Page 31 of Like Home
I take a step back, holding out my palm so he doesn’t follow me back inside. “No! I would never do that. You know me better than that, despite whatever your anger is telling you. I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings that I’ve moved on, but I can’t change how I feel.”
He barks out a cruel laugh, and I just know he’s about to go for the jugular. “Damn, Summer. You’re pathetic. You lay on yourback for the first man to show you any attention after me. You think he’s going to want to stay withyou?I don’t need to vet him. He’s going to be gone soon now that you’ve already given him what he wanted. I won’t take you back. I don’t want sloppy”—he looks me up and down and sneers—“and I meansloppyseconds.” With that, he turns away. I don’t even realize I’m crying until a tear drips off my chin. I take a few minutes to collect myself before I head back inside, his words weaving black threads through the bright tapestry of the last two days.
CHAPTER 21
Ryan
It’s been nearly a week since that morning I spent with Summer in her bed. If it weren’t for Jared, I’d be floating on cloud nine. Summer hasn’t told me the specifics of what was said between them on Sunday, but I can tell whatever happened wasn’t good. She hasn’t sounded like her usual self. Just when she seemed to be getting better, she saw him again on Wednesday, and her mood darkened again. I’m sure she’s going to tell me, but it isn’t a conversation to have over the phone.
She’s still trying to honor her agreement with Jared and not have me meet Emma until he approves. So when she has her, I don’t come around. I respect the rule, but man does it suck for me. This is the first time I’ve ever been with a woman who has a child, and it’s a whole different ball game.
I set out to clean my house since it’s been a bit neglected the last few weeks. I throw in a load of laundry, blast my music, and go about scrubbing down my bathrooms and kitchen. I’m belting the chorus ofDon’t Stop Believingby Journey into my broomstick when my phone rings, blaring through my Bluetooth speaker. It startles me so much, I yelp and drop my broom stick/microphone.
“Hello?” I manage, after my soul returns to my body.
“Hey, man. Want to get some drinks and watch Victor and Chris annihilate each other at pool?” Luke asks.
I look around and shrug. My plans weren’t great for this Saturday night, anyway. Being with friends will probably offer me a good distraction. “Sure. Let me hop in the shower and I’ll meet you guys there. The Taproom?”
“Yep. See you there.” We hang up and I go get myself showered and dressed. I shoot Summer a quick text letting her know I’ll be out tonight. She tells me to have fun, and I grab my keys.
I pull into The Taproom and have a hard time finding parking. It becomes abundantly clear why when I hearLike a Virginby Madonna being sung off-key in a falsetto, male voice.
According to the chalkboard sign at the bar’s entrance, Karaoke Night is a monthly thing. A small stage has been erected in the back of the bar that typically has booths and tables. On stage is an older guy, probably in his mid-to-late fifties, belting out the song. I quickly avert my gaze when he starts gyrating a little too enthusiastically and look for my friends.
I push through the crowd to get to the pool tables. I break through the thickest band of patrons and see Luke laughing, a hand splayed across his chest as Victor fumes from the side of the pool table. Chris is wearing a smug look that tells me that he probably just won the game. “Hey, guys,” I say, clapping Victor and Luke on the shoulders. “Guessing Chris just won?”
“For the third time in a row!” Victor yells over the still-gyrating Madonna fan.
“I’m on fire tonight,” Chris says, coming around to greet me. “Beer?” I nod and Chris gestures to Victor. “Go on, beer boy. Fetch us another round since you’re losing so hard tonight.” Victor rolls his eyes and cuts through the crowd to get to the bar.
“He’ll probably be a minute,” Luke says, pulling up a chair from the wall to sit on.
“Want to play a round?” Chris asks me a bit too gleefully for my tastes.
“I think I learned my lesson last time,” I say, holding my hands up to ward off the offer. Chris shrugs and begins to gather the balls, already arranging them for another game.
“I’ll play. What’s another ten bucks?” Luke asks, standing from his chair. I take his seat gladly. It’s much more enjoyable to watch someone else lose to Chris than to lose yourself.
In no time at all, Chris is poised to win and preparing to take his last shot. Just as he’s lining up, a slurred voice behind me says, “Fuckin’ bitch is cheatin’ on him. Told him since she baby trapped ‘im she was a no good whore.” My lip curls at the foul language. I hate when men call women whores. I feel something cold splash down the back of my neck, and I jump to my feet.
“Ah, shit! Sorry, man,” the drunk asshole in question slurs my way, half-empty beer mug tilted towards the floor, a slow drip of beer pouring out. The guy he was talking to uses the distraction to slink away into the crowd.
He’s got the look of someone who drinks too much, too often. His eyes are bloodshot and puffy. His clothes are a little too snug, with unidentifiable stains splattering the fabric of his t-shirt. His beard is scraggly and his hair is thinning on top.
“Woah, dude. Maybe you should slow down,” Luke says, coming to stand behind me. The cold beer sluices down my back and soaks the band of my jeans.
“Here, Ryan.” Chris hands me a stack of napkins to mop up the majority of the beer. I start scrubbing at my neck, keeping my temper in check. I’m not a bar fight kind of guy, and the Taproom isn’t exactly a place for them anyway.
“Shuthafuckup Luke,” the drunk slurs, half-shutting one eye to focus on him.
“Go home, Duncan. You’re beyond drunk. If Jared isn’t here with you, call him to take you home,” Luke says earnestly, obviously taking nooffense.
Ahh, so this is the infamous Duncan I’ve heard so much about.
I instantly feel less forgiving. Then it really hits me: Summer. He was talking aboutSummerbefore dumping his beer down my back.
Before I can stop myself, I say, “You really shouldn’t be running your mouth about something you know nothing about.”
