He grabbed me with both arms and steadied me as I ambled out the door.
“Leave me alone, backstabber.”
He hurt me, and it hurt in a way that ate at me. He threatened to take my life away from me all because of some bimbo he ain’t even with anymore. It irked me how irresponsible he was.
I fetched my hand in to my purse looking for my keys like a game of where’s Waldo. World’s largest purse and I couldn’t find them anywhere. My purse fell from my hand and dumped out all the contents all over the place. Clint bent down and scrambled to pick everything up for me. I couldn’t understand why he was being nice to me. He held a shiny thing in his hand and looked over at me.
“Why do you have your wedding ring in your purse?”
“Huh. So, that’s still in there I guess.”
He quickly fetched my keys out of my hand before shaking his head. “Don’t play dumb, we’ve been divorced for years, why do you carry it?” He walked closer to me and my breath hitched, and my chest fell and rose again in deep strides. What the hell was happening to my heart right now? The door slammed behind us whipping me back to reality as I grabbed my purse shoving the rest of the contents in it before my legs gave way and I lay across the cool pavement.
“Come on, let’s get you home.”
He lifted me off the ground, and I swatted at him as he carried me to his truck.
“No! I’ll take my car!”
“The hell you will. Don’t say that nonsense to me.”
Stupidly regretted saying dumb shit he’d hold against me in court, if he was still taking me or next time he dated some bimbo.
He placed me in the passenger seat and reached over my body, his face so close to mine I could practically feel his scruffy beard. And I smelt his spicy cologne invade my senses. Breathing in the familiar smell brought me back to happy times. Clint and I used to actually have those. I wondered where or what went wrong then remembered he wasn’t Tate. He was Tate’s brother. A fuckery in itself, it made those random tears come back as he clicked my seat belt in.
Wiping a tear from my cheek, he looked into my eyes with sincerity, before he dropped my old wedding ring in my hand and closed it so I wouldn’t let it fall.
“I’m sorry, Paisley.” He backed out of the truck and closed my door ever so gently. His door opened and he roared the truck to life. Backing out, he drove the few blocks back to my house.
“You were good to me, Clint.” I rolled the ring around in my hand thinking back to the day he proposed to me on the beach. We were so, young, and naïve. Besides the fact that I was thinking of my future with my ex’s brother I really thought and wanted us to work out. So much so, that I vowed to love the man. I just didn’t realize the love I had for him wasn’t as deep as I thought. And as the days went on, I realized I still held room in my heart for someone who disappeared on me years ago, but not just me, his whole damn family. I hated how all I thought about was Tate when I wanted Clint and I to work out.
“You are irreplaceable.” He responded to me.
I shook my head back and forth. “I’m definitely replaceable. You deserve to be happy.”
“Don’t you see it? I have tried many times and they don’t bring me the happiness that you did.”
I giggled. “Well, one will. I’m going to marry Tate.” I daydreamed then realized I said that out loud. Fuck.
“Wow. So, that’s really happening again? My asshole brother trying to whisk you into believing he’s the man for you. When are you going to learn, Paisley? He’ll only ever hurt you.”
“He hasn’t hurt me any more than you have. Fucking Watson brothers. I should marry Brooks! He’s the only sane one who actually cares about me.”
“This is ridiculous. I can’t even believe he’s getting you to fall for him. He fucking enlisted to get away from you!”
“What?” My head whipped his direction.
“Yeah, that’s right, you heard me.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Really? Ask him who Piper is.”
“Piper? What the hell are you talking about?”
I studied him and my stomach flipped at the mention of another woman’s name I had never heard of before. I felt sick and thanked God I was home. I swung the door open and moved my body to get out as I was going to hurl, but the seatbelt caught me stupidly forgetting to unbuckle, and I puked all over myself as Clint flew out of the truck to rush over to my side, climbing up and unbuckling me. I almost passed out outside of his truck as my body went plummeting for the ground before Clint grabbed the back of my shirt stopping me. He scooped me up, puke and all, and carried me up the steps finding my keys.
“I’m sorry.” I mumbled still feeling sicker than ever. He unlocked the door while his strong arms still held me.
Kicking the door open he carried me inside and straight into the bathroom. The water turned on and I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was shower when I could barely stand up. He gripped the bottom of my shirt and tugged it up and over my head as I sat on the closed lid of the toilet seat. Why was he doing this? Leaning me forward, he unclasped my bra and started to take it off, tossing my clothes in a pile on the floor. Holding my breasts embarrassed of this moment.
“Nothing I haven’t seen, Pais.”
“And you don’t need to now.” I mumbled.
He lifted me up off the seat and pushed my shorts down with my underwear and I crossed my legs feeling unbelievably shy although turned on from the affectionate man standing before me. Taking my hands, he walked backwards fully clothed into the shower with me. Gripping my waist his one arm he held up as the water pelted over us. This was the raw Clint that no one ever saw. He was caregiver, a quality I would never talk down about. Here I stood, drunk, full of puke, and a hot mess, completely naked in the shower with my ex-husband because he chose to care for me, when I had done nothing to make him even like me tonight.
