Initiative (Suncoast Society #31)(10)

Before she could even think about it, she heard herself saying, “I’d love that. Thank you.”

Maybe it was just wishful thinking on her part, but looking back, some of the best times in her life—before John—were spent with her gang of friends.

Especially with Darryl and Grant.

Somewhere, in a box in her house, she even had her old gaming books, modules, notes, and a bag of dice, tucked away with her high school yearbooks and other mementos.

Corey’s phone buzzed with a text message. He picked it up, grinning. “Hey, speak of the devil, they’re here.” He replied to the text, then turned in his chair, looking toward the restaurant’s entrance.

A moment later, he waved as two men appeared.

Susan’s heart skipped a beat, or so it felt like.

Ironic, because she thought it’d died that day two years ago, along with John.





Grant spotted Corey and his wife right away. Hard not to when their friend was waving at them. And was that…

It couldn’t be, but it was.

She looked older, careworn, and her brown hair was now a gorgeous light reddish auburn that looked perfect with her green eyes, and long, down past her shoulders.

As they drew closer, his heart sank to see the wedding rings on her left hand.

The three stood as Grant and Darryl approached. Corey reached out to hug them first. Grant had already given Darryl a standing order for the weekend that he could hug anyone he chose to without needing permission first.

But standing face-to-face with Susie, Grant realized she didn’t just look careworn.

He’d swear she looked heartbroken.

That’s when he spotted the bracelet on her right wrist.

“Susie, my god, it’s good to see you,” Grant said, not really wanting to let go of her.

“I’m glad to see you guys, too.”

He couldn’t begin to count how many times he’d whacked off to thoughts of her in high school. Of the things he’d like to do to her, things he didn’t realize at the time weren’t sick or twisted.

Now, it would seem, she had found her way there all on her own. Or with someone else. If that wasn’t a day collar on her right wrist, he’d eat his shoes.

Darryl had one of his own he was wearing on his right wrist, only his was brushed stainless, not niobium. Probably made by the same company, if Grant were forced to guess. There weren’t many places that made that style of bracelet and collar.

Susie’s smile looked practiced, not easy, as if she didn’t smile easily anymore.

Stomping back a wave of protective fury that washed through him at the thought that she might be in an abusive relationship, he was reluctant to let go of her hands, which had found their way into his. He knew Darryl wanted a chance to hug her, too, and he’d give him that chance in a moment.

But first, he had to know. “So, is your husband here with you this weekend?”

Corey and Marcy both coughed, and now Susie’s smile looked a little less forced. “It’s okay,” she said to them before returning her attention to Grant. “I’m widowed,” she said.

A ton of puzzle pieces righted themselves and snapped into place. That explained a lot.

Including the sad, invisible cloak around her. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

“It’s okay. It was two years ago.”

“So you’re here solo?” He hoped he didn’t sound too hopeful.

“Can I get a hug from her?” Darryl asked, sounding a little on the testy side.

“Hold your horses,” Grant said, mentally noting that would be five cane strokes for him later. “I’m not done with her yet.”

She smiled again, a little easier this time. “I’m here alone. No one in my life.”

He didn’t mention her bracelet even though his heart now pounded, an idea—probably a very bad one—quickly forming in his brain. “Did you fly in?”

“I’m local. I live over east of 75, not far off of Bee Ridge.”

Holy. Shit.

She was local, and yet he’d never seen her at Venture or at any of the munch groups. Hell, she lived near Shayla and Tony. “We’re just off Clark. Who knew we lived in the same area?”

He stepped aside so Darryl could finally get in and hug her while he and Corey grabbed two more chairs and pulled them over.

Grant’s pulse pounded.

She’s single.

She’s probably kinky.

And she’s local.

He was more bi than gay, even though Darryl ran closer to the gay side of the spectrum. He’d sort of tricked Darryl into finally admitting it when he brought a kinky woman home one night and, with her pre-warned knowledge, she helped him coax Darryl’s deeply closeted subby and kinky bisexual side out into the light.

Once that happened, there was no going back either, lucky for him. They’d shared women several times in the past couple of years they’d been together, people they’d played with at the club, but nothing permanent. Darryl had even admitted that, back in high school, he’d had fantasies he hadn’t understood then, of the three of them together.

How many times did you get a second chance to make a dream come true? All he’d have to do was to take the initiative and hope he didn’t roll a critical fumble in the process.

They all settled around the table, Susie ending up between them with Grant on her right side. As they talked and got caught up, he watched her. Watched the way she touched her bracelet with her left hand, much in the way Darryl did.