No. I'd been in worse places than this. Leaning my head against the steering wheel, I forced my mind to just think. I had to figure this out, and I had to do it fast. The clock on my dash said it was almost ten at night. I either needed to find a couch to borrow or plan to sleep in my truck. Tomorrow, I'd start looking for a job. James Curry always needed help on his ranch. Bob Tinney had cattle. He might be able to find me something. Worst case, I'd go into Bonham and put in a few applications.
The one thing I wouldn't do was go back to Southwind. I'd learned my damned lesson. I'd just burned my entire life down in a few days because I'd been thinking with my dick - and maybe my heart - instead of my head. But I was done with that. I had to cut myself off from them like an addict, and from the look on Violet's face, I'd done a real good job of making sure she wouldn't be talking to me again.
If I got lonely, I'd go to a bar and meet someone for the night. That had served me well enough up until now. I just had to get my head in the game and figure this out, and fast. I needed a place for the night. Just one fucking night, and then I could worry about the rest tomorrow. But where?
One place immediately sprang to mind. I had to tell Faith I was moving anyway. Worst case, I could at least park my truck in front of their house and sleep there. For a split second, I thought about calling, but I wasn't going to give my ex a chance to tell me no. Face to face, I'd actually have a chance, so I braced for the worst, put my truck back in gear, and headed that way.
The lights were still on when I pulled into the drive, proving the house hadn't gone to bed yet. Just as I turned off the truck, I saw the curtains move, which meant I'd already been spotted. Deciding there was no reason left to put this off, I stepped out and dragged my sorry ass to the front door. It opened before I even got the chance to knock.
"Daddy!" Faith said.
"Hey, cupcake. I need to talk to your momma for a second."
Meredith pulled the door open wider, proving she was right there. "What do you want, Luke?"
"Can we do this inside?" I asked.
"Fine." She turned away, making it clear I was allowed to follow, so I did.
Faith was already in her pajamas and her hair was wet. Clearly, I'd interrupted bed time. Meredith was wearing an old pair of sweats and a faded shirt without a bra on under it. Glancing around the house, I didn't see Brody, but he wasn't the one I needed a favor from. The problem was that Faith hanging by my side wasn't going to make this any easier.
"Sweetie?" I asked, looking down at her. "Can you let me talk to your momma alone for a second?"
"But Dad," she whined.
I gave her a warning look. "Grown-up stuff, kid, and I have a feeling you were already headed to bed."
"Ok," she grumbled, turning for her room yet making it clear she was disappointed.
The door was barely closed behind her before Meredith jerked her chin at me. "What do you want this time, Luke?"
"A couch for the night," I admitted. "Just one night. Look, you were right, ok? I thought working for Violet would get me some extra money, but you were right. That woman picked a fight with Paul Simmons, and I got caught in the middle of it. He fired me, Meredith, and that means I need a place to stay for tonight."
"You are not moving in with me," she warned.
"No, I'm not. I just need one night. I'll get a job first thing in the morning and be out of your hair, ok? I just need a minute to think, a place to get a shower, and a couch where I can crash for a few hours. I'll be up first thing in the morning and out of your hair again. Promise, Meredith, and you know I keep those."
"Guess that means I'm not getting that six hundred dollars on the first?" she asked.
"I'll figure it out," I promised her.
"Luke, I need that money. I've got a wedding coming up! You can't ruin this for me," she hissed.
Lifting both hands, I patted the air, hoping to calm her down. "I know. I said I'll figure it out, and I will. I always get it to you, and this time won't be no different. It's just one night, Meredith. Swear."
"Fine," she said. "Brody will be pissed, but - "
"What about me?" the man asked, walking into the room. "Luke." He laughed once. "What are you doing here?"
"I told him he can sleep on the couch for the night," Meredith said. "Baby, he got himself fired, just like you said he would."
Yep, my pride was taking a shit-kicking and there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it. I just stood there in the middle of my ex-girlfriend's fiancé’s living room and took it. The little shit of a man was all but gloating as he looked me over, but at least he shrugged.
"Sure. Need me to wake you up when I head to work in the morning?" And the dick smiled like it was some kind of dig.
"I'm usually up at dawn, and then I'll be out of your hair. Like I told Meredith, I just need the one night."
"Then what?" Brody asked. "Jesus, Luke, what kind of example are you setting for that little girl?"