He leaned me against the wall, making sure I was steady, before grabbing the shampoo and lathering my hair. Then he moved for the bar soap and started sliding it over my body washing away the puke and dirt. For a moment he let the water rinse me and stood behind me, slowly bringing his head down to my hair before gently kissing the back of my head.
“You’re still so beautiful.” He whispered in my ear. Then he rinsed the rest of my hair and climbed out, he wrapped me up in a towel and carried me to the bedroom laying me on the bed. He rushed out and to the bathroom and I heard the wet slap of his clothes hit the floor. Then I heard him run out the door as the screen door slammed, fighting my eyes from falling asleep.
Then the door slapped against the house and his feet pounded to the bedroom before he sat on the edge of my bed. He was now dressed in what looked like gym clothes. My eyes were so heavy. He took the towel and dried me off, before ringing my hair out so it would dry. I opened my eyes for seconds seeing him stare back at me as he tucked me in the covers.
He got up from the bed and turned the bedside lamp off.
“Wait,” I said.
“I’m here.” He spoke so softly.
“I am scared to be alone, please stay.”
“Ok.” I heard him walk out of the bedroom before my eyes shut and I passed the hell out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
B irds sang at the top of their lungs causing me to open my eyes and see the sun poking in. Quickly covering my eyes from the blistering head throb, I suddenly realized how much I must have drank last night. I shifted in the covers and came to my senses a little more. I was naked. In my bed. Oh fuck.
I smelt coffee brewing and quickly covered my body with the blanket as I heard footsteps in the hallway heading to me.
Clint’s presence appeared in the doorway, leaning with a coffee cup in his hand. His hair stuck wildly in place like he ran his hand through it a bunch of times. He wore gym shorts hanging off his hips in a way that would make any woman’s toes curl. His smug smirk stared back at me.
“Morning, need some coffee?”
I
glanced at the clock and saw it was seven am. Which means, I wasn’t at work or nowhere near ready. Was I even going? The last thing I wanted was to go in the same vicinity of Cage.
“Um, let me get clothes on.”
“Nothing I haven’t seen, if you don’t recall I showered the vomit off of you last night.”
I swallowed hard, gripping the covers.
“Jesus, Paisley, nothing happened.”
“Ok,” I said, softly. My mind raced while it throbbed at the same time.
Clint moved out of the doorway and I quickly got up, before I stopped feeling the spinning from moving too damn fast. Ugh. I leaned to the dresser and pulled out the drawer grabbing underwear and a tank top. Sliding over to the closet I grabbed a pair of Capri leggings. I wandered down the hall to the kitchen where he sat at the table with his cup of Joe.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
“Aren’t you?” I countered.
“It’s the family business, I show up when I want. Somehow I don’t think it fly’s that way at your fancy job.”
“Stop.”
“What? Fancy job, fancy boss…”
“I’m quitting.”
“Why?” He quirked his brow. “Not because of our altercation I hope.”
I shook my head afraid to speak.
His phone rang in his pocket and he took the call.
“Yeah, ma, I’ll be in soon,” He answered.
Must be Belinda. Then his face turned pale like a damn ghost. Oh my God the kids!
“What?” I asked moving closer so I could attempt to hear.
He ended the call and stared at me with a blank stare.
“Daddy’s had a heart attack and in critical condition at the hospital.”
“I got to go.”
“Let me go with you, I’ll grab the kids. Wait, who has the kids?”
“Brooks.”
We left everything as is, and rushed out the door to his truck. I looked like absolute shit and I wasn’t ready to answer questions on why we were together. I’m sure nobody would even think about that right now anyway. His daddy was the patriarch of the family. Owner of the family business and the glue that held them all together. Tate’s least favorite person, but deep down the reason Tate and him didn’t get along was personal. He hated that Tate never wanted anything with the family business, and Tate hated that he wanted nothing to do with anything else he wanted for his life. I wondered where he was at on his mission and if he knew the news? Clint drove like a maniac to the hospital not making the condition of my head any better. Clint and his daddy were close.
“Clint, why don’t you drop me off at the house, and I can get the kids to school while Brooks goes with you. I’m sure he would want to be there too.”
“Ok,” he said. He took a sharp turn down the road to the family house. My babies, I didn’t know what they saw or knew, but my heart ached for them. I got out my phone and quickly texted my mom.
Me: Momma, Tommy had a heart attack. If you can come, please come.
I watched as he pulled up the drive and the kiddos were on the porch with Brooks. We met eye contact and I could see the pain in Brook’s eyes. This made my heart hurt for all of them. I jumped out of the truck.
“Go, go be with your family. I love you.” Brooks hugged me hard trying not to be emotional and got in the truck with Clint and tore off.
I looked at my babies praying they knew nothing.
“Mommy, is papa going to die?” Livy said with tears in her eyes.
Well, so much for them not knowing anything. I wasn’t ready for this. Not in the slightest.
“Come on, let’s go on inside. I missed you guys. Maybe you both should get ready for school.”
“I don’t want to go.” Jared whined.
“I know. We will be late, but you both need to go. If something happens, I will come get you both ok?”
