Page 34 of Wrecked
"Good. And for the love of all things that are holy, call Dean. That poor man is worried sick about you."
More like my parents were worried about what it would mean for my dad's company if Dean and I broke up. The firm where he worked used Renowned Eminence whenever one of the senior partners screwed up—which was very often.
"I will."
After I hung up, I watched Mrs. Davis some more. She seemed so peaceful; I wanted to borrow some of it. My phone was still clutched in my hand; I scrolled to my gallery and flicked through the photos on it.
How sad was it that the only spontaneous snaps I had were of Zoe and me? I paused at a picture of Dean and me at a work function. The smile on my face seemed forced, and my body was stiff; I looked uncomfortable.
The truth descended on me so fast; a gasp tore from my throat, and the device in my hand tumbled to the ground. Shame washed over me as I finally realized that I wasn't in love with him anymore, that I hadn't been for a long time. But because it made my parents happy, I'd stayed with him.
No more.
Things in my life needed to change. I'd just told my mother that I was a thirty-three-year-old woman. It was time I started acting like one.
I hated how the bell above the diner door drew everyone's attention to me. As I walked toward the counter, I searched for Lizzy, but a dark-haired woman was busy serving customers.
Slipping onto the stool, I was greeted with "I'll be right with ya." While I waited, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Zoe, filling her in on everything that'd happened. After the call from my mom, I didn't have the strength for any more conversations.
"Hey, Kenzie."
I turned my phone's screen off and looked up to find Chase leaning against the counter next to me. "Hi."
"So, a few of us are here for lunch," he looked over his shoulder in the direction I assumed the lunch party was. When he turned his attention back to me he seemed a bit over excited, "C'mon, you're sitting with us."
"Do I have a say in the matter?"
He shook his head adamantly, "Nope." Turning his attention to the woman behind the counter, "Hey Dawn, she's moving to our table."
Much like last night, I followed Chase as he led me to their booth. We rounded the corner, and I immediately locked eyes with Brett. The closer we got to the table the more desperately my heart tried to break out of my chest.
"Look who I ran into." Again, Chase seemed rather overly cheery. I looked around the table at Logan, Harper and Lizzy, and they were all sporting knowing smiles. An uneasy feeling sprouted at the base of my skull and wiggled its way down my spine.
"Brett, move your ass that-a-way so the lady can sit," Chase ordered.
I was about to protest when genuine surprise stole the words from my mouth. Without so much as a grunt, Brett slid out of the booth. Confusion had me rooted to the spot. It was only when he leaned forward and whispered, "I have to sit at the end," that I regained my mobility.
The booth wasn't exactly small, but when you had three six-foot-something men squeezed in there too, it was bound to be a tight fit. So tight that even though my legs were pressed together, Brett's thigh still pushed against mine, sending all sorts of shivers through me.
Lizzy nudged my shoulder with hers. When I glanced at her, she waggled her brows, "So the city girl has some moves."
"Moves?" Mortification rushed through my veins.
The spunky redhead snickered before she elbowed me, "Girl, your swaying hips drew the attention of almost every available man in there last night."
Beside me, Brett let out a strangled groan which he covered up with a cough. I glanced over at him, there was so much heat burning in his eyes, I just about turned into a puddle of want. My mind drifted to a specific moment in the past. It was the first and last time Brett took me to a club. We hadn't even made it home before we clawed at each other, desperately seeking a release.
That was also the first time we'd made love in public, although, it wasn't the last time. I wondered if he remembered that night as vividly as I did.
"How are you feeling today?" Harper's voice pulled me from my lust-filled memories.
Immediately, my cheeks heated. Not only did I have no clue what I'd done at the bar, but I also had this sneaky suspicion that everyone knew where my thoughts had just gone. "A little fragile," I confessed.
She laughed. "We've all been there. Those cocktails are delicious, but they creep up on you with a vengeance."
"I guess I'm a bit of a lightweight."
Everyone laughed except Logan and Brett. They shared a look before Logan turned his attention to me. "Good news," he declared. "The parts we needed arrived this morning." The way he studied me made me feel uncomfortable. "You should be on your way before the day is out."
