“Did Stone do somethin’ to you? Were you two friends or what?” She knew Stone was a couple of years older than Zane, but they’d gone to the same school, so maybe they’d hung out. Someone mentioned Stone’s leaving had disrupted family ties. Of course, at this point, the rumor was spreading like wildfire, and God only knows how much it had been twisted.
Zane’s gaze shifted to the table. “Not me.”
“Not you, what? Y’all weren’t friends?”
He lifted his chin. “I was friends with Stevie.”
Reilly let that sink in, but before she could ask a question, he continued.
“Technically, I was datin’ her best friend.”
“Niyah?”
He nodded. “Nothin’ serious, but we hung out a few times. I liked her. Then Stone up and left, and Niyah spent all her time takin’ care of Stevie because he broke her heart.”
Reilly sat up. “So you’re sayin’ this isn’t about Stone? It’s aboutyou?”
“No.”
She cocked an eyebrow because surely she deserved a better explanation.
When he didn’t jump to elaborate, she said, “It sure sounds like you’re holdin’ a grudge because you got dumped by a girl.”
“I didn’t get dumped,” he retorted hotly. “It wasn’t serious. Not at that point.”
“Then what is it? You’re mad because Niyah stopped payin’ attention to you?”
“No,” he huffed. “I’m pissed because he broke Stevie’s heart. She was my friend, too.”
His voice carried, causing several of the diners to turn their way. The sounds in the restaurant faded for a moment.
“You realize people get their hearts broken all the time, right? And then they move on.”
“Stevie didn’t. Not for a long time.”
“Maybe not, but she has now.” Reilly held his stare. “You realize they’re together now, right?”
His surprise registered across his handsome face. “What?”
Reilly nodded. “Stone’s with Nico and Stevie now.”
Surprise transitioned into confusion. “Since when?”
“Since about the time he rolled into town. They had some … unfinished business. The three of them,” she tacked on.
Zane’s countenance remained locked in a confused state.
“Apparently, before he left, he spent some time with both of them. It was a thing. Brief, but evidently, it left a lasting impression. They’re together now. Or at least they were the last time I talked to him. Then that crazy bitch rolled in, and I don’t know what happened after that. She was goin’ on about makin’ Stone her pet or some shit. I don’t know how it ended.”
“Her pet?”
Reilly shrugged. “It’s a thing. I don’t know. What Idoknow is he’s home where he belongs, and he’s happy.” She lowered her voice and leaned in. “He deserves to be happy, Zane. And it pisses me off that you want to interfere with that.” She sat up again, crossed her arms over her chest. “All because you got butthurt over a girl in high school.”
“I told you—”
“I’m kiddin’.” She dropped one arm and fluttered her fingers. “About the last part. The rest, I mean.”
Zane sighed. “He hurt a lotta people when he left, Reilly. What’s to say he won’t do it again?”
