Page 133 of A Song for You

When he winks, it’s like my entire body comes back online. My palm finally connects with my brain, whipping back and slapping Jay straight across his smug face.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I hiss, blood pulsing through my veins wildly.

Jay’s jaw falls slack as a red mark in the shape of my hand appears on his cheek.

“You think after thirteen years you can waltz in here and fucking lick me? After what you did to us? This isn’t a game. I’m not interested in your motives, your songs, or you damn treats. Keep your tongue and everything else of yours away from me.”

“Cat, I⁠—”

I cut off his apology with a glare.

“Save it. You’ve had years to reach out to us. Years! Like I told you the last time I called, we don’t need you. So please, just leave me the hell alone.”

Jay’s brow pinches, and he studies me. Whatever he sees has him shaking his head and stepping back.

Spinning to face the window, I don’t give him the opportunity to see me break. Once he’s gone, I stare down at the waffle he’s left behind and let out a slow breath. Screw it. I rip off a hunk of it, dip it in the syrup, and shove it into my mouth.

The first bite leaves me groaning.

Fucking hell. The waffle is just as freaking good as I remember.

If only I could erase all the memories that came after that.

Twelve

Jay

Demons by Imagine Dragons

The sting of Cat’s handprint burns, even hours later. The fuck is wrong with me? Why the hell did I bother listening to Hayden’s absurd suggestion that I be myself?

Be myself. Fuck. Worst advice ever. The woman hates me. I need to be someone else. Someone less cocky. Less…me.

The look on her face said it all. And if that wasn’t clear enough, I can’t get her damn words out of my head.

You’ve had years to reach out to us. Years! Like I told you the last time I called, we don’t need you. So please, just leave me the hell alone.

The last time she called? When was that? And what did she say? How long did she wait before moving on?

I shake the questions from my head. I’ll likely never get the answers I seek, so I push them aside and wander into my brother’s office at Hanson Liquors and plop into the chair opposite him.

He looks up with a scowl. Garreth’s face is permanently set that way, so it’s of no concern to me. For all I know, today could be a good day for him. His steely blue eyes meet mine, and he points to the whiskey bottle on his desk.

With a shrug, I reach for it. “It’s a little early and I don’t normally drink James Whiskey, but if you insist.”

“Your fucking girlfriend’s brother sent that.”

I grimace. “Now that’s just cruel. You know she’s not my girlfriend, and you know I’d do anything in the world to change that.”

“Even give up your family company?” he asks with a bite.

Rubbing at my bottom lip, I lock eyes with him. “If she’d agree to be my wife, I’d give up everything.”

My brother huffs out a sigh. “A damn romantic. How did I end up with a damn romantic for a brother?”

I run my hand through my hair. “Stop acting like our father. It suits you too well.”

“The James brothers sent us that bottle to gloat.” He points at it again and sneers, like the bottle walked in here itself.