I won’t be changing my mind. I’m gonna let that girl stay where she belongs, in my memories.
“Come on, man. It’s time to go celebrate Dagger’s big day.”
6
Payton
Goodness, I am way too exhausted to be shoveling shit. My arms don’t want to work today. Neither do my legs. I take a seat on a hay bale and pull my phone out to check the time. I need to know how many more hours of torture I have before I can go home and crash.
What the heck? I have six missed calls. And they’re all from Callum. I almost don’t want to open the text he sent. I’m too exhausted to deal with his ass today.
Callum:Just got the new envelope. Like I told you, Payton, I’m not signing the papers. It was a mistake. It happened one time and I was drunk. You really think I’d fall for a stripper? I’d never stoop that low.
And yet he fucked one. But it’s not even about him wanting to be with her or not. It’s the fact that he betrayed me. He stepped out on our marriage. If he loved me as much as he says he does,he wouldn’t have even looked in her direction. He would never have cheated on me.
Me:You betrayed me and our marriage, Call. My trust is broken. I will never believe a word you say. It’s over. Please just sign the papers.
I don’t know how many times I have to spell it out for him or how many months of separation it’s going to take. You’d think after a year apart, he’d get the hint. I’m never going back.
Callum:I won’t sign until you agree to meet with me. I want to see you and talk about this face-to-face.
And what good will that do? There’s nothing for him to say that he hasn’t already said. And there’s nothing I want to hear. It’s done. And to be honest, I’m not even brokenhearted about it anymore. I’ve come to realize over the last year, that I wasn’t happy. In fact, I’m more upset over the fact that I’ll never see Cage again than I am over my marriage ending. I know it’s absolutely ridiculous, but last night was life changing. He was something special.
And there I go again, spiraling back into my thoughts. I need to stop. A man like him is probably more dangerous than Callum. If the boy I grew up with—Mr. Straight A’s, the star quarterback, the one who took a vow to love me until death do we part—could cheat on me, then a man like Cage—tall, dark, and dangerous, who runs around with an outlaw biker gang—is definitely capable of cheating. I need to forget that man ever existed and get back to work. For the safety of my heart and my sanity.
Me:There’s no need to meet. My mind is made up. Nothing you do or say is going to change the fact that I want the divorce. Just sign the papers, Callum. It’s over.
Callum:Like I said, not until you agree to meet.
Great, now, I’ll get to spend another fortune trying to figure out how to get out of this marriage. And of course, my dad won’thelp me with the situation because as he’s told me nearly every day since I’ve been back, I’m being ridiculous and should go back home to my husband where I belong. He thinks I should forgive him for his “innocent” mistake.
I don’t know how cheating on me with a stripper is an innocent mistake, but there’s no sense in arguing with my father because he’ll never change his opinion. Callum is the son he never had, and the prince of this town. He’s the one who went off and made a name for himself. And me… I’m just a horseshit shoveler.
Which I need to get back to doing so I can get on home and sleep off my emotional hangover.
7
Cage
It’s been seven days, an entire week, and I can’t fucking shake it. It’s like my nerves are itching. I can’t get that girl off my mind. She’s been at the edge of my every thought. Her pretty face haunting me morning, noon, and in the wee hours of the night when I’m fisting my cock. The worst part is, I don’t even know whether she made it home safe or not. I’m not sure what happened to her. That’s the part that’s burnin’ me up most. I need to fucking find her and just make sure she’s alive, then I’ll be able to forget the girl.
“I’m going for a ride.” I stand from the table, gaining the guys’ attention. Everyone’s looking at me like I just grew a set of antlers. Maybe because we were right in the middle of a poker game. They might as well take my money now, because it’s not like I’m able to concentrate on anything other than the wild cowgirl who disappeared on me.
“I’ll go with you,” Bones states.
My best friend won’t let me ride alone, so I don’t even argue. Besides, he’s been on edge lately too and looks like he could use a drive himself.
I’m just gonna head to the bar where I met Payton last week and see if I can get eyes on her. Once I know she’s safe, I’ll be on my way and things will get back to normal.
But when we get to the bar, she’s not there, and the tension ratchets tighter. Now, I need a fucking drink.
“You want to tell me why we’re back here?” Bones asks, eyeing me skeptically.
“Just wanted to get a drink.”
“We passed about a dozen bars on the way.”
“There’s no chance I’ll run into my dad here.”
