Page 66 of Coast

“Dunno what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I know a hangdog look when I see one. What happened? You muck it up with Zoe?”

“There is no anything with me and Zoe.”

“You men,” Brooke said, sighing as she leaned back against the railing. “Always thinking you’re making the right decision for everybody. While fucking everything right up. God, it felt good to say that.”

“Fucking?” I asked, smirking at her.

“You really start to realize how many swear words you’re using when you have to stop and spell them out all the time. These kids really put a crimp in my style when it comes to cussing. Anyway. What is this? You’re not good enough for her?”

“I’m not.”

“You know what I think?” she asked.

“What’s that?”

“That it’sherdecision. And you’re out here thinking you’re being all noble and shit. When what you’re really doing is being a giant ass.”

“Thanks, Brooke.”

“I’m gonna call it like I see it. You like that girl in there. And her little girl. And you’re agood man. You’re everything a single, overworked, overwhelmed, lonely mama wants. Yet you’re gonna walk away. Typical. Just typical.” She stormed back off toward her door. “And don’t forget the trash.”

With a sigh, I moved down the balcony, grabbed the bag of garbage, and headed to the stairs.

I got what Brooke was saying. Really, I did. Zoe deserved a man to lighten the load, to love her and Lainey. But that wasn’t me. I was nothing but trouble. She needed a good, stable kind of guy. Whether she liked that or not.

I was making the best decision for her.

I threw the trash and made my way back to the lot, clocking a car parked down at the edge—engine running, heavy tint.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck go up, but brushed the concern away. This was a busy motel. People came and went all the time. There was no reason to get suspicious about a car in the lot.

I climbed on my bike, but sat there for a minute, pep-talking myself to go, to drive off, to leave Zoe and Lil’ Bit alone. They had enough on their plate. They didn’t me and my dirty hands and my fucked-up past.

With that in mind, I started the engine and pulled out of the lot.

Then went ahead and ignored the way each mile I drove away from the motel made the tight feeling in my chest intensify until it felt damn near ready to snap as I drove into the lot of the clubhouse.

“Didn’t expect you back tonight,” Caymen said as I walked around the back of the house to find a party already in full swing.

“Didn’t expect to be back,” I admitted, accepting the beer he handed to me.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“No.”

“We can drink about it then,” he said, clinking his can to mine before taking a long swig.

“Your brother seems to be fitting right in,” I said as he spun a group of women around on a big tube as they squealed.

“This is right up his alley.”

“Not yours?”

“I don’t mind a good time, but that was never the motivation for joining up. We needed the stability. You?”

“I wanted the partying and the action.”

---