Forever You're Mine (MINE #4)(2)
He…meaning Cora’s douchebag ex-boyfriend. He…meaning a good for nothing prick who only uses Cora while he’s in town and then splits after he takes what he wants. He…meaning I was probably going to kill the motherf*cker next time I saw him.
She tossed her phone inside her purse, clutching it to her chest. “I can find another ride to work if I need to.”
“Did I say you needed to find another ride?”
“No, but the tone of your voice suggests it might be a good idea.”
I took a few deep breaths, trying to rein in my temper.
Nawp…still pissed.
“You gonna f*ck him again?”
Glancing over, I found fire sparking around the edges of her green eyes. “Seriously? That is none of your business.”
“It is if I’m gonna be the shoulder you’re cryin’ on when he leaves your ass hangin’ again.”
The last time this monkey f*ck came to town, I spent a week cleaning up the mess of a woman he left behind. God, I hated to see a woman cry.
Watching my girl cry…f*cking heartbreaking.
Tears threatened to ruin her flawless face. I wish I could feel bad about my harsh words, but I didn’t. I had to keep her the hell away from this guy and if that meant being a dick…then that’s what I would do. “He’s just gonna use you again. He does it every damn time. He’s been doing it for nearly three years now because you let him. Stop.”
“I can’t.”
“Uh, yeah you can. It’s called just f*ckin’ stop.”
“You can’t just stop loving someone, Cannon.” Her lip trembled as she looked down at her tangled hands. “Doesn’t work that way.” A black tear stained her cheek and the lifeless heart inside my chest surged with heat.
See…he’s not even here yet and she’s already crying. Yep, I’m gonna kill him.
Once I put the truck in park behind Archer’s where we both worked, I opened the glove box and reached for a wad of fast food napkins. “Here.”
Cora took one, turning her head away from me as she wiped her face and blew her nose. I remained silent, waiting for her to have her moment, contemplating the many ways I was going to make this * pay for each and every time he broke her heart. After a few sniffles and a quick fix of her makeup, she looked me in the eyes. “I know you think I’m stupid. I don’t expect you to understand.”
No, I most certainly did not understand.
I would never understand how she could love someone who kept her a secret from his family, friends, and everyone else he knew. I didn’t understand why someone as strong and beautiful as Cora would put up with that shit and continue to put up with it.
She deserved better.
More.
“Please, help me understand.” I urged, trying in vain to calm my voice.
“Why do you care?”
“Because you’re my f*ckin’ friend. I care about you. Why do you think I care?”
Her shimmering lips parted with a gasp and she blinked as if she didn’t believe me. How could she not? She was my girl, my best friend, the only person in the world I let inside my tight little circle.
“Just drop it, Cannon.” she ordered, quickly hopping out.
I watched her round the front of the truck to head inside, but not before she shot me a look through the windshield that warned me to let it go.
Holding her stare, I vowed…
Not a chance in hell.
We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest.
We must learn to sail in the high winds.
~Aristotle Onassis
How could I explain my feelings for Dent to Cannon when I couldn’t even justify them myself? Denton Prescott was a bad habit. One I couldn’t seem to break. We’d been tethered in one way or another for so long now. I didn’t know how to say no to him. I damn sure didn’t know how to let him go. I guess because the biggest part of my heart held out hope that someday, Dent would love me the way he always promised he would.
But after three long years, I was no closer to happily ever after than Taylor flippin’ Swift.
Cannon despised Dent.
He’d seen firsthand the effect a visit from him could have on me. I’ve always known what Dent and I had would lead me down a dead end road, but my heart just keeps on driving anyway, too stubborn or too blind to read the signs. It was all too much to think about right now. Between Dent’s text and Cannon’s over the top reaction, I was annoyed with them both.
Cannon especially.
I never said anything to him about who he f*cks. Ugh…I didn’t even want to know. It would only drive me crazy. This town was too damn small. I’ve heard more than my fair share of rumors about his conquests and surprisingly, a little baby green monster had been born because of it. Which was completely unreasonable because we were just friends and we both knew it could never be more. Not without destroying the good we’d found in each other.
“What can I get ya?” I asked the man in front of me whose eyes were glued to my chest.
Being a waitress had its benefits. The tips were good and Archer kept local bands in rotation, drawing in different crowds each week, but I’d discovered bartending is where the real money was. I’d worked my ass off to be promoted after Katy left. She’d been his best bartender. But then they fell in love and after Katy got pregnant, she quit, opting to stay at home with their son, Vaughn. Archer promoted me shortly after and I was grateful for it. It meant more money in my pocket to help my brother.