Bobby: Babe?
I turned the phone to silent and tossed it onto the mattress.
Not one time did he mention he loved me in all his desperate texts since I’d left. Or that he was sorry. Or that things would change. Because they wouldn’t.
He was only texting because he was drunk and alone. But that wouldn’t last for long. He’d find a groupie to dip his stick into. I wouldn’t be surprised if I learned he had prior to me breaking things off. Who knew the number of times he’d cheated on me? I didn’t want to know. I wanted to move on. That realization was just the cherry on top of the eye-opening revelation that led me to pack my bags and leave it all behind.
The pitiful part…in the past, I probably would’ve forgiven him if he had cheated. Like the fool I’d been for so many years. Like the person my parents had raised me to be—always forgiving, always looking for the best in the person. I would’ve been willing to work through things, knowing I’d have felt an unreasonable guilt if I didn’t at least try.
Officially wide awake, I slung off the covers and sat up. I needed a distraction, something to get my mind off things and relax me. I knew just the thing. Unfortunately, since I hadn’t made it to the store yet, I would have to go out to get it.
Freaking small towns and their early closing hours. After climbing into my car, I slammed the door shut and flopped my head back against the leather headrest, contemplating if I should give up my mission for a drink and try my luck at sleeping again.
The vibrating phone in my hand interrupted my internal debate.
Bobby: Fine. Whatever. You’re going to realize you’re being childish about this. Don’t expect me to wait around for you.
I snorted a humorless laugh, tossing my phone into the passenger seat. I never expected nor wanted him to wait. It’s why I left the ring on the table next to the bed we shared the day I walked out. His text did nothing but strengthen my resolve. I would have that drink, and I would forget Bobby existed. At least for one night.
I turned over the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward the one place in town that would have what I needed.
The bright blue neon sign of Dudley’s guided me into the graveled parking lot like a beacon in the night. The bar sat on the edge of town. There wasn’t much to the aged, corrugated metal building, with its simple rectangular footprint and gabled roof. It could have just as well been a warehouse or a barn. Yet, the old watering hole was as much of an icon in Billingsley as the century-old courthouse that stood in the middle of the town square. I climbed out of the car, knots suddenly growing in the pit of my stomach from what potentially waited for me within the walls of the metal building—who waited for me.
As I neared the entrance, ready to walk in, my stomach rolled, the pizza from earlier threatening to make a reappearance. The drink I’d wanted moments ago no longer sounded good. I took a step backward and spun to leave, bumping into a large, firm body.
“Whoa, now,” a masculine voice ordered as large hands firmly gripped my shoulders to steady me.
“I’m so sorry,” I muttered with a rush of heat fanning my cheeks.
“No problem.” He dropped his hands as he backed away.
“Excuse me,” I said, brushing aside the hair that had fallen in my face. I kept my focus on the ground as I side-stepped around him.
“Wait… Conley?” A feminine voice I hadn’t heard in years called from behind me. “Is that you?”
I slowed to a stop, peeking over my shoulder, immediately recognizing the beautiful redhead standing next to the man I’d bumped into. “Lottie Davis!”
She smiled wide, her eyes bright. “It’s Monroe, now,” she said, lifting her left hand and wiggling her manicured fingers to show off the huge diamond wedding band.
My gaze went from the ring to the man next to her, realizing I’d bumped into Tucker Monroe. Tucker and Lottie had been high school sweethearts, but their relationship had ended abruptly, to everyone’s surprise. I was happy to see they’d found their way back to each other.
“Oh my gosh!” I gushed, walking back toward them. She met me with a hug. “Congrats!” I said, and then gave Tucker a quick hug, too. “Wow, how long has it been?”
“Since Bobby’s show in Seattle, right? What was that? Six or seven years ago?”
I tried not to flinch at the mention of Bobby. “Yeah. Something like that.”
“Speaking of, what are you doing here? Is Bobby with you?” She looked past me, as if she expected him to appear suddenly.
“He’s uh, still on the road. It’s just me.” I shoved my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. “I decided to move back home a couple weeks ago.”
She exchanged a quick glance with Tucker as he put his arm around her. “Well, that’s awesome. It’ll be great having you back in town,” she said with a genuine smile. I was grateful she didn’t push for more of an explanation. That was one thing I’d always liked about Lottie: she wasn’t a nosey gossip the way some other women in this town were. “Were you coming or going? I’d love to catch up over a drink.”
“I was just…” I gazed over my shoulder at the safety of my car—my escape from Dudley’s. It’d be so easy to turn and run, hightail it out of here with nobody the wiser other than Lottie and Tucker: two people who wouldn’t sell me out if I asked them to keep it quiet.
What was I thinking? I wasn’t that person—the one who ran from uncomfortable situations. Besides, what was I scared of, anyway? The entire world would know soon enough. There was only so long before the tabloids noticed I was no longer at Bobby’s side. Plus, I’d always liked Lottie and Tucker. At least this way, I could have that drink I’d wanted, and I wouldn’t have to do it alone.
“You know what?” I said, looking back at them. “That sounds perfect.”
“Great!” Lottie’s grin widened.
Tucker reached for the door, holding it open as I walked in and Lottie followed behind me.
“I hope you don’t mind, but we’re meeting everyone here,” Lottie said, walking beside me toward the bar. “It’s couples’ trivia night and it can get kind of competitive. Especially Wes and Devin.”
“Devin?” There wasn’t a girl in town who didn’t know the Monroe brothers. Wes and Tucker had always been the town heartthrobs. Wes was the older and even less obtainable brother, always more of a play-the-field kind of guy, while Tucker only ever had eyes for Lottie.
“Wes’s wife. You’re gonna love her. You two have a lot in common. She kind of reminds me of you,” she said, giving my shoulder a friendly bump with hers.
I didn’t have a chance to reply before she took the lead, dragging me to a group of people crowded at the bar. They were all up and out of their seats, exchanging hugs with Lottie and Tucker as soon as they caught sight of us. I recognized most of them as I lingered off to the side. Leighton Miller (now Bradley) was the first to see me. She had been Lottie’s bestie since grade school. Her high-pitched scream pierced the air as she smothered me in a hug.
The others followed suit. Leighton’s husband, Aaron Bradley, greeted me next, then Wes Monroe and Billy Miller (Leighton’s older brother and Aaron’s best friend). Wes introduced me to Devin, and then Billy introduced me to his wife, Hannah, who I’d met years before at the Seattle show. She’d been there as Lottie’s co-worker and friend and attended the after party with us.