not going, I listened to Cole bullet off each of his points as to why I should. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right on all counts. Or as he put it, “what do you have to lose?” I’d already lost so much that there wasn’t much left that could be taken away.
I couldn’t avoid it any longer; I was going to see him. I was going to tell him exactly how I felt and he was going to listen, whether he wanted to or not. Before I left that prison, he was going to know what he’d put me through in the last fifteen years and everything that I’d had to miss out on because of his selfish stupidity. Not that he did it on purpose, and I’m sure he spent every single day suffering. At least I hoped he did; he has one hell of a penance to pay.
Waving a hand in front of my face, Cole laughed. “Earth to Derek.”
“Sorry, were you saying something?”
“I was asking if you wanted something else to drink?”
“Nah, I’ll just take a water this round.”
Cole called Tara over and ordered another round for himself and a water for me. I wanted to give myself a chance to sober up a bit. Even though I’d only had three beers, I would never drive unless I was absolutely positive that I was a thousand percent sober before turning a key. I know I couldn’t live with myself if history repeated itself.
After saying goodnight to Tara and Cole, I made my way to the bathroom to pee out my two beers before making my way to the door.
Just as I was about to walk out, I bumped into a girl.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I NEVER TOLD YOU WHAT I DID FOR A LIVING
Throwing my arm out, I caught her hand before she fell to the ground. I felt like such an asshole for not paying better attention. As I helped her steady, I gave her a quick once over to make sure she was okay since I ’d run into her pretty hard. She was extremely cute; I’d say beautiful, but she was more on the cute side. Her shoulder length blonde hair had bright red streaks throughout and she wore a pair of black-framed glasses, which sat on the bridge of her button nose and showed off her sky blue eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I apologized, leaning down so I was eye-level with her.
“It’s okay; I’m clumsy. I should have probably been watching where I was walking too.”
Judging by her bright red cheeks, I’d say she was embarrassed. As she moved her arm from my grip, I let my fingers linger for a moment longer before placing my hand firmly back at my side.
“I’m Derek, by the way,” I said casually.
“Brittany,” she smiled shyly. “But, my friends call me Britt.”
It was clear by taking one look at her that Brittany wasn’t the girl you took home for a one-night stand. She was the type that you took home and kept under lock and key. Judging from her demeanor and her eyes , I could tell she was smart. I’ve always considered myself a decent judge of character and, in my opinion, she seemed honest and loyal. Immediately, I wanted to know more about this girl. The only problem was the last time this happened it spelled trouble .
“I was just leaving, but I’d love to buy you a drink. Only if you’re interested, of course,” I said, causing her cheeks flame with heat again. Of course she’s not going to want to have a drink with you, you stupid lummox; you practically just bulldozed her over. There was going to be no getting out of this with my dignity intact.
“Actually, I just came in to see if I could get an application. I just relocated here and I’m in between jobs right now. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find anything that’s going to pay the bills,” she grumbled, shoving her hands in her jean pockets.
Something about her triggered this protective instinct that had been lying dormant inside me. “That sucks ; I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I just moved here not that long ago myself, so we have that in common.” I gave her a small smile, hoping she would
I couldn’t avoid it any longer; I was going to see him. I was going to tell him exactly how I felt and he was going to listen, whether he wanted to or not. Before I left that prison, he was going to know what he’d put me through in the last fifteen years and everything that I’d had to miss out on because of his selfish stupidity. Not that he did it on purpose, and I’m sure he spent every single day suffering. At least I hoped he did; he has one hell of a penance to pay.
Waving a hand in front of my face, Cole laughed. “Earth to Derek.”
“Sorry, were you saying something?”
“I was asking if you wanted something else to drink?”
“Nah, I’ll just take a water this round.”
Cole called Tara over and ordered another round for himself and a water for me. I wanted to give myself a chance to sober up a bit. Even though I’d only had three beers, I would never drive unless I was absolutely positive that I was a thousand percent sober before turning a key. I know I couldn’t live with myself if history repeated itself.
After saying goodnight to Tara and Cole, I made my way to the bathroom to pee out my two beers before making my way to the door.
Just as I was about to walk out, I bumped into a girl.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I NEVER TOLD YOU WHAT I DID FOR A LIVING
Throwing my arm out, I caught her hand before she fell to the ground. I felt like such an asshole for not paying better attention. As I helped her steady, I gave her a quick once over to make sure she was okay since I ’d run into her pretty hard. She was extremely cute; I’d say beautiful, but she was more on the cute side. Her shoulder length blonde hair had bright red streaks throughout and she wore a pair of black-framed glasses, which sat on the bridge of her button nose and showed off her sky blue eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I apologized, leaning down so I was eye-level with her.
“It’s okay; I’m clumsy. I should have probably been watching where I was walking too.”
Judging by her bright red cheeks, I’d say she was embarrassed. As she moved her arm from my grip, I let my fingers linger for a moment longer before placing my hand firmly back at my side.
“I’m Derek, by the way,” I said casually.
“Brittany,” she smiled shyly. “But, my friends call me Britt.”
It was clear by taking one look at her that Brittany wasn’t the girl you took home for a one-night stand. She was the type that you took home and kept under lock and key. Judging from her demeanor and her eyes , I could tell she was smart. I’ve always considered myself a decent judge of character and, in my opinion, she seemed honest and loyal. Immediately, I wanted to know more about this girl. The only problem was the last time this happened it spelled trouble .
“I was just leaving, but I’d love to buy you a drink. Only if you’re interested, of course,” I said, causing her cheeks flame with heat again. Of course she’s not going to want to have a drink with you, you stupid lummox; you practically just bulldozed her over. There was going to be no getting out of this with my dignity intact.
“Actually, I just came in to see if I could get an application. I just relocated here and I’m in between jobs right now. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find anything that’s going to pay the bills,” she grumbled, shoving her hands in her jean pockets.
Something about her triggered this protective instinct that had been lying dormant inside me. “That sucks ; I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I just moved here not that long ago myself, so we have that in common.” I gave her a small smile, hoping she would
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