“Everything is going to be great,” I said. “We make a great team. If you need more time, I can push back the start date. I know I’ve pressured you before. I only wanted to get everyone together. But now that we have the warehouse, I can wait.”
“No, it’s not that,” he said, and I sensed him pulling away from me again.
“Reese,” I said, reaching for his hands. He covered mine. His touch was warm and still forced a flurry of butterflies to move through me. I wasn’t imagining our connection, was I? “You can tell me anything.”
“No, I can’t,” he said quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“This—I’m sorry I went too far with this. I loved every minute with you. God, I wish I could keep this thing going.”
“Are you breaking up with me?” I asked him. It sounded ridiculous since neither of us had announced our dating status. But I wasn’t an idiot. Reese told me he wanted me. He wasn’t the cheating type. Even though I knew barely anything about his past, I was good at reading people. Especially those I was intimate with. I wasn’t a damsel in distress, and he wasn’t going to get away with not telling me anything.
Wordlessly, he pulled me to him and kissed me. My knees wobbled. I dropped my ice cream on the ground, and I grabbed onto his arms to keep me steady. Though, it wasn’t necessary. His arms held my waist with a tight grip while his mouth claimed my heart and lips.
Light exploded behind my eyes, and I flung them open to see him. His squeezed closed as if he were too afraid to face something. I slowed the kiss, and he followed. His breathing was heavy, and I touched his cheeks. He had to know I was there for him, no matter what he faced. He’d helped me get to a better place mentally and in business. Allowing him to confide in me was the least I could do for him.
“Reese,” I said, pulling away.
One second, his hands were on me, and the next, they were gone. “I have to go.”
I couldn’t get my bearings straight as I watched Reese Baker practically sprint away from me. I shook my head, unable to make my legs work. By the time I realized what happened, he had disappeared around the corner.
I touched my lips as I released a slow breath. What just happened? The kiss had been him saying goodbye. He didn’t trust me with what he needed to do with his old friend. He’d led me on, and I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
I sat on the bench, staring at the couples walking through the park and the other families moving on with their lives, unaware of what just happened to me. The first real relationship I had in my adult life was over. I replayed the conversation in my head, but I couldn’t figure out where I went wrong. I asked him the questions, but he avoided every single one of them. I tried hard not to blame myself, but if he couldn’t trust me, what sort of relationship would it have been between us?
My phone chirped, and I grabbed it, thinking it was Reese wanting to explain what happened.
Instead, Allison’s text message filled the screen. How’s the date?
The rock lodged in my throat came free, and I choked out a sob. I rarely cried. The last time I did was at my uncle’s funeral many years before. The loss formed a hard ache in my chest. The ball tightened until I could barely breathe.
Then, it came out like a waterfall. My vision blurred, and I curled into myself with wracking sobs, loud enough to cause a few onlookers to turn my way, but none of them stopped. I didn’t care about them. At that moment, I didn’t care about anyone.
Somehow, Reese had burrowed himself inside of me and then punched through, leaving only shards behind. They were small and sharp, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to put them back together.
When I calmed my breathing enough, I picked up my phone again and asked Allison to meet me at my place.
Chapter 23
I didn’t sleep the entire night. I didn’t even bother trying. Once I got home from the disastrous night with Paige, my stomach weighed me down like a lead ball. I hadn’t turned to see Paige’s broken expression when I left, but I’d felt it. It haunted me like a specter, and I knew I was connected to this thing for the long haul.
I knew it wouldn’t go away quickly, but when my alarm blared from my phone the next morning, I somewhat broke out of my drunken haze, feeling as hollow as I’d been when I’d seen Paige last. From the lack of texts on my phone, I knew she was hurting. I almost wished she would have screamed at me in all capital letters. I wanted her to tell me what a piece of shit I was. At least, it would make moving on easier.
Maybe that would come later, once she had time to process what I’d done. Hell, I hadn’t processed it, and I was the one who created the situation. I couldn’t even think of her without a sick feeling pooling in my stomach. So much for those memories I’d wanted to keep. Now, I wished I could have a full lobotomy.
