Vulnerable [Suncoast Society] (Suncoast Society #29)(10)

He didn’t think she was lying to him now, either.

“I’m not mad,” he assured her. “I just wanted to find out what happened.”

“He was here for dinner the night that news story came on and Laurel started talking about it. She’s actually the one who brought it up to him, not me. I only told Mark you and I had amicably parted ways, and that I really didn’t want to discuss the whys in front of Laurel. He must have connected the dots.”

That sounded exactly like something Eva would tell a guy. Her judgmental parents had metaphorically pounded it into her and her two sisters from an early age that you didn’t discuss family business with anyone. Not even family.

Even secrets that shouldn’t be kept.

“Okay.”

“I’m really sorry,” she said. “I’ll have a talk with him and remind him about little pitchers and big ears and all that.”

“Thank you.” It wouldn’t do any good to get angry with her. She wasn’t acting defensive about it, either, like she had about some things early on.

“Did you guys have fun at Mote today?” she asked. Laurel had called her at lunchtime and briefly spoke to her.

“Yeah. She took a lot more pictures of Hugh and Buffett.” Trying to have a normal conversation with Eva now felt weird and awkward. It hadn’t used to. Not until he’d moved out.

“That’s good.” There was a brief moment he thought he might be able to parlay into an exit, but she spoke again. “Actually, I should tell you I probably won’t be seeing much of Mark in the future.”

He hesitated, recognizing the blatant setup. She wanted him to ask, and he quickly weighed whether or not asking would get him off the phone faster.

He finally settled on, “I’m sorry.” Noncommittal.

“He’s okay, but a couple of times he’s made some snide comments and I really don’t want someone like that around Laurel. And now this.”

He didn’t have to ask for clarification about what kind of snide comments, based on her tone.

That was followed by another sad sigh. “You’re her father and she loves you. Hell, I still love you, dammit, and I’m not going to waste time on someone I have to play referee with all the time around you.”

Now he felt guilty again. “Sorry.”

“No, he told me about his divorce and how nasty it was. I should have seen that as a sign and steered clear of him. Fortunately, he works in a different department than I do, so I don’t have to see him every day.”

“I just want you to be happy.”

“I know. And I appreciate it. But I don’t think he’s the right guy for me.”

He had no reply for that. Not a good one, anyway. “You’ll find the right guy for you.”

He could barely hear her soft response. “I already did once. Goodnight, Leo.”

He started to say goodnight when he realized she’d ended the call.

He sat there with his phone in his lap and stared at it.

Was this really worth it? Was it worth tearing Laurel and Eva apart just to make himself happy?

Maybe I should think about going back to her.

Closing his eyes, he threw his head back and took deep breaths. Yes, the counselor had warned him about regret. About making a bad decision because he felt guilty.

No, short-term it might make Eva and Laurel happy, but at the expense of his own happiness. Which wouldn’t be good for any of them long-term.

Resigned, he dragged himself off the couch and headed for bed.





Chapter Four


Saturday night, Jesse sat on his couch and watched a movie with the volume turned up a little louder than normal to drown out the faint sounds of music filtering through the wall from the club. That was the only drawback to this apartment. That, and no pool.

But the club was only open Fridays and Saturdays, and occasionally for a non-play class or meeting during the week. And those didn’t disturb him at all.

For the cheap rent and short drive to work, it was worth it. He was building his savings to hopefully afford a better apartment than he’d been living in before moving in with Mario, or maybe even a down payment on a short-sale house that needed rehabbing.

Fortunately, he hadn’t handed over control of his bank accounts to Mario when they got together.

Yet.

Although Mario had made it clear that, as his slave, Jesse would have to hand over everything to him sooner or later. Preferably sooner.

Jesse figured that he dodged a massive bullet with Mario. He was still mystified how he’d let himself be so quickly bamboozled by the guy.

Never again.

Rushing into a relationship was now verboten in his brain. Not to mention Tilly would set him straight if he forgot the harsh lesson he’d learned. He would take things slow and easy with the next guy.

That was the thought that spun him back to Keith’s call earlier. Dinner at seven on Thursday. He wondered what kind of guy Keith was setting him up with. He thought about calling the man back and outright asking but then decided that might make him look needy and desperate.

Not that it mattered. He had no plans to get involved with anyone. A new friend? Sure. That would always be welcomed.

But he needed a longer reset period before he let himself fall in love again, and he definitely wasn’t interested in anonymous sex or a quick one-time fling.