Sierra’s jaw drops, and I release Troy. I just smile and walk back to my bike. “I’d suggest you shape up, or life might be a little different in a few weeks. Might even need to move to a smaller home. I hear the trailer court has a few houses for rent. Have a great weekend.”
“That was kind of fun, but also kind of like we went toe-to-toe with a kid,” Rooster says.
Troy drags Sierra inside by her arm, and I shake my head. “I doubt she’ll figure it out until Sam shows her what it’s really like to be bullied. But as long as she gets the idea at some point, I’m fine.”
“Can you imagine what she’ll grow up to be like if someone doesn’t check her now?” Capone asks. “She’ll be like my second stepmother.”
“Or Chanel,” I say.
They all agree, and I’m stunned to realize I’ve never seen it before. The reason I despise Sierra more than I probably should is because she reminds me of my ex. Chanel always talked big and acted out because she knew I’d be there to back up whatever she said and did.
Well, not anymore. She’s on her own now.
Chapter Thirty
Zeppelin
As Bernie swings, laughing away, the tension leaves me. Misty was right when she said Bernie’s laughter makes everything better.
Just as I start to feel comfortable, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. There are only two people who have that effect on me. Butch and Chanel.
I turn to see the familiar car stop in the parking lot across from us. Shit.
“What’s she doing here?” Misty asks.
There’s an edge to her voice I’ve never heard before, and I get a weird thrill to know she’s jealous. But there’s more than jealousy. There’s worry about seeing the woman I’d been in love with for over a decade. And I’m not particularly happy to see her myself.
Which still feels weird. Chanel used to be one of the only people who made me even remotely happy. Or what I believed was happiness. I didn’t know the true meaning of the feeling until I met Misty and Bernie.
Chanel makes her way across the grass, her heels sinking in as she does. It’s almost comical, and I refuse to meet her halfway.If she’s that determined to talk to me when she can see me with Misty and Bernie, she can suffer her way across the distance.
“Hey,” Chanel says when she reaches us.
She wears a black skirt that’s just a bit too short for her job and shows off her toned legs. The same legs I used to imagine draped over my shoulders. And her silk blouse is unbuttoned one button too many to show off cleavage enhanced by a pushup bra.
It’s the same type of outfit that used to have me crawling on my knees begging.
“Hi,” I say, barely glancing at her as I watch Bernie.
“Can we talk?”
She hasn’t reached out since I told her to fuck off. It’s the longest we’ve gone without contact, and of course she shows up now. When I’ve fallen in love with Misty. Right after I’ve learned the truth about how I ended up on this earth.
Damn it, she’s like a bloodhound who can sense I might have something good going in my life and needs to come ruin it.
Even though I want to tell her no, we can’t talk, curiosity gets the better of me. “Sure.”
What the hell can she possibly say that will change anything? Nothing, that’s what. But she’s still going to try. That much I do know.
The rock is still on her left hand, so I know she’s not coming here to tell me she’s left Dorian. That she decided after a long ass time of reflection that she can’t live without me. Which is just fine by me.
“Can we go back to your house? It might be… a long conversation.”
“Uh…” I look at Misty, but she keeps her jaw locked as she stares at Bernie. I know she’s not happy, but I think this needs tohappen to make sure Chanel stops showing up here. “Yeah, let’s go.”
“Zep!” Bernie yells before hopping off the swing. She stumbles a bit but picks herself back up and runs over to us. “Where are you going? We haven’t—”
“He needs to talk to his friend,” Misty interrupts, catching Bernie before she leaps into my arms.
