Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(21)

Yup, that seems more on par for Amanda. “Aww,” I replied in my best southern accent, “you really know how to make a girl feel special.”

But there was no evading Amanda when she wanted information. Especially when it came to sex. “So is the new mystery man comin’ tonight or what? I’m dying to meet the guy who can put a smile like that on Lily Hamilton’s face. He must be damn good in bed.”

Shit. Now she thinks I’m happy because I’m sleeping with someone. “No, I might go out with him afterward, though. And who said I was sleeping with him?”

“Who said you weren’t?”

I needed to dodge her questions. And fast. “Let’s talk about who you may or may not be sleeping with, shall we? A certain Shane Reed will be there tonight, right?” Amanda definitely had a thing for our CrossFit coach, even if she wouldn’t admit it. And who could really blame her? He was blond, built like a f*cking gladiator, and funny as hell. She’d been hanging out with him recently, and had invited him out that night so she could embarrass him in pool since he’d done the same to her when they’d gone rock climbing last weekend. Shane was in for a real surprise. He had no idea Amanda could kick anyone’s ass in pool thanks to her grandfather's tutelage when she was young.

As I’d hoped, my plan worked like a charm. Amanda averted her eyes back to the mirror as she denied my accusation with a laugh.

God, that was almost too easy.

***

Once at the pool hall, my suspicions were confirmed. It didn’t take long for Shane and Amanda to make a bet: one that resulted in them kissing, regardless of who won. I gave Amanda an I-told-you-so glance as she pretended to be grossed out by the thought of kissing Shane.

“Not a word,” she warned me.

The first game went as I’d anticipated. Amanda played the dumb blonde role perfectly, asking about how to hold the cue and missing easy shots. But I knew she’d take him in the second game since it was best out of three.

Under normal circumstances, I would’ve been entertained by her performance. But I was distracted knowing that in a few hours I’d see Max. When I pulled my phone out of my purse to check the time, I was surprised to see a text from him. What did he have to say that couldn’t wait until later?

Any chance you can get here earlier?

Why? I thought your friend doesn’t play until later. I’m at the pool hall with Amanda. I’m her ride home.

Is there someone else who can take her home? I need you to get here. It’s kind of an emergency.

This was going to make me look like a horrible friend to Amanda, but Max sounded desperate. Well, as desperate as you could sound through text, and it worried me. When we’d first talked, I’d promised myself that I would make every effort to help him get his life back on track. If that meant leaving Amanda to flirt with Shane on her own for a bit, well that was a casualty of war. “I’m gonna get going,” I said reluctantly.

Amanda gave me a confused glance as she eyed up her next shot. “But you’re my ride home.”

For a moment, I felt bad. That is, until Shane chimed in. “I’ll drive you. It’s no big deal.”

Thank you, Coach Shane. “Perfect.” And it was. I could leave early without feeling bad that I’d ditched a friend, and Amanda could get some more alone time with Shane.

On my way. Be there soon, I texted Max. And as I settled into the driver’s seat and threw my car into drive, I laughed. One of us needed to be saved at a bar again. And it felt good to be the one doing the saving this time.





Chapter 9: Max


I was fidgeting helplessly, my eyes darting pensively toward the door every few seconds. Where the hell is she? She had said she was on her way over an hour ago. Silently cursing my decision to come down to the city early, I picked up my whiskey on the rocks and damn near drained the glass. She must've hit traffic. And as the nasally voice across from me continued to garble out sounds that my brain refused to process as words, I cursed every motorist between here and wherever the hell Lily was coming from.

My leg started jerking violently, making the chair I was sitting on creak loudly. I didn't care. The creaking was preferable to the high pitch nightmare that was still prattling on about God-knows-what. I rubbed my hand over my face wondering if this was my purgatory. Was this how I was meant to atone for being such a prick all of these years?

I lifted my glass to my mouth as my eyes glanced toward the door again. "Oh, thank you, Jesus."

"Huh?" the voice puzzled.

"Oh, uh, nothing," I said sheepishly. Then, bellowing across the bar and waving my hands like a lunatic, I yelled, "Lily! Hey, Lily, over here!"

Lily returned my wave with a smile and walked toward me. Why was she walking so slowly? Come on, doll.

"Hey. Sorry it took me so long to get here. Traffic was—"

I interrupted her by throwing my arm around her shoulder and pressing a kiss to her temple. "No big deal, hon. I’m just so glad you're finally here." I threw my gaze at the hyena across from me, hoping that Lily would understand the role I needed her to play. But all I saw on her face was shock. Shit, I shouldn't have kissed her. I caused her to short-circuit. "Lily, this is . . ." I hesitated. My mind drew a complete blank. What the f*ck is her name?

"Stacey," the hyena answered for me. "Men. Their attention is only ever on one thing."