But I’d done this to myself. The only reason I met with Jonah was because of Paige. If I never met her, then I could have carried on with my life. But Paige wasn’t the type of woman you met and just forgot, even if she had rejected my advances from the start.
I had one more person to say goodbye to before I left. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. Though, I deserved it. Lying didn’t get anyone ahead for long. It always seemed to catch up, and now was my time.
I texted Chance and asked him to meet me at a local diner. It was located between our places and served food quickly enough that I could be in an out in less than an hour. I didn’t want to drag this on longer than necessary.
I was the first to arrive and picked a booth closest to the door. I ordered coffees for the table and waited for Chance. I wasn’t going to assume his order because I wasn’t a dick. I wasn’t going to rush out of the place if and when the conversation got hard. I would give him the opportunity to ask questions, but I wasn’t going to stay longer than necessary. My stomach twisted so much, I could barely get the coffee down.
By the time Chance arrived, I knew I wasn’t ordering any food.
“Hey, man,” he said, sliding into the seat across from me. “Sorry, I’m late. The train had some construction.” He sipped from his lukewarm coffee and signaled to the server to warm it up.
“It’s fine,” I said, adjusting in my seat. Though, it wasn’t, was it?
“What’s going on?” he asked, picking up the menu.
I knew he wasn’t looking for the real story, but I didn’t have a lot of time. Chance’s tardiness edged into the time before I needed to meet with Jonah. As much as I didn’t care about being late, Paige’s business was on the line. I said a silent apology to Chance, but Paige slipped into the number one spot in my mind, even though I’d left her with probably a million questions last night.
“Not much,” I said.
The server came over, and Chance ordered his meal. At least he wouldn’t have the opportunity to leave. He never missed a meal.
“I’m moving,” I blurted out.
Chance narrowed his eyes. “Eventually, or right now?”
“Sooner rather than later.”
He thought about that. “Where are you going?”
I shook my head once. “I can’t talk about it.” It was the truth. I was tired of the lies. They were hard enough to keep track of.
“Okay?” He dragged the word out, most likely expecting more. Which I couldn’t give him.
“I wanted to tell you in person before I left. You’ve always been a good friend to me. I think you’re a better professor than you give yourself credit for. You’re going to do well. Even without me.”
“I already knew that,” Chance said, smirking. “But I wish you would have given me more warning. I was supposed to get you a going away present, right?” Even though his tone was light, I had a feeling he wanted to say more. Who could blame him? If anyone sprang this on me, I would have felt the same way.
“It’s fine,” I said.
“Am I going to hear from you again?” he asked, meeting my eyes.
“I’m not sure,” I said.
Chance clicked his tongue and le
aned forward against the table. “You know, you don’t need to do anything you don’t want to.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Even if it’s for bad people.”
I blinked and stared at him. He was never this intuitive before. How did he know anything about what I was doing? Questions flooded my mind, and for once, I knew what Paige felt like when I left. If I questioned Chance, then I’d be delayed even more. It was best to leave things unanswered than to involve my friend in any of Jonah’s dealings.
I made a show of looking at my phone. My heart skittered as I realized I had to meet with Jonah sooner than I expected. “I should go.”
I reached a hand out to Chance, and he took it. After we shook, the server returned with Chance’s food.
“Good luck,” Chance said before digging into his meal.
I walked out of the diner with trembling knees. Chance couldn’t know anything, though he led me to believe that he did. I’d never revealed my tattoos or scars to him, but I wondered if I hadn’t been as secretive as I thought.
I drove my car toward Jonah’s office. The familiar drive made my stomach churn even more than normal. The conversations between Paige and Chance weighed on my mind, forcing me to press the gas pedal harder. I whipped through the streets of the city, pushing to get to my destination quicker. I wanted to get this deal over with. I’d already lost everything. There was no point delaying the inevitable.
This time when I entered the warehouse, no one stopped me. The two goons at the entrance narrowed their eyes at me. I knew they wanted to say something, and if they did, I’d knock their smug smiles clear off their faces.
