Page 77 of Hero Hair

“Disinterest is one thing. Being so tied up in whatever is on your phone is offensive.”

Fuck. I slipped up. Literally and figuratively.

I cup her cheeks and try to wipe away the black streaks. Her head will have a large knot on it. There’s no way around it. She must realize I’m panicked. “I’m clumsy. I fall all the time. Don’t worry. He won’t even notice. Kind of like you not noticing I was giving you the best blowjob of your life.”

I laugh. “That was not the best blowjob of my life, sweetie. Nice try, though.”

Her brows knit together. “You’re a dick. Maybe I will tell my husband.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her a mass of people are heading to his business right now to lock him away…forever. Her too, if they find she had any intel of it. At this point I highly doubt it, but she knows her husband has been up to no good. I just don’t think she knows how destructive he’s been.

“I have to go.” With the swift goodbye, I leave her on her knees in the blue room.

I nod at Moose in the corner of the bar as I enter the large smoky space. He smiles widely and stands to join me. We walk outside together and hop into the large white SUV. The teammates in the vehicle cheer and slap our backs as we get in.

“It was mostly me,” I say, correcting the raucous bunch, flashing a vain grin.

Moose disagrees and the tone of the vehicle stays elated as we drive away. We’re finished. This job is complete. No knife fights like last time either. Success.

I sit in the back seat and read the emails from Teala labeled as junk. The first email makes my chest hurt, because I know what comes next.

Subject: Disregard my last message

I’m not sure what came over me. I never should have sent the last message. You obviously have no need for my forgiveness, so I never should have offered it. I’m mad at you. Now that I’m far enough away from the situation to see things clearly, I’m pissed as hell. You can’t tell someone you love them and then never come back around regardless of their crazy status. I’ve decided you must have been mistaken. It wasn’t love. It was something else. He’s made me realize no one is irreplaceable. Consider yourself aware of my feelings on the matter.

Peace,

Teala too Smart to waste any more time on you.

My hands are sweaty and I have to wipe them down my suit pants to get the slickness away. Who ishe? Who made her realize? I grit my teeth and open the last message.

Subject: You are a cruel man

Not that I thought you would deign to respond to my lowly emails, but at least write back and tell me you got them. Are you dead? Or alive and cruel? I’m not sure which fate I prefer. Carina tells me I’ll have to see you at her wedding. I’m not sure if I want to go. If it’s worth the heartache I’m sure will arrive at the sight of your fucking dimples. You aren’t mine anymore. And that fact hurts more than admitting I’m not yours either. Do us both a favor and don’t show up. We know it would only end in a pity fuck. I don’t need that kind of bad karma in my life. Charlotte says there’s a special place in hell for men like you and for once I believe something she says.

Teala

I write out at least ten responses but end up deleting them. Which email would I reply to? I have the thought to reply to the first one and pretend I didn’t get the other two. Yes. It’s the only logical plan.

Teala,

I haven’t been checking my personal email while I’ve been working. Please forgive me. I’m glad you are feeling better. Do you want to get together when I arrive home? Coffee? Smith and Carina are getting married as I’m sure you well know. Perhaps I could accompany you to the wedding? I should be back in San Diego for a bit. I’ve been extremely busy, but you’re always on my mind.

Love,

Macs

Sweat beads on my forehead as I hit send.

“Dude, are you defusing a bomb?” Tahoe asks from the seat beside me.

My thumb taps the button to darken my screen.

I swallow hard. How to explain that emailing Teala causes my nerves to fray, and conducting a national level, dangerous mission leaves me cool and collected? “Checking mail,” I say with a shrug, turning my focus out the window. Cruisers are speeding down the street, their lights flashing in harried dismay.

“Trying to patch things up now that we’re heading back?” he asks.

It would make sense. I think it’s what he does now that the dating apps are null and void. He makes nice with one of the women from his past to make sure he has sex lined up for his free time.

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