I wanted that. I’d wanted that so badly.
What was wrong with me? Why was it never me?
Stop.
I swallowed convulsively. “We…we weren’t exclusive…”
“Don’t give that fucking asswipe a pass, Lila. He doesn’t deserve you…”
“And who does? Huh, Jesse? Who out there is good enough for little miss goodie-two-shoes Lila Cooper?”
He made a rough sound and took a step closer. I knew that look, sympathy. He was going to hug me. Comfort the sad, pathetic loser. My humiliation soared higher, my face burning now. I backed up before he could reach me and spun the sign and opened the door.
Two people were outside waiting. They glanced from me to Jesse as they hustled in. Great, now people would be gossiping about me shutting myself in the library with a biker in the middle of the day.
Jesse closed the distance between us and took my chin in his rough-skinned fingers. “Bambi,” he said in a pained voice.
“I’m fine. Like I said, Brooks and I weren’t exclusive. We can both date whoever we like.”
His eyes locked on mine. “You weren’t, though, were you, sweetheart.”
I pulled out of his hold and turned away from those goddamn mesmerizing green eyes that pulled me in so easily. “I have work to do.”
I turned my back on him, quickly putting the counter between us. Ignoring how he stood there for several long seconds watching me before he finally walked out.
Why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be Jesse to see it, to tell me? The truth was, that’s what cut the most. Not Brooks seeing other people. I’d wanted Jesse to think I’d moved on from him as easily as he’d moved on from me. It was a lie, though. I hadn’t. No wonder Brooks was dating around. I’d held him at a distance. Hadn’t let him close.
I’d been keeping my options open, too, hadn’t I? Saving myself for a man who didn’t want me anymore.
The universe was really starting to piss me off.
I’d been trying my damnedest to avoid Jesse…Grifter, the last few days. I’d taken lunch to work instead of going to the café, and instead of dinner at The Mule with Addie last night, I’d taken up Kate’s offer and had dinner with her, Eric, and Maddie.
But it wasn’t working. I kept seeing him everywhere. And as I walked down the street toward the gym with Eves now, I spotted not one but two bikes parked out front. I knew Grifter’s bike. I’d admired it plenty of times. Especially when he’d been sitting on it.
Eves glanced at me, concern in her brown eyes. “It’s okay if you don’t want to go in.”
She had a message for Dane from one of his clients about a time change for his appointment, and Dane wasn’t answering his phone.
I wasn’t ready to see Jesse. Maybe it was cowardly, but I didn’t care. I was definitely waiting out here.
Brooks walked out of the hardware store up the street.
Nope. No.
I grabbed Eve’s arm and dragged her into the gym. What had I done in a previous life to deserve this? I’d been avoiding Brooks as well. I hadn’t worked out exactly what to say to him yet.
And right then, Jesse…dammit, Grifter was the lesser of two evils. We’d already had it out. There was nothing left to say. So I could walk into the gym with Eves and smile and pretend I was cool. Better that than a discussion with Brooks about why I didn’t want to see him anymore.
I glanced around the large room. The sounds of fists hitting leather with force, grunts, and deep voices echoed around the room. The smell of sweat and aggression filling the air—
My mouth went dry.
He was in the ring with Dane. They were sparring.
My knees went weak. Stupid knees. Yes, I am pathetic.
Damn him for being so goddamn beautiful and sexy. Every inch of his inked chest, arms, and neck was on display. I swallowed thickly as my traitorous body heated.
He was wearing nylon shorts, and he had tattoos on his legs as well. Not as many, and mainly on his thighs, but the man was a walking, talking work of art.
“Come on, pretty boy,” Dane goaded. “Hit me like you mean it.”
“At least you’ve finally acknowledged that I’m prettier than you,” Grifter said back, casually. “It’s the nose, right? How many times have you broken yours?”
“Three,” Dane said, smirking, then jabbed, connecting with Grifter's side.
Grifter returned with a jab of his own and motioned to his own nose. “Two. Which is why mine looks rugged and yours looks like a barnacle in the middle of your face.”
They came together again, fists flying, the smack of leather gloves meeting flesh filling the room. When they came apart again, they were grinning, both in their element.
Eves stayed quiet at my side, hanging back. They hadn’t seen us yet. She was obviously enjoying the show as much as me.
“Your dick looks like a barnacle,” Dane said.
“Why have you been looking at my dick, Calero? Jealous? I feel sorry for Everly, honestly.”
Eves snickered beside me.
Dane chuckled. “Why? Because I’m so big?”
“You wish, Thumbelina.”
Dane barked out a laugh. “Pencil dick.”
They were jabbing and snickering, acting like they were in the fifth grade and loving every minute of it.
“Anaconda more like,” Grifter said.
“Jesus,” Eves muttered. “I wondered what they talked about when I wasn’t around. I wish I’d stayed ignorant.”
She wasn’t the only one, though they were kind of entertaining.
They spent another few minutes thinking of small things to insult each other’s manhood with, then Eves stepped forward right as Grifter said, “I haven’t had any complaints. They always come back for more Grifter. It’s like my cock’s made of chocolate. They can’t get it in their mouths fast enough.”
“Keep telling yourself that…”
“Yo!” Eves rushed forward.
My face heated. Yes, I’m sure they did come back for more. And I’m sure they did a much better job of it than me as well.
Dane and Grifter stopped and turned to us. Grifter’s eyes snapped to me and he visibly swallowed. “Hey, Bambi. What’s up?” he said roughly as Eves started talking to Dane.
“Hey, um, not much,” I said back, pleased when my voice came out strong and not tight with humiliation.
He frowned and jumped down, striding toward me. “What you heard just now…we were just talking shit…”
I shrugged. “Are you training for a fight?”
He was quiet for several long seconds, his gaze locked on mine. Somehow, I managed not to squirm.
“Yeah, in a few weeks.”
“Cool.”
He was watching me closely, too closely. “You talk to Brooks?”
“I don’t really think that’s any of your business, Grifter.”
“Jesse,” he said, voice full of grit. “You call me Jesse.”
“No one else does.”
He stilled and his gaze dipped to my mouth. “You do.”
I swallowed and licked my suddenly dry lips.
Jesse made a low growly sound.
“Let’s go get some lunch,” Eves called to me.