“Where’s your partner in crime?” he asked.
“She wasn’t feeling well,” I said, taking a sip. “I sent her home early.”
“Too hungover to work? I’m pretty hungover myself.”
“No, she wasn’t hungover. She hardly drank at all, but she did throw up this morning. She’s worried she gave everyone food poisoning. Have you been sick?”
“Nope, but my head is killing me.”
I could tell he was trying to gage if I liked the beer or not. It was good, but I gave it a few more sips before giving him my review. It was heavy but really nice. I was able to correctly name a few flavors, which impressed him. He then listed off the ones I missed and explained the process he and Jason used to make it.
I smiled and nodded, pretending to be interested. The truth is, what was really catching my attention about him wasn’t the beer, but the way he always took the time to explain things to me and make sure I knew what I was drinking.
He was thoughtful.
He was also handsome. I had to laugh to myself as I thought that. Why had I never noticed before? I mean, I’d noticed he was a good looking guy, but I’d never really considered him more than a friend. I imagined what it might be like to be more than friends.
Would I be able to do it?
Had we already passed the point of no return, where anything romantic would be too awkward to consider?
I began to picture him naked, what his cock would look like, what it would feel like if I were to allow it to slip into my mouth and suck on it!
“Hey,” I heard someone say from behind me, pulling me out of my naughty imaginings.
I turned around and then almost fell off my seat.
It was Kane!
I had been worried sick about him but never let on to Meadow because I knew it would only make her a million times more worried.
“What the hell?” I said.
“Kane!” Paul said, hopping right over the bar to give him a hug, and maybe to double check that he was really there.
“Is that really you?”
Kane lifted Paul right off his feet.
“It’s me, brother. Who else am I going to be?”
“Well!” I blurted, almost bursting into tears from the shock of his sudden reappearance. “Where the hell have you been, mister?”
Kane looked at me and then at Paul, but it was clear he had no explanation. He just stood there silently.
“Get the man a beer,” I said to Paul, pulling out a stool for Kane.
Kane sat next to me and I looked at him, actually I stared at him. He’d changed. His skin was ten shades darker than it had been, like he’d been out in the sun nonstop, and his usual five o’clock shadow had become a full on beard. His once white t-shirt was now a sandy off white color and smelled of salt water.
I was just glad he was okay.
As soon as the initial shock wore off, I went from being amazed that he was back, to being completely upset with him for the way he’d disappeared out of the blue. Especially Meadow! I mean, I knew she’d messed up too with her complete psycho rampage when she saw Carolyn’s picture, but just disappearing like that, and ghosting all of us, that wasn’t fair!
“We were worried sick about you, buddy,” I said while Paul was off pouring someone a drink.
“I know, Sandra. I’m sorry, but I had to get away.”
“Where were you?”
“Mexico. I found a nice place and just stayed there.”
“Surfing?”
He nodded.
“Enjoying the beach?”
“I know, I should have called.”
“Yes, you should have. I must have left you a million messages. I know Paul and Meadow did too.”
He said nothing and I just looked at him.
“Well, you just decided to let us worry?”
“I didn’t have my phone with me, Sandra. It wasn’t on purpose. I left town unexpectedly when I realized that I … that I needed to process a few things. I forgot the phone. And then once I realized no one could contact me, I just sort of liked it like that. I needed the space.”
“That’s pretty selfish of you. There are lots of people here who care about you and who have been worried sick,” I said.
“I know, Sandra. All I can say is, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have been more considerate.”
I looked at Paul and he shook his head.
“Well,” I said, “at least you’re still alive.”
Paul left to serve some customers who’d just arrived and I took Kane’s arm.
“It wasn’t just old friends who were worried about you, you know? Some people who only knew you for twenty-four hours were pretty devastated when you went off the grid like that.”
“She told you what happened?”
“Damn right she did. We’re girls, Kane. She told me everything.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she was afraid she made you run out.”
“Oh, no,” Kane said. “I didn’t think of that.”
“You didn’t think of that? What did you think?”
“I thought she’d hate me and never want to see me again for not telling her about Carolyn.”
I shook my head. Guys can be so unbelievably, ridiculously, outrageously stupid sometimes.
“No, she doesn’t hate you. She’s sorry she overreacted.”
“Is she still in town?” he asked.
“She is, and she’s doing amazing without you. You really hurt her. She soldiered through. She’s been working hard at the café and has her own place now. She decorated it and it looks stunning and she’s even starting her own interior design company. She’s done it all on her own. She refused any help from anyone. She’s a completely different woman,” I said.
I was purposely laying it on thick. I wanted to be sure he knew how far she’d come and how ridiculous he was for leaving her hanging like that.
“Oh, and she got her divorce too,” I added for good measure.
Paul came back and put a pint down in front of Kane.
“No thanks, man,” Kane said, and Paul and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
“It’s the new brew,” Paul said. “Come on. It’s some of our finest work.”
