Page 19 of Wrecked
Without being able to stop it, my mouth opened, and words came rushing out. "Kenzie Michaels. Her daddy owns Renowned Eminence. Whenever politicians and celebrities want something swept under the rug, they go to Walter Michaels."
"And you know this how?" Chase asked.
Ignoring his question, I brought my beer to my lips, still unable to take my eyes off Kenzie as she weaved through the crowd. She turned to the side to dodge a guy with an arm full of drinks and my gaze zeroed in on her ass.
The yeasted drink that slid down my throat did nothing to alleviate the sudden dryness I felt. The intricateKthat sat just above my heart singed me straight to my core; I had to keep myself from reaching up and rubbing the tender spot.
"Well, seeing as I'm the one who invited her, I'll escort her to our table." Chase jumped from his chair. Before I could really register what he was doing, let alone stop him, he was already halfway to Kenzie. A feeling, I refused to acknowledge as jealousy, burned its way through my veins as I watched him sidle in beside her.
My eyes narrowed while I meticulously took in the exchange between them. Chase explained something and pointed toward our table. Kenzie followed his outstretched hand and our gazes locked. Even from where I sat, I saw her little gasp.
She turned her attention back to Chase and shook her head. He leaned in closer and gave her a smile I knew he used to get women in bed. I gritted my teeth and fought against the sudden need to strangle my best friend's brother.
With more force than was necessary, I plonked my beer down. Paying no attention to my friends' confused stares; I pushed to my feet and stalked toward the bathroom. As much as I wanted to punch something, I resisted the urge and splashed some cold water on my face.
"You wanna talk about it?"
When I looked up, Logan was leaning against the wall next to the door. I threw my head back and focused on the flashing light above me. What I wanted was to be in control of my emotions; to not give a shit if someone was coming on to Kenzie. If she'd pack up and vacate the space she occupied in my heart, that would be great too.
I dragged my hand over my face and released a breath.
"She's the one, isn't she?" His tone told me he'd wait all night for my answer. "The reason you were in jail?" I'd met Logan while we were both doing time. He was doing a three-year stint for drunk driving and I was rotting away for a crime I didn't commit.
"Yeah." I croaked out. "I haven't seen her in twelve years." That wasn't the truth. A few years ago, I'd looked her up. I thought if she was still so ingrained in me after all those years that maybe,maybe, I also held a place in her heart.
I'd gone to Texas City with the intention of getting her back, and I found her in another man's arms. Knowing that she could move on while I stayed stuck in the past stung in the worst possible way, and even though I wanted to, I still couldn't muster up an ounce of hate toward her.
Anger. NowthatI had in spades.
"Walter would have killed her if he found out she was using, hell, I didn't even know until that night," I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. "I took the blame, never once thinking that she'd just leave me like that."
"I get it, man. We'll do just about anything to protect the ones we love." He sounded wistful, and I knew he was thinking about the time Harper's ex had kidnapped her and little Flynn. Logan hadn't given up on finding his family, not even when Eli refused to help.
"I also know—" he continued "—that love that strong only comes around once in a lifetime and it has the ability to completely obliterate us." He pushed off the wall and stalked toward me. "But if we let it in, it can be the most beautiful thing."
I opened my mouth, and he cut in again, "Oh, and Chase is only flirting with her to make Lizzy jealous. One of these days I'm going to lock them in a room until they admit their feelings." My brows drew together, and Logan laughed heartily. "Don't think I didn't see ya staring daggers at my little brother."
Embarrassed that I'd been caught, I shook my head. "Whatever, man." I moved toward the exit. "And why the hell are we yapping in the bathroom like a couple of girls?"
My ass-hat friend laughed even louder. I pulled on the door and immediately stopped short when our table came into view. "Aw, hell no."
Chapter 10
I followed Chase as he moved through the frolicking patrons toward his friends. He'd been relentless, and when I saw that Brett wasn't sitting at the table anymore, I agreed to join them for a couple of drinks. The truth was I'd welcome just about any distraction to keep my mind off of Brett. Bringing my hand up, I toyed with the butterfly pendant around my neck, willing my racing heart to slow down.
The seriousness held in Brett's eyes had affected me, even from across a crowded room. No other man had that effect on me, and I suspected no other man ever would. When we reached the table, Chase pulled out a chair. After I sat down, he placed my wine in front of me. I had to remind myself that it was in bad taste to gulp everything down in one go.
Instead, I dragged the glass closer to me and toyed with the stem.
"Glad you could make it." I recognized the woman as Flynn's mom. "I never did get to introduce myself this morning before Chase here forgothismanners." The smile she aimed at him held no contempt. "I'm Harper." She jerked her head to the side. "You already know Chase and Lizzy, and that guy—" she pointed to the man a chair away from me. He looked a lot like Logan and Chase, only he had a brooding, intimidating look about him. "—is Eli."
Eli aimed his beer at me before he took a swig. "He also happens to be the Sheriff," I heard Lizzy say. She shared a look with Harper that I had no hope of understanding. I probably looked like an idiot, just staring at all of them with an uncomfortable look on my face. If Zoe were there, she'd have known exactly what to say to get rid of all the awkwardness.
"What brings you to our town?" Eli's deep voice broke through the silence.
"Oh, her car broke down," Lizzy answered for me, which earned her a look equivalent to one a disobedient student would get from a headmaster.Geez, he's intense.
"I wasn't asking you, Lizzy."
