Page 51 of Don't Regret Me
“Pastor.” Booker inclined his head to Bentley.
Jimmy smiled and clapped Nick on the shoulder. “Nick, have you met Booker yet?”
“That’s Doctor to him.” He crossed his arms. “Or better yet, nothing at all.” His footfalls faded as he crossed the diner to an empty table.
Jimmy sighed. “Sorry about that, Nick. Liz is the most important person in his life.” He gave a sad shrug. “When she hurts, so does he.” He offered one final smile before going to join Booker.
“I don’t even know that man. I barely know Liz.” As soon as he said the words, his chest ached. Because they didn’t feel right. He’d never known anyone like he’d known Liz. Well, like he thought he knew her.
“If what happened between you two gets out, this town will turn on you faster than an alligator protecting his turf.”
“What?”
“This is Florida.” He shrugged. “Alligators.”
Nick didn’t care about alligators, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about the town turning. Maybe he deserved it. He wasn’t proud of anything he’d said. His eyes flicked to the door every few minutes, either hoping or fearing Liz would walk in at any moment. He wasn’t sure which.
Stephanie finished her bottle, and Bentley thumped her on the back.
“Stop hitting her.” He tried to take her away from him.
Bentley cocked his head with a grin that said Nick was an idiot. “I’m not hitting her. I’m burping her.”
As if on cue, Stephanie burped, but it was soon followed by a stream of regurgitated formula. All over Bentley’s collared blue shirt.
Nick stifled a laugh and held out a napkin. “Good to know.”
Bentley wiped his shirt, showing no reaction. “I’m a pastor.”
“I’m aware.”
“What I mean is, people come to me with their problems. I know most of what happens in this town and how to respond to it. But you… I spend more time these days with you than anyone other than my kids. It’s hard to believe you weren’t always part of the center.”
“Um, thanks?”
“Just shut up, will you? I’m trying to tell you how I know what a giant buffoon you are.”
Nick folded his hands on the table as the waitress returned and set food in front of him. He nodded in thanks but didn’t pick up his fork. “Go on, then. Tell me.”
“After I clean up in the bathroom. You deserve the anticipation.” He smirked, handing Stephanie to Nick and scooting out of the booth.
Almost the moment he was gone, another presence loomed. He took Bentley’s seat, the russet skin of his face drawn tight into a frown.
“Can I help you?” A sudden surge of defensiveness rose in Nick. He wasn’t the one who lied, who crafted stories trying to tie them together. And yet, he couldn’t help the pull drawing him back to Liz. He wanted to apologize, to run his hands over her pale cheeks, fold her into his arms. He wanted to tell her nothing could ever break them.
Then, why did he feel so broken? If any of that was true, how did her words destroy so much inside of him?
Booker stewed in silence for a moment longer. “Liz deserved better than you.”
“I know.” She had. Whatever she’d said last night didn’t change that. Liz Ross was too good for the likes of a grumpy, unlikable movie star who didn’t know how to make room in his life for anyone else.
“I didn’t believe her either.” His voice was a low growl. “She needed me to, and I couldn’t. I still don’t. But I know she believes it. That woman is the best this world has to offer. There is not a single lie in her. If you can’t see that, can’t see that she would rather die than betray the people she loves, then it’s best you go. Get out of Gulf City. We don’t want you here.” He pushed up from the table. “You don’t belong here, hotshot. You proved that yourself.”
As he left, Bentley returned. “Everything okay?”
No. He buried his face against the soft head of Stephanie, drawing comfort from her. Booker was right. He didn’t belong here. Liz wasn’t a liar. She was the most honest person he’d ever met.
A flash went off somewhere in the diner, the kind of flash he recognized. Tomorrow, pictures of him with Stephanie would be in every paper. And he’d be in L.A.
