Page 25 of Wild Valentine
I’ve been such a dumbass. I knew women were deceitful. I’ve been deceived once before, when I came back from my first tour to find my girlfriend had been sleeping with someone else.
I’ve never been in a relationship since, and that was ten years ago. I keep away from women, knowing how deceitful they can be. But I thought Hazel was different. I trusted her. And I’m a fool for doing so.
I whizz past an overlook and cringe when I see the sheriff’s car parked up. I’m going way too fast, and Badge knows it.
It’s no surprise when the car pulls out behind me, his lights flashing.
“Shit.”
I slow down and pull over next chance I get, which is at a small parking area by a popular walking path.
I’m breathing hard, anger pounding in my veins when Badge strides over.
“What the fuck, Marcus? You must have been doing at least seventy.”
He’s pissed, and I’m not surprised considering his past. Badge loves to ride as much as the rest of us, but he’s a stickler for the speed limit, and the blood alcohol limit. He’s been known to hide a man’s keys if he’s had too much to drink.
He takes his job as Sheriff seriously, to protect the residents of Wild from harm, and in a remote place like this, that harm is likely to come from the road. He should know that more than anyone.
“Is there an emergency? Do you need a lift?”
“No.” I hang my head.
I let my emotions control me, and I was driving recklessly. I wouldn’t blame him for giving me a ticket.
“Is your girl in trouble?” It’s about the only other excuse there is for speeding on these roads.
“She’s not my girl,” I hiss through gritted teeth.
Badge takes a step back and eyes me knowingly.
“What happened?” His tone is softer, the friend now, not the Sheriff.
“She never was my girl, Badge.”
He gives a soft laugh. “Are you kidding me? I saw the way you two couldn’t keep your eyes off each other.”
“She’s just another manipulative female.”
But the words sound wrong to me. Hazel was so different from Karmen, my ex. Karmen was always sly. She was always trying to make me jealous. We were only teenagers when we got together, and she liked to make me prove how much I loved her.
When I look back now, I realize I never really loved her. I loved the idea of her, of being with someone. But it never felt the way it did with Hazel.
Badge is frowning at me. “That’s harsh, bro. What did she do?”
I explain about the story and the conversation I overheard.
Yeah, I got him to talk.
She got me to talk all right. I bared my soul for my angel. I told her everything I’d kept locked up for years.
I tell Badge about the open laptop that I saw with my own eyes. I thought we were falling in love, but she was using me to get a story.
I don’t tell Badge about taking her virginity, although she probably lied about that.
But there was blood.
When I finish talking, Badge is staring at me.
