Page 3 of Don't Hurt Us
“Who is it?”
“Judge Jefferson?”
“Ahh, I know him.Don’t worry about it, Syd.I’ll have a talk with him.”Colt pats me on the back before taking a long pull of his beer.
“Oh, you don’t need to do that.I wasn’t looking for help.”
“Then what were you looking for?”He pins me with a look.
“I don’t know!To vent and complain?To drink enough that this doesn’t bother me as much as it does?To pretend I didn’t marry a total jerk just because he knocked me up?”I bury my face in my hands, trying my hardest not to cry.
Rob and I got married after I got pregnant with Danny.Things have never been great between us, but I was willing to put up with him for the kids’ sakes.I thought when Bree was born things would get better, but they didn’t.Honestly, what did I expect?Another kid is never going to make anything easier.
I don’t think Rob has ever loved me.I'm not even sure I loved him.I felt stuck.Like I had to marry him because I was pregnant with his child.I was young and stupid.
When I found out he was cheating on me, I wasn’t even upset.I was angrier about how it would impact the kids than the fact I was losing my husband.I think deep down, I knew he was never mine.And I didn’t really want him.
I’ve always dreamed of having a man in my life who cared about me.One who was willing to go above and beyond.That sounds like a lot, but going above and beyond to me, isn't much at all.If he showed up to Danny’s baseball games or sang off key with Bree while making pancakes on Saturday mornings, he’d be doing more than I expect.
It’s amazing how low of a bar Rob has set.Since he moved out, he hasn’t called the kids once.The only contact we’ve had has been via the lawyers and him demanding half of the bakery.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.”Maverick places a drink in front of me, his concerned gaze still focused on me and ignoring the rest of the bar.
“It’s fine.I can't change the past, but at least I know what I don’t want in the next guy.”
“Are you dating?”Colt’s brows raise in surprise.
“Not yet, but I don’t necessarily want to be single forever.I'm only twenty-seven… I guess I'm just waiting for someone worth my time to pay attention to me.”
“Hey, Mav!”Someone yells from the other end of the bar.
I glance up at Maverick, expecting him to rush off to help the person, but he’s still staring at me.His eyes are darker than normal and he looks like there’s something he wants to say, but he doesn’t.
“I’ll be right back.”He raps on the bar twice with his knuckles, before tearing his attention away from me.
“Someone has a crush,” Colt singsongs.
“Me?”I squeak out.
“You and Maverick.”His signature devilish grin slowly spreads across his face, just like it always does.I swear if I didn’t know he was the town’s sheriff, I’d assume he was the most likely to get locked up.He’s always up to something that’s going to get him in trouble.
“There is no me and Maverick.”I roll my eyes as I lift the blue liquid to my lips and take a long sip.It doesn’t burn going down as much as you’d think it would.That’s why it’s such a dangerous drink.
The Skylar drink goes down easily, but before you know it, you’re knocked on your butt and don’t know what happened.
“I think there could be if you wanted there to be.”His grin widens even more.
“Maybe you should focus on getting Leslie to give you a shot and less on me.”I roll my eyes.
I love Colt.He’s a great guy and he comes into the bakery all the time.He’s a total sweetheart, but I'm not interested in him.I think he’s a good guy, yet I’d love it if he stayed out of my business.
“Dang, Syd.Don’t bring out the claws.”He holds his hands up in defense.
“I can't get involved with someone when I'm not even divorced yet, Colt.And I have no doubt he’s going to draw out this divorce until he gets every penny he can out of me.”
“Then let me help.I’m not promising I can convince Jefferson to do anything, but I know he doesn’t like lowlifes like Rob.”
“Good.At least I have a fighting chance then.”
