I laugh at that notion. Brady wanting to help me? Yeah, right. “I don’t think Brady wants to help anyone but herself. She fractured my fucking nose,” I remind her, pointing at my nose that’s still slightly bruised.
Ms. Rosa gives an exasperated sigh. “I think there may be more to her than you realize if you just talked to her.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Or maybe she’s right.
“But thanks for listening, anyway.”
“Any time, Dean. Let’s get back inside.”
The dinner rush has began when we re-enter the diner. Brady and her friend have already left, and I pick up the receipt off the table. She left a very generous tip. She’s pulling out of the parking lot already, so I can’t argue with her about it.
I sigh, shoving the receipt into my apron pocket. The rest of the night flies by without lingering thoughts of Brady.
TWELVE
REGAN
“So what was that all about?”Cindy asks after we’ve left the diner, leaving a very large tip. I know Dixon will probably be upset about it, given the way he reacted about asking for help, but I wanted to do it. I understand that I have financial privilege where others don’t, and I wanted to help since I’m able.
“What was what all about? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady so she drops the topic. With the way I can feel Cindy’s gaze on me, she’s not going to drop it.
“You know what I’m talking about. I thought you hated him?”
“Idohate him, Cin. I’m not a complete asshole, though.”
A few beats of silence pass before she says, “He’s hot, though. Did you see how tight his shirt was? His muscles have muscles, it seems.”
“Ugh, gross, Cin. He’snothot. He’s my rival.”
I can basically hear Cindy rolling her eyes at me.
“Yeah, sure. All I’m saying is it wasn’t me he was flirting with.”
“Flirting?If you call getting pissed and storming off flirting,then sure.” I’m shocked that she would think Dixon, of all people, would be flirting with me.
Then again, I probably wouldn’t even be able to notice. Ever since I had a string of bad relationships, I’ve kind of sworn off dating. Not that I don’t want to date. It just seems guys can be a bit intimidated by me. Or they are using me to get to my dad. So it’s just easier to not date at all. Plus, the last guy I dated tore my heart out and stomped on it.
“I know that you’ve had some bad experiences with dating in recent years,” Cindy says, basically reading my mind. “But you deserve to be happy, Reg.”
“I can be happy on my own. I don’t need a man to do that.”
“Sure, but you know, maybe you’d be less grouchy if you got laid on the regular.”
“Hey! I’m not grouchy,” I declare. I pull up to Cindy's apartment and park, but she doesn’t get out of the truck.
“Look, all I’m saying is maybe have a little fun.”
“I’m good, Cin. I’ve got battery operated boyfriends for that.”
She laughs, and we hug before she gets out to head into her apartment.
When I arrive back at home, Dad is on the couch watching last year’s Charlotte race. That race didn’t go well. We had a bunch of mistakes on pit road, and I made some bad moves that ended our day a bit early.
I sit next to him as I watch the last pit stop on the screen; it makes me cringe to remember how it had cost us in the end. “Last year’s Charlotte race?” I ask, though I know the answer.
“Yeah, I don’t want any repeats this year.” He pauses the video. “How was your day with Cindy?”
