“Nash, let me leave,” I said, pulling on the door, afraid to look at him.
“You can’t leave after that,” he said, but it was almost in a pleading tone. “You kissed me, practically mauled me.”
“Excuse me?!” I shrieked, as I glared at him. “You kissed me.”
“Nah, Rosie, that’s not how I remember it,” he smirked.
“Well, I wouldn’t trust your memory with how many times you’ve fall off a fucking horse,” I snapped.
“Hey, that’s a low fucking blow,” he pouted.
I tried not to think it was cute, but I did.
“It’s the truth,” I said, yanking on the door which only brought him closer to me.
“Don’t run away,” he said softly. “Please, can we meet somewhere and talk? Please, Iris.”
I couldn’t do this, kissing him was a mistake.
“Get out of my fucking car, Nash, or I’m backing up with you behind it,” I said, starting my car so he knew I was being serious.
“Petal, don’t be like this,” he said, grabbing my hand.
I put my truck in reverse, pulling my hand out of his.
“I can and I will be like this. Just because you need something doesn’t mean I have to be accommodating,” I said, as my voice wavered. “I needed you and you ignored me. I knew this marriage was a sham, but hell, we could have been friends, allies or just fucking cordial with each other. So go fuck yourself, Nash.”
I backed up enough that he got the hint. He closed my door as I continued reversing and I kept my eyes straight ahead, afraid that if I looked at him, I would stop the truck and get out. His lips were like magic and he had almost completely put me under his spell.
No matter how good Nash felt, I had to remember that at the end of the day, Nash was selfish. He was only here because heneeded something and if I let him, he would hurt me just to get what he wanted.
10
beau
Workingin the middle of the week wasn’t my favorite shift. It was hit or miss and depending on who worked, Joe liked to cut the wrong people from shifts, and it was pissing me off. Like yesterday, Iris got cut even though she was the last one to come in, when Joe could have easily cut Debbie who had already been working four hours and had made good tips.
It didn’t help that I was also slightly biased. I couldn’t stand Debbie and her little crew of Piggly Wiggly mean girls. You would think being in their twenties, they would have grown up, but I think that had only made it worse, which makes sense because people here act like sunshine comes out their ass.
I didn’t get it and I hoped I never got it either.
The bar parking lot was a little empty when I arrived, but what caught my attention was Iris flipping off Nash who was about to get off his truck. I laughed at her boldness, loving her ferocity, and made it a point to park by her just in case Nash gave her a hard time.
I got out of my car, looking over my shoulder at Nash’s truck, seeing him leaning back in his seat with his cowboy hat over his face like he might be taking a nap. The urge to go pound on hiswindow just to scare him awake made me smile, but if I did, I would be late and Joe was a fucking stickler for anyone being late, except for the mean girls.
So, Nash was safe from me tonight.
“Beau!”
Scratch that, he wasn’t safe.
“Make it quick, Nash,” I snapped, turning around.
Nash jogged to me. The universe thought it needed to reiterate that I had a cowboy or cowgirl fetish with how attractive Nash looked walking to me. Dark denim hugged his thick legs, a green button-down complimented his tanned skin tone, his goatee that should not have been sexy and that damn cowboy hat. I felt like I was having a deja vu moment. Nash and Iris were sent to kill me or test me. The jury was still out on that.
He sighed. “Look, I know we didn’t meet under the best circumstances, and I hate to do this, but?—”
“No,” I said, turning to walk away.
