Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(55)

I laughed. He knew Gladis all right. “She’s great. Treats me like her own daughter. Nice lady.”

“So, you’re from California?”

I nodded.

“How long have you been out here?”

“A couple months.”

“I’m from Nevada. Not too far from Reno.”

“I’m sorry,” I said in mock sympathy.

He laughed again. “Yeah, shit hole, right? I came out here for college, then grad school. My grandparents are from the area. That’s how I know the Peek’s. Knew the Peek’s, I guess.”

“When were you in Hawaii?”

He looked at me askew? “Who’s been talking?”

It was my turn to laugh. “Shells. They’ll give you away every time.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I do a couple trips a year to Hawaii.”

“You should talk to Randall when he gets back. He lived there for a while. Loved it!”

“I would move there but the work front isn’t the best. Surfing is great. I’ve been to L.A. and San Diego, too—to surf, I mean.”

That got us in a whole mess of conversation. Where each of us lived, what places we liked, things that were different, things we missed or didn’t. We could have kept going, but Randall finally returned in his customary slouch.

“Hey Randall. Brad has been to Hawaii,” I said, trying to immediately include him in the conversation.

“Oh.” He gave me a sour look. “Look, Jessica, I’m not really into this scene.”

“Oh.” I threw Brad an apologetic look and stood. “No problem. I’ll just go let Candace know.”

I glanced around at what I’d be leaving. William was over in the corner talking to some guy in a cowboy hat. As my eyes lingered on his face, his flitted up and met mine. A shock of electricity scrambled my stomach. He was all the way across the room, but that deep stare grabbed me and held on, pulling me in. I flushed and gasped at the same time, breaking out in a sweat with the effort of ripping my eyes away.

Maybe leaving was for the best. There would be other times I could dance. Now that I knew Ty’s crowd was in to this sort of thing, I just had to make sure Candace called me when they came here again—without William.

“Look, Jessica,” Randall said into my preparation to leave, “I had a really nice time tonight, and you are definitely fun, smart and engaging, but I’m not really into this scene. I’m not into this lifestyle. I’d love to keep the pretense of us fitting together, because I really like you, but I think we both know this couldn’t work.”

I was struck mute. He gave me a pat on the shoulder with a sympathetic gaze. “Do you want to walk me out?”

It was our first date and he dumped me. Maybe I should have been relieved, but…what the hell?

“Oh, okay,” I said through numb lips.

“You headed?” Candace whined when she noticed my wrap in my arms.

“Um…” I looked imploringly at Randall.

“I am." Randall answered. "Can you give her a ride home? She wants to stay but is too nice to say so.”

Candace did one of those brow furrows that had made worrying creases in her makeup. She was as perplexed as I was. “Sure…”

I followed him with a numb body. I could not believe what was happening. I could not believe he was planning to leave me here, without a car, in the care of other people, when we’d come together. On a date.

I was crushed, and not because I thought there was a future for us. There wasn’t, he was right. But I had never had this happen, and I had been with some real f**k-ups in my day.

He was supposed to be a nice guy! Is this why they finish last? I thought with colorful distain. My anger level was bubbling up to replace my hurt.

“Well, I’ll leave you here,” Randall said when we were in the bar. He had a pitying expression on his face. “I’m sure Mr. Davies will look after you. You know, since he has a vested interest.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked in a hollow voice.

He shook his head. “Money corrupts, Jessica. Even the pursuit of it. Anyway, I’ll see ya around.”

I almost wanted him to try for a kiss so I would have reason to slap him.

“Hey baby,” some idiot said on my right.

“Fuck off,” I snapped and turned to the bar.

I ordered a champagne cocktail, then stewed for a second. The numb of bewilderment was wearing off. It had literally come out of nowhere. People weren’t like that. They didn’t leave a date behind. “That was so f**ked up!”

The guy next to me looked up, startled. A glance at my expression had him shimmying down the bar, giving me space.

I finished my drink much too quickly, and decided that maybe I should just get a cab home. Nothing good could come of drinking champagne with a bunch of single guys without someone to reign me in. Nothing good at all!

Half way through the bar I noticed Brad and William chatting up two girls.

He got down here quick.

William glanced up as my step faltered, noticing my wrap in my hands, but no date. His eyes darted away, back to some blond with black roots and huge, fake boobs less than half covered. My eyes were shadowed by my lowering eyebrows.

Next to the friend of Fake Boobies, Brad glanced up, then did a double-take as he recognized me. His smile made the bosom buddy he was talking to frown.