Join the Club - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,27

for weeks now, and he was going to ask why?

“We were together. We scratched some itches. And then you treated me like I had the plague and you didn’t want to catch whatever I had.” I paused. “Even when you came over to get Asa last week. You hardly spoke a word. I’m just… it’s… I’m nervous. I’m nervous to be in here with you. I don’t know how to proceed.”

“You proceed like we’ve always proceeded. You just treat me like I’m your baby daddy’s brother, and that’s all,” he said.

And for some reason, that made me extremely mad.

That’s how he wanted me to treat him?

Well, fine.

That’s exactly what I would do.

“Okay,” I said, shrugging. “I’ll just do that then.”

He watched me with raised eyebrows as I got up and started to walk to the hall table where he’d placed our cards.

Grabbing one out of the envelope, I shoved it into my back pocket before going back to my purse and gathering my wallet and phone.

“Where are you going?” he asked, not bothering to move or even turn toward me.

Instead of answering him, I walked out the door and didn’t look back.

If he wanted me to treat him like someone that I hadn’t slept with, then I would.

Taking the elevator all the way down to the ground level, I bypassed the hotel’s bar and instead walked out onto the street.

Once there, I looked up and down the road, finally spotting a large yellow sign that said ‘Keith’s Tavern’ on it.

Walking in that direction, I came to a stop about halfway there when I spotted a small diner instead.

Thinking that was for the best, I went inside and smiled at the woman manning the front area.

“One?” the old woman asked.

I nodded. “Just one.”

“You want to sit at the bar?” she asked.

I looked at the bar and shook my head. “Actually, if you have a quiet corner, that would be best. I would like to read.”

The lady pointed toward the back where it looked like they’d already cleaned and blocked off for the night.

“If you want to sit over there, that’s perfectly fine. You just have to promise not to make a mess so I don’t have to clean it twice tonight.”

I grinned. “Deal.”

“Would you like to place your order now?” she asked. “There aren’t any waitresses manning that section. I’ll bring you over your food when it’s ready.”

I picked up a menu and made my selection.

Then for the next hour of my life, I sat there and drank coffee, ate pancakes, and had chocolate cake for dessert.

It was about ten minutes in that I got the first message.

Then ten after that.

And five after that.

By the end of the first hour, I had eight texts, all from Bourne, asking where I was at.

I ignored them all and didn’t open a single one.

Instead, I read my book and ignored the world around me until my eyes were so heavy that I couldn’t seem to hold them open anymore.

“As much as I’d like to keep you, doll, it’s time to go. The diner’s closing,” Deb, the old waitress, said.

I grinned and gathered up my trash.

Taking it all to her, I smiled and paid my check.

Minutes after that, I was once again in the lobby of the hotel.

I knew the second that I got into the lobby that Bourne was in a dark corner booth nursing a beer.

Obviously waiting for me to get back by keeping an eye on the door.

I ignored him and took the elevator up to the room.

When I got into the room, I gathered my clothes that I would be sleeping in and headed to the bathroom.

Grinning a tad bit evilly, I stripped naked and turned on the shower.

Then I proceeded to take a shower, a long one where I didn’t once get interrupted by a small child asking me to open a Go-Gurt pack or a cheese stick. It was luxurious.

I knew the second he got into the room.

But I didn’t attempt to cover myself up. I just finished my shower.

Chapter 5

Everything tastes better with dog hair in it.

-Coffee Cup

Bourne

I was pissed.

And I didn’t have anybody to blame but myself.

I’d told her that we should act like we’d always acted. And that, unfortunately, meant that she didn’t have to tell me where she was going or what she was doing.

Which also meant I’d spent the last two hours of the night wondering where the hell she was, and if she was okay.

The moment I saw her enter the lobby at