phone into the glove compartment, deciding the best thing for me tonight is to separate myself from all communication since the only person that matters to me won’t and hasn’t reached out to me.

The gravel crunches under my tires as I pull up to the parking lot and kill the engine. I park in the back where there’s a large tour bus and some limos scattered with the limo drivers hanging outside. It must be some bigwigs from the city or hopefully the owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft, is here if I’m lucky. I’d like to throw out my name in those circles. I don’t particularly like Tom Brady, but I don’t have a problem catching for him.

I notice that Link and Bo, members of Crimzen, are unloading some heavy sound equipment from an SUV and carrying it in through the back door with Piper’s melodic voice directing them. Disappointed, I scratch the whole idea about the Patriots and enter through the back door behind them as Link and Bo set down the speaker.

“Hi, Reed.” Piper greets me with a smile.

“Hey there.” I nod, stopping to chat.

“What the fuck did I tell ya?” Bo growls, after setting down the speakers and wiping his hands on his black coat. “They’re fucking socializing while we’re busting our asses over here,” he seethes as he pulls his hair back into a messy ponytail.

“Fuckers.” Link rubs his hands together.

“Who’s that and what’s going on?” I follow their gaze toward the stage where Nick is standing with a group of guys looking over some documents and checking out the sound equipment.

“Our new manager and a record label interested in the band.” Bo beams, patting Link on the shoulder. “One of their reps heard us play the other night. They wanted a private show.”

“No shit,” I say, turning to him. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah, you can thank my woman.” Link grabs Piper by the waist and pulls her close. “It was her song they heard.”

“Thanks, babe, but you and the band had as much to do with it as I did.”

“I know, sweets.” He kisses her on the forehead before he motions toward the stage. “Come on. Let’s go meet the people who are gonna line our pockets with some green.”

“I’ll catch up with you guys later. I’m on the clock tonight.” I laugh as I head over to the bar. “Break a leg.”

By the time midnight rolls around, I’m ready to call it a night. I let Danny know I’m leaving. I grab my keys and hang out at the bar for a minute to watch the sports highlights on TV. My boys won. Romo only threw one interception. I smile.

“Hey, can I get you anything?” Sammy flirts from behind the bar while stocking some glasses.

“Water is cool.”

“No prob sweetie, She flirts, batting her false eyelashes.

A couple minutes later Sammy slides the water in front of me as I turn to the stage, watching Bo and Lance pack up the sound equipment while Nick is wrapping up with the reps from the record label. Piper and Link walk over hand in hand and our the first ones to meet me at the bar. An ache grows in the pit of my stomach seeing how happy they are. Shit, what I wouldn’t do to have that feeling back.

“A good-looking dude like you and you’re going home alone tonight?” Link asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Nick walks up behind him. “Are you gay or something?”

“You know I’m not, asshole.” I laugh, putting my glass down on the bar.

“Oh, yeah. I remember now.” He smirks, grabbing his ringing cell from his back pocket. “Speaking of chicks, I need to take this real quick.” He wiggles his eyebrows and turns, heading down to the end of the bar.

I take a deep breath, thankful for Nick’s impeccable timing. I don’t want to have people all in my business, especially since Piper knows Elle. I turn, grabbing my water and notice Piper staring at me. Oh, shit.