The people I knew who’d left this life always came back. I promised never to be that person. Now, here I was, walking through the doors again and accepting another job. Who knew where it would lead, but at least Paige was safe. If I was going to make the sacrifice for anyone, I was happy it was her.
The door to Jonah’s office was open. Normally, he liked when people knocked so he could be the one to make someone else wait, but it appeared as if he was as anxious to get started as I was.
“Reese,” Jonah said, looking up from the open pad on his desk. He closed it as I walked into the room. “You look like a man who has made a decision.”
Jonah had given me time to think over the deal, but I’d already made my decision from the moment he offered it. There was no other way to keep Paige safe unless I did this. But I wasn’t an idiot. I needed to know he would fulfill his side of the bargain while I was gone on whatever job he sent me to do.
“I have,” I said. “But I wanted to confirm the terms with you.”
Jonah leaned back in his chair and opened his hands in front of him.
I dropped into the leather seat in front of his desk. The familiar crackling of the fabric under me tossed me back to years before when I’d sat there more comfortably, shooting the shit with Jonah. I wasn’t ever going back to being that person. He had been naive and stupid. This was my chance to get in and out before starting over again somewhere else. “If I go to do this job, I want your word that no one will bother Paige.”
“That’s the deal,” Jonah said.
I wanted him to say the words, but I wasn’t about to insult him. I nodded.
“With the last deed you did, I have faith you will complete your side of the bargain as well,” he said.
I rolled my shoulder, the ache from the wound I’d suffered a few weeks ago was still fresh. The scab had healed over, but every one of my scars told a story. Those stories were retold in my mind every time I touched or thought of one. They were my internal scars too, even though I displayed them all over my body. The tattoos helped—well, somewhat.
“Did you ever doubt me?” I asked.
He smiled. His graying teeth showed years of wear. The whiter ones were newer, showing the few he lost when he was younger. We all had our share of bumps and bruises, but those working for Jonah showed the most.
“I never doubt your abilities,” he said, cracking his knuckles for emphasis. “But when you left, I never thought I’d see you again. I wanted to be sure you still understood the order around here.”
“How could I forget?”
He laughed. “You’d be surprised how many forget once they’re gone. At least they try. Until I remind them. It’s the only way to keep order. You must understand.”
I nodded my head, refusing to answer him verbally. I supposed it was my act of defiance. I wouldn’t get many opportunities for that while my debt remained unpaid.
“Well, that’s beside the point,” he said. “You shouldn’t worry yourself over that. We have an understanding, and you’re a smart man. This should be easy for you.”
Easy? He had no idea how difficult it had been to arrive at this place. I went against all the promises to myself for one woman. But she was worth it.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked. Jonah was an opportunist. He wouldn’t allow me to repay this debt with something easy. He’d make it as hard as possible. A job that no one without my skills could do.
“I have some work that I need you to do in Florida,” Jonah said, smirking. “Are you up for the job?”
“I am,” I said.
“Good.”
I sat in the chair, leaning against the back of it. I briefly closed my eyes, slipping into a time and place I’d buried deep in the back of my mind. I allowed the acts I’d done to flood into my thoughts, bringing back the part of me that I desperately tried to hide from the world.
When I opened my eyes, I narrowed them at Jonah. Understanding filled his expression. He knew I was ready.
I inhaled a deep breath, letting go of the life I’d led for the last few years. This job needed a different person, and I would do anything to protect Paige in my heart. “Tell me what I need to do.”
To be continued…
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About the Author
Hey there. I'm Weston.
I'm a former firefighter/EMS guy who's picked up the proverbial pen and started writing bad boy romance stories. I co-write with my sister, Ali Parker as we travel the United States for the next two years.
You're going to find Billionaires, Bad Boys, Mafia and loads of sexiness. Something for everyone, hopefully. I'd love to connect with you. Check out the links below and come find me.
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The Parker’s Wicked Playground
Trying To Be Good Book 2
Copyright © 2019 by Weston Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Eric Martinez
Cover Designer: Ryn Katryn Digital Art
Trying To Be Good Book 2 Page 14