“I haven’t touched the stuff since the night before I left,” Kane said.
“Really?” I said.
“Wow, Kane, that’s actually pretty cool to hear,” Paul said. Then, looking at me, he added, “Leaves more for us.”
Paul took a big sip of Kane’s beer and Kane laughed.
I hit Paul’s shoulder. “It’s not a joke. It’s really great, Kane. You look a million times better than you did when you left.”
I couldn’t deny I was proud of him. I don’t think there’d been one day since the accident he hadn’t drunk heavily. Going over a whole month without one, cold turkey, was a big deal. Something had certainly changed in him. Despite my resistance, I got up and hugged him. He deserved it.
“But I’m still mad at you,” I said in his ear before sitting back down.
“I know,” he said.
“I know she messed up too, and she desperately wants to apologize to you. But she deserves an explanation and an apology too. It’s not fair to just leave her hanging like that.”
“I know. I’m really glad she’s still here. I thought she might have gone back to her husband.”
“Never!” I said, more loudly than I intended. “She’s a new woman and she’s got a real life here now, Kane. She’s not the girl you knew.”
Kane nodded, clearly happy to hear that.
“And she knows about what happened with Carolyn and Tamara too. I know you don’t like people talking about it, but I had to tell her. She was convinced you were a married man when she saw those photos.”
“I’m glad you did. She deserved to know the truth.”
“You should have been the one to tell her.”
“I know.”
Paul came back and took an
other sip of Kane’s pint.
“You should have been the one to tell who what?” he said.
“Tell Meadow about Carolyn,” he said.
“Tell Meadow what about Carolyn?”
Kane and I looked at Paul with the same blank stare. Then we looked at each other.
“Wait. You don’t know?” I asked Paul.
“Know what?”
“About Meadow and Kane?”
“Meadow and Kane?” Paul said, completely taken by surprise.
I let out a huge sigh. Like I said, guys can be the most ridiculously stupid creatures God ever created at times.
CHAPTER 51
KANE
When I first stormed out of town, I wasn’t thinking about anything.
I just went. It was like I was suffocating. I had to get away.
It wasn’t until later that I realized I didn’t have my phone. I knew I should have checked in with someone, but I couldn’t bring myself to make any calls. I needed to get my head right.
Meadow woke something inside me, something I thought was dead, and I had to figure out where my life was going.
Sandra was right, it was selfish of me not to let anyone know where I was, but this was something I had to do. I can’t explain the freedom that came from not being reachable. Every part of my head, heart and soul needed that break.
Maybe I was taking my friendships for granted, but I knew they’d forgive me. Even though Sandra’s eyes were trying to stay mad, it was impossible to ignore the smile on her face as she told me everything I’d missed during my absence.
And Paul was back to his old self almost immediately. It seemed he was almost more happy I’d quit drinking than I was. And I can’t say how relieved I was to hear he hadn’t made a move on Meadow while I was away, even though he didn’t know I was with her.
“There he is again,” Sandra said, drawing my attention back to the present.
“Who?” Paul said, looking in the direction she was looking.
“Today at the café, that guy came in looking for Meadow. She wasn’t here. I sent her home early because she was feeling sick. Once he found out she wasn’t there, he left.”
“Which guy?” I said.
“That one in the blazer,” Sandra said.
I checked him out without being too obvious about it.
“Anyway, I called Meadow and it turns out he’s some guy she met at the pub a few weeks ago. He tried to make a move on her and she shot him down.”
“Sounds like Meadow,” I said.
“In fact, if I remember correctly, he tried to kiss her and she kneed him in the nuts,” Sandra said, grinning.
“Now that really sounds like Meadow,” I said, laughing.
I was glad she’d shot him down, but I still wouldn’t have minded punching the guy’s lights out for making a move on my girl. I mean, he didn’t know she was my girl, and she didn’t even know it, but I still wanted to floor him.
“You should have come to Big Sur,” Paul said. “Me and Jason had the time of our lives.”
I felt bad just bailing on them, and hated missing out, but I knew there’d be other trips.
“I’m really sorry about that.”
Paul nodded and carried on, telling me about this one amazing wave. I half listened, turning to see if I could check out Meadow’s admirer. He was still there, scrolling on his phone. There was something familiar about him.
He started to look in my direction so I turned away. When I looked back, I realized where I recognized him from.
“I know that guy,” I said.
“You do?” Sandra said. “I swear I’ve never seen him around.”
“It’s Matt.”
“Matt who?”
“Matt. Meadow’s piece of shit, cheating, ex-husband,” I said, standing up.
“Kane,” Paul said, cautioning me not to start a scene.
Sandra looked at me. “How do you know what her ex looks like?”
“Meadow showed me a video. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s here, and he’s not welcome.”
I started walking toward him.
“Kane, what are you doing? Don’t start anything, dude.”
“You know me,” I said. “I wouldn’t cause a scene.”
