Page 145 of Wild Card

“It wasn’t like that. I fucked up, I know it, but it didn’t start as anything but platonic.”

This keeps getting better. “I’ll humor you here because I’m in the mood for a good story.”

“That night we had dinner plans and you canceled at the last minute because of school. She and I were already at the restaurant. The reservation had a no cancelation policy so we decided to eat.”

The memory is like a scalding hot poker slicing my flesh. “We’d just celebrated our one-year anniversary.”

“Yes.”

“We were together almost another year.”

He has the decency to appear remorseful as the facts come to light.

Something else dawns on me about that night.

“You wanted to celebrate your promotion. Knowing I had a huge test coming up, I begged you to change the dinner.”

“It was the only night I could get a reservation for four months.”

“You knew I might have to cancel.”

“I hoped you’d put me first for once.”

“You knew the importance of school.”

“That’s why it was platonic. We talked, ate, drank, and I dropped her off at your parents’ on the way home.”

“Then what?”

“You were always busy. Bex and Lucas saw you more than me. I tried to be supportive, but you were stressed out and Rylee was there.”

“Who made the first move?” I ask the question that’s plagued me for months.

“Does it matter?”

I mentally calculate the timing and events happening during that time. “Yes.”

The pipes of a motorcycle roar and Talon speeds around the corner. He rolls in, parks behind me, and swings off like a scene out of a movie.

Worn jeans, white shirt stretched across his shoulders and chest with the ink winding around his arms, his favorite hat turned backward, and aviator glasses framing his face.

The world fades away, my whole body buzzing.

The air changes as his rage takes over. I drop my key and phone, running to catch him.

“Honey, it’s okay.”

“Why are you here?” he barks at Joseph, hauling me forward, my feet barely dragging the concrete.

“Baby, please, it’s really okay. He was about to leave.”

“Who are you?” Joseph stupidly stands straighter, ignoring Talon’s question.

“Okay, we need to calm?—”

“You have ten seconds to get in your car and get your ass out of here. Willow doesn’t exist to you anymore.”

“She’s my?—”

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