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.Each ring watered his sorrow.He sat on the floorand leaned against the couch, wondering if this was how ajunkie felt on step five or six.The sound of Megan sexcited voice made him recoil.Her happy tone wasn tfair.He had reserved that tone for Evy but, somehow, thereservations had gotten mixed up.He could feel words tumbling from his mouth butcouldn t hear them, like he was talking under water.Ablank expression coated his unshaven face as Megan saidsomething about something. What s that? I said, are you all right?He told her he was and let the muddled words oozefrom his lips, intent on keeping the conversation as shortas possible.She squealed with delight at his invitation todinner, sticking a steel knife in his windpipe, and thenwent on and on about something that had happened to herearlier in the day.He cut her off and told her he would seeher at seven-thirty and hung up before she did.A pent-up breath hissed from his lips.He set thephone next to him on the carpet, a myriad of painfulemotions taking turns jabbing him with sharp sticks.Heshut his eyes and rubbed them until he saw stars,determined to find a way out of this living hell.He feltlike a coward for letting Clay and some bald geezerintimidate him like this.He should be blowing Megan off,not the woman he loved.He shook his head, going backand forth on it.In reality, what choice did he have? Clayhad made his point with Shaun.The only escape route ledto the closure of Sugars, quickly followed by the law firmwhere Dean was now finally partner.And where would itend? Carrie s job? Jon s? Their family and friends? Thestakes were too high.He shook his head, wondering if hiscondo was bugged.***Evy checked the large faced watch strapped to herslender wrist and exhaled a weary breath.Brooke and Benswapped glances. Well, Evy sighed, slinging her purse over hershoulder and getting up from the stool in the kitchen. Iguess he s not coming. That asshole! Ben brought his fist down onto themetal table like a hammer. Ben, Brooke calmly admonished.He pressed his lips together until they turned white,forcing his next bout of harsh words back down hisesophagus. Are you sure you don t want to call him?Evy shook her head vehemently. I can take a hint.Brooke stared at Evy through eyes brimming with wetpity. Maybe he was in an accident. Maybe I was right all along and he s just anotherdouchebag player.Ben withdrew a cigarette with trembling fingers. Isee that dude again and I m going to bust him right in themouth.Brooke pursed her lips. No you re not.Go outsideand smoke your cigarette and let the grownups talk. Don t talk to me like that!Brooke honed her gaze and Ben grudgingly turned forthe back door, forcefully pushing it open with both hands. You okay if I take off?Brooke glanced up front to the handful of customersand sighed.A restaurant without booze in Milwaukee waslike New Orleans without shrimp gumbo. We ll be fine.Go home and get some rest.Watch a good movie and takeyour mind off of things for awhile.Everything will lookbetter in the morning, I promise.Evy bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. Ijust don t get it, she murmured, staring blankly at aconvection oven against the wall. I thought& Brooke placed her hands over Evy s. I know,sweetie.I did, too. I just hope this doesn t mean he s flaking out withthe city council. I m sure he would never do that. Are you?Brooke swallowed hard without answering.Evy pulled away, ready to put Dean in the rearviewmirror no matter how much her gut moaned with want.Sherefused to let another man knock her down again,regardless of how good looking and charming he may be.She had read him all wrong and couldn t believe it.Thepassion between them had been so hot, so real.It made nosense.She shook her head, clearing out the cobwebs ofbewilderment. Okay, she sniffled, heading for the front. I ll see you tomorrow.Brooke watched her sister tiredly push through theswinging door and fade from view.***Dean tightened his necktie in the mirror, hatinghimself for what he was about to do.It was suicide.Hechecked his phone again and puckered his brow, knowinghow pissed Evy must be at him.She hadn t called one timeto see where he was at.Not even a quick text.Her silencespoke volumes.The time stamp on the cell made hisstomach queasy.In twenty minutes he would be atMegan s house and the thought of seeing Clay again madehim sick.It would take a great deal of restraint to notpunch him in the face again.Dean quit fiddling with the crimson colored tie andleaned on the sink, dropping his head between hisshoulders, unable to stomach his reflection any longer.Hedidn t recognize the man looking back.He had the samesharp nose and cheekbones but it wasn t him.Deangrabbed the beer on the sink and took a long swill,draining the bottle.The glass clanked loudly back to thegranite countertop and he shut off the light before he couldcatch another glimpse of the coward in the mirror.The black box on his bed laughed at him, chastisinghim for falling into this foolish trap like some carelessteenager.He pulled a folded note from his pocket and readit again.The urge for another round of edits called to himlike a lighthouse on a stormy night but he was out of time.It would have to do.He folded it back up and stuffed itand the black box into separate pockets, refusing to letthem touch under any circumstance.He grabbed his keysand left without locking the door, trying to talk himself outof the whole thing.Chapter FourteenDean stepped on the gas, putting as much distancebetween him and Megan s house as quickly as possible.He wiped lipstick from his lips and loosened his tie,cringing at how happy she had been tonight and hating herfor it.In the end, all he could do was quietly exist inMegan s glow.That, and order another stiff drink.Heraudible gasp at the sight of the diamond ring haunted histhoughts.It was official: he was now engaged and wantedto die.He checked the rearview mirror again, trying to pickout the headlights that belonged to Mr.Ryder, knowing hewas back there.The night s drinks, however, blurred thelights into burning orbs so he returned his attention to theroad and slammed on the brakes, screeching to a stop lessthan two feet from a new Camaro.He breathed a sigh ofrelief and glanced at the dashboard clock [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]