Page 104 of Tequila Tuesdays

“Answer the question,” I clipped.

His lips twisted. “Twice. Once not long after we broke up. She came in town to visit, and the other was two months ago.” He gazed at me. “Overtwo months ago—right before Sheila and Grace’s party. I haven’t touched or had sex with anyone but you since then.”

I studied him. “Why didn’t you tell me about her? If I would have known, seeing her texts wouldn’t have been such a shock.”

He sighed. “It happened before we got together. I didn’t see a need.”

My back went straight. “Those texts made it seem like you were still hooking up.”

Damien watched me carefully. “I didn’t want to give you an excuse to pull away. And you’ve been subconsciously looking for one.”

I started to automatically deny it. But I stopped and thought about what I’d said to him after finding her texts. That I was damaged, and it was for the best.

My eyes slid away from his. “This thing between us happened so fast. I told you I have issues, and I didn’t take the time to really analyze this.”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to give you the time because you would have analyzed it to death. For the past two years I’ve been watching you coach that crazy-ass volleyball team of yours and staring at your legs in those spandex shorts. And when I got to know you and got a chance to get in there, I fucking took it.”

He stood up and grabbed my arms, then shook me gently. “We weren’t together in October. We are now, and you know I’ll be honest with you. You can trust me with your heart.”

He leaned in, kissed my forehead, and held me for a moment. “But I’ll give you some time if that’s what you need.” Then he turned and walked out.

Over the next few days, I didn’t hear from Damien. Olivia and Ava carefully tiptoed around me. My mind dragged me back through my past, and the trauma lurking there.

On Saturday, we played our final rec volleyball match of the season against the older, retired team. They’d gone on a cruise together during the regular season and rescheduled the game.

By the end of the match, Jaime and Tiana were both watching me carefully. I saw them talking quietly afterward as I gathered my things.

Then they walked over, and Jaime crossed his arms. “What’s up?”

“What do you mean?” I asked carefully.

Tiana shook her head. “Don’t bullshit us, girl. You haven’t yelled at any of us to do more cardio or get off our asses. You were actuallynicetoday. You’re scaring everyone.”

I smiled faintly. “Sorry. I’ll make sure to get back to my bitchy self by next season.”

“Who pissed in your coffee this morning?” Jaime asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tiana raised her eyebrow. “You’re a shit liar. Now spill.”

My shoulders slumped, and I sighed. “No one pissed in my coffee. I’m just… scared,” I finally admitted.

Tiana’s jaw dropped. “What the fuck? Why?”

Jaime studied me. “It’s that Damien dude, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.”

Tiana snorted. “It all makes sense now. Honey, it happens to most of us when we find ‘the one.’ What’re you afraid of? That he’s too sweet, too fine, or the sex is too smoking hot?”

I rolled my eyes and plopped down on the grass like a three-year-old. They sat next to me, and I spilled my guts. I told them about my dad and Ryan, Damien, his ex-girlfriend, and my fears.

Jaime stared at me like I’d lost my mind, and Tiana nodded and kept saying, “Uh-huh,” as I talked.

When I finished, Tiana reached over and patted my knee. “I understand about the bitch ex-girlfriend thing. But Damien’s right. If you two weren’t together at the time, you can’t hold it against him.”

Jaime scooted away from me a little. “Now I know what crawled up your ass. It was your head.”

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