Smugness fills his expression. “I’d hate for your loved ones to find out what a little thieving whore you were.”
I bristle and my gut twists. I was not a whore, but there were times I felt like it. As for the thieving... I can’t fully absolve myself. There are a few wrongs I can’t make right, but I tried.
I can picture my parents’ faces when they learn the things I did, all because I thought I was in love. They’d blame themselves, but I flung myself at Dwayne. He seemed so refined and worldly, and I fell under his spell with little more than some flirtation and charm.
Now that I’ve gotten to know Cruz, I can see how false my ex was from the get-go. If only I’d had the experience to know back then.
He thinks he can make me feel bad for what I already hate myself for every day? I was nothing compared to him. “I’d hate for you to get arrested for blackmail.”
His smile is all Cheshire cat. “I don’t recall signing any letters. And I’d still hate for you to reassure this town that you won’t cheat them out of their hard-earned money.”
I work for every cent. “I’ll pay before the deadline. So you can kindly fuck off.” I get into my car.
“Until next month.” His words drift in just as I shut the door.
Spinning out of the alley, I have to force myself to slow down. My night might be ruined before it starts, but if my cousin pulls me over, then my family might hear about it. I don’t need them worrying about me. I put them through enough after moving away.
What would they do if they heard about what I was like with my ex? Mom would blame herself and her health takes enough dips as it is. Then Dad would stress about Mom, and no. I can’t be the reason they don’t enjoy their hard-earned retirement.
What about Cruz? The urge to cry haunts me. I judged him so damn hard, all because I was a stupid, stupid girl.
If the town heard about me, I could lose everything.
Another thought hits me in the sternum. What if Damon fucks with the bakery?
He won’t. I can’t pay him and Dwayne without it. But what if he tampers just a little? I can’t afford a setback.
I punch in my cousin’s number.
“Palmer,” he answers. Wind buffets across the line.
He didn’t answer in the middle of a traffic stop, did he? “Are you busy?”
“Just grabbing a bite before my shift starts. What’s up?”
“Do you mind patrolling by the bakery in a few minutes? There was a guy wandering by. He’s probably a tourist, but he saw me locking up and looked too interested.”
“Got anything else on him?”
“You know the type. Bland. It’s probably nothing.” I hate lying to my family, but it’s better than getting them embroiled in the mess I caused.
“I’ll text you when I do.”
My stomach finally calms down. “Thank you.”
Damon and Dwayne didn’t vandalize businesses, but they also didn’t blackmail before.
Pushing my hair off my face, I steer in the direction of Cruz’s place. I’ve never been there, but he lives right next to Lane.
Instead of turning onto the road cutting through the trees to Foster House’s parking lot, I go in the other direction, where the land spreads out into the valley. Two houses are separated by pines. The shop where Lane repaired my car is visible beyond some of the younger trees. His house is a sprawling log cabin, and it has a statelier presence than Cruz’s simpler home.
I coast down Cruz’s driveway, and the butterflies in my belly overcome the surge of acid from earlier to unfurl and swirl around, growing frenzied. More dread piles in and my gut squeezes those butterflies until a stone sits heavy in my gut.
After Damon’s visit, I really should put my head down and figure out how to get myself out of this mess. I don’t need this complication right now—the dating or the blackmail. But I’m tired of missing out on life, and I don’t want to miss out on tonight. I was finally looking forward to something that wasn’t related to my job.
I was finally wondering if maybe I could find that man who’d change my mind about relationships.
Cruz