Jared and Livy went back toward the bedroom and grabbed their book bags. I called Tammy and she was on the way to pick us up, drive the kids to school, and drop me back off at the bar to get my car. The kids dragged their feet to the school doors like puppy dogs begging not to go. I knew that wasn’t the best option when I needed to be there for the Watson family it was for the best they were at school. I completely forgot about work, so I tossed an email to Holly. Delaney had called and left me a message, but I didn’t have the courage to listen to it. My concern was family.
“You think he’ll make it?” Tammy asked as we drove back to my car.
“I have no idea. He’s critical. I honestly don’t know a thing. I didn’t want to ask the kids and I figured I would know soon enough.”
“Have you heard from Tate?”
“No.”
“You need anything at all honey, and I’m here.”
“I know, Tammy. I love you so much for all you do for me and the family.” She pulled next to my car. I leaned over the console and hugged her.
“Call me, love you sis.”
I hopped out and unlocked my car. Tammy pulled away and I saw something out of the corner of my eye that made me step forward a little bit. Upon coming closer to the front, my tire was flat. Are you serious right now? Dale pulled into the lot and looked my direction. Grabbing his backpack, he got out of his car closing the driver door.
“How bad was I last night?”
“I’ve seen worse. I called Clint.”
“Yeah. Um, got anyone you know that can fix this?” I pointed to my tire.
“Let me take a look, if you have a spare I can get it swapped out. I have a little time before my shift.”
“Oh, thank you so much.” He leaned down on the ground next to the tire and looked back up at me. “Who’d you piss off?”
“What you mean?”
“Your tire has been slashed.”
Shock settled in, and then anger. Slashed? He accessed my spare tire and swapped it out. I thanked him profusely and decided maybe I should listen to Delaney’s voicemail.
“Girl, things are bad here. Cage is a raging mad man when you didn’t show up to work this morning. What the hell happened? Call me. Did you officially quit? Please be careful. He just left the office as I speak. He was angry.”
I clicked out of my phone. “Hey, Dale? Was anyone here this morning before you? Cleaning, service or anything?”
“Nah, you’re looking at the cleaning service which is why I’m here now.”
“Shit,” I mumbled. Fear made my body ice to think it could be him.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing. Thank you so much for helping me. And I’m sorry about last night.”
“You know I got you. Have a good one.” He waved before unlocking the bar and going inside.
Cage left? Would he do this to me? And why? I guess he didn’t seem to have a rhyme or reason to what he did. I sat in my car and fired it up. As much as I wanted to go home and sleep off this terrible hangover, now the fear set in my mind giving me goosebumps. I didn’t want to be alone.
I sat in my car nervously looking around now scared he could be following me. Hurrying, I dialed Delaney.
“Hey.” She answered in a whisper.
“Why are you whispering? Is he back?”
“No. But I don’t want people to hear.”
“My tire was slashed when I went to pick up my car from the bar I left it at last night.”
“Holy fuck! It’s totally him, it has to be.”
“Why would he though?”
“He’s fucking psycho, Paisley!”
“I’m scared to go home. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Don’t go home. I gotta go Van is waving over at me.”
“Ok. Text me if he comes back.”
“Ok, bye.”
We ended the call. My heart slammed in my rib cage putting the pressure on my chest to breathe normally. If I couldn’t go home, the only place I could go back to was the Watson family home. Determining if that was even a good option knowing if he was following me, I wouldn�
�t want him to follow me there and get anyone involved in this mess. A pretty bow tied around my heart just a few weeks ago life was great. Now someone came with scissors and tore my life apart.
I pulled into the very large carport and saw that nobody was home as of yet. Sighing with relief, I took the steps and grabbed the hidden key to let myself in. Walking around the house I spent so many nights sneaking in and out of Tate’s bedroom as just a kid. Then, being there over the course of time with Clint. Holidays, birthdays, special occasions, the list was endless. I realized I forgot my purse in the car, which had my phone in it. I rushed back through the doorway, going back outside. As I closed the door to hurry back to my car, spinning around to run down the steps I was met with a rock hard chest, scaring the shit out of me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“O h my God, Tate.” I pounded his chest for scaring me, and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes. “Oh, babe. You’re home…”
“I got word.”
“Go be with your family.”
“You are who I want to be with.”
“Tate…they need you. Your dad is—“he cut me off.
“My father has always been an asshole to me.”
“I don’t want you to regret not being there later on in life.”
“I regret nothing.”
That stung. His words sliced an already open wound. I desperately wanted to believe he just meant that, but of course I thought of everything we went through to say he regretted nothing meant he regretted nothing with me too. A woman over analyzed the shit out of everything. I over think my entire life, every step, every choice, every damn thing. A lone tear fell down my cheek leaving its burning trail to how my heart had felt. Burned. This man confused the hell out of me.
I remembered exactly what Clint said just last night. Arguing with Tate wasn’t what I wanted happening right now. Not in the least. But, once the memory of the name flashed in my mind, there was no avoiding this. I really should avoid this right now. “Piper too?”
His look told me so much without him saying anything. I swallowed hard as he stumbled on his tongue looking for the right words. I had no idea who Piper was, but whoever she was rendered the man speechless.
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