“Kane,” Sandra said. “Don’t.”
“This guy is not fucking welcome around here, and he needs to know,” I said.
Just looking at the guy made me sick. He was a complete scum bag. I couldn’t believe Meadow had ever been married to him. She was so high-class. This guy was the complete opposite. I had zero respect for cheaters. They’re not men at all. They’re worms.
He looked like he had some intentions here in town and I didn’t have to think too hard to figure they involved Meadow.
I walked up to his table.
“Hey, buddy. Mind taking a step outside?”
He looked up at me then looked back down at his phone.
“Who are you?”
“I’m the guy who’s taking you the fuck out of here,” I said.
That got his attention. He looked around to see if I had any backup. When he saw I was alone, he said, “Fuck you.”
It took every ounce of my self-control not to lose it on him right there.
“Come on, fucker,” I said, walking away from his table and toward the back door. “Unless you’re afraid of me, we’ve got some business to discuss outside.”
I didn’t look back to see if he was following. I just walked all the way to the door. When I opened it I realized he was behind me. I gestured for him to go out first and he did.
I followed him out to the parking lot.
He turned and was pretty pissed off.
“What the fuck do you want, punk?” he said.
“I want to know what you’re doing here in town.”
“I’m here to take back what’s mine, that’s what. My property is here and I’m going to take it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re property?”
“What’s it to you, pal?”
I couldn’t believe what this asshole was saying. His property? Was he serious?
In a single motion, he grabbed an iron pole that was propped up against a dumpster and swung it at me. I ducked, just narrowly dodging it as it flew through the air. If he’d made contact with my skull I’d have been done for.
I lunged forward and grabbed him around the waist. He stumbled back into the dumpster and dropped the pole. I punched him once, hard in the gut, and he doubled over in pain. I was about to really lay into him when he raised his hands pleading.
“Please, please, I don’t want to fight.”
I let out a laugh. He’d been plenty willing to fight when he’d had that iron pole.
“Just get the fuck out of town, buddy. You didn’t deserve Meadow and you lost her.”
I turned to leave him there, thinking he got the message, but a moment later I felt a terrible pain across the back of my legs. I fell to the ground and rolled over, just in time to see Matt swinging that damn iron pole right for me. I rolled to my left, just barely dodging it, and when it struck the ground I grabbed it and pulled him forward. As he fell toward me, I met his jaw with my fist.
I leapt to my feet and brought my knee to his gut. He fell forward and I landed a quick uppercut to his jaw. He stumbled back and I grabbed him by the blazer.
“Matt. That’s your name, right?”
He nodded, blood dripping from his mouth. He made a pathetic sight.
“You had her, and you cheated on her. She hasn’t been yours since the moment you were unfaithful, you understand that?”
He nodded again.
“Everyone around her knows who you are, buddy. We know what you did. And we don’t like worms like you stinking up the joint.”
He let out a sob and wiped the blood from his mouth. God, I wished he’d just pull himself together.
“We all know Meadow too. This is her town now. This is her home. And
we’re her new neighbors. Her new family. Anyone catches you skulking around this town again, they’ll do the exact same thing to you I just did.”
“But she’s mine,” he sobbed.
“Not anymore.”
“You can’t trust her,” he said. “She’ll just be after your money. Believe me. I know her. She’s a slut and she’s after your money. That’s her only interest in men.”
That did it. I drew back my fist and then landed it right on his nose. He flew back against the dumpster and I caught him before he fell to the ground. With a solid motion, I lifted him right off his feet and flung him over the side of the dumpster. He fell into it, getting covered with old food and other garbage from the brewery.
I looked over the edge and saw ketchup and french fries all over his fancy outfit.
“She’ll never survive without me,” he cried.
I looked down at him and laughed.
“Dude, she’s got her own job, her own apartment. She’s built a life from scratch. You’ve got ketchup and fries on your face.”
It was then that Paul and Jason showed up, hurrying through the door to see what trouble I’d caused.
“Where is he?” Paul said.
I indicated the dumpster and saw them both hold back laughs.
“Meadow’s ex?”
I nodded.
They looked into the dumpster and got a good look at him.
“See,” I said to Matt. “Every guy in this town knows exactly what you pulled with Meadow, and if we see you around here again, you’ll get a lot worse than a bath in a dumpster.”
“Fine, she’s your problem now,” Matt cried as we walked back into the brewery. “Let’s see how long you last before you get sick of her.”
“Hang on a second,” I said to Paul and Jason.
I strode back to the dumpster and grabbed the lid, slamming it down and shutting Matt inside. It wasn’t locked, but it was heavy and it would take quite a bit of effort to get it open again.
“See you around, asshole.”
CHAPTER 52
SANDRA
I stood on my toes and peeked out the little window overlooking the back of the brewery. I saw the whole fight go down, and my jaw dropped when Kane threw Matt into the dumpster. I would have given anything to know what Matt had said to provoke that!
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