Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) - J.H. Croix Page 0,55
anything but in this moment. “Of course, it’s our business. You fucked over our friend. And frankly, made it all worse because it was with his friend. I’d say that’s enough betrayal, don’t you think? You made your preferences clear.”
I had to give it to this woman, she didn’t even flinch. Her eyes took on a hard look. “I would still like to speak to Elias.”
Elias leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Because I don’t want this to become more of a scene, I’m gonna go.” He kissed me quickly on the cheek and stood. “I’ll deal with it.”
I watched him leave with my stomach twisting in sick knots.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Elias
“What the hell do you want, Sandra?” I asked.
After leaving the brewery, Sandra tried to persuade me to ride with her, but that was a hard pass on my part. She’d followed me to Sally’s, another bar in Diamond Creek. It wasn’t because I wanted to be at a bar, but I didn’t want to meet with her anywhere that wasn’t completely public. Cammi had looked like she was freaking right the fuck out. I kind of was too, to be honest. But for the moment, I had no choice, but to deal with this situation.
Sally’s was hopping. Like the brewery, it was a local favorite hang-out. It was in an old barn with a full bar and music stage on one side for small bands, and a restaurant with pub fare on the other. We were seated at a small table right by the door. I intended to be out of here as soon as I figured out what the hell Sandra was doing here. Alaska wasn’t exactly in her neck of the woods. Last I’d known, she was still in the Air Force and stationed in California.
I looked across the table, and felt nothing. Sandra was attractive in a sharp-edged way. She had a willowy build and cornflower blond hair. Her brown eyes tilted at the corners, and her face was all clean angles. I wondered what I’d ever seen in her. Oh, she was beautiful, all right, but I felt nothing anymore.
They say people change, and I supposed I’d definitely changed from back when I was involved with her. Although, the way things ended with us would sour most people on romance.
She looked tense. Her shoulders hitched up slightly and her jaw clenched as she looked at me from across the table. “How are you, Elias?”
“I’m fine, Sandra. Cut to the chase. I know you didn’t come here for some kind of reunion because I’m pretty sure you know that’s impossible. What do you need?”
“Geez, Elias. Are you still angry with me?” she countered, the hint of bitterness in her tone startling me.
She was the one who screwed me over, so I didn’t get that. I took a breath, letting it out as I did an internal scan. “No,” I finally replied. “I’m not angry. I hope life is treating you well, but I’m not interested in trying to have a friendship with you.”
I was furious at the way Sandra showed up, because I knew it looked suspicious to Cammi and that was the last thing Cammi needed. Trust didn’t come easy to her for obvious reasons. I would have to contemplate just why I was so concerned about that at another time. I’d gone from trying to ignore my attraction to Cammi to diving into it so deeply that my denial wasn’t helpful anymore. I knew it was far more than simple physical desire at play.
Sandra swallowed and unclasped her hands to take a sip of her water. “Understood. I kind of have a big ask.”
A subtle tingle of trepidation chased down my spine. “Uh, okay. What’s that?”
“I have a son. He’s um—”
I felt abruptly sick when she paused to take another swallow of water. “You’re telling me this now? If you fucking tell me I have a son and you didn’t tell me about it, I don’t even know what I’m gonna do,” I said flatly.
“He’s not yours. I swear,” she said quickly. “Greg’s the father.”
I nodded slowly. “So, it’s his son then. Still not sure why you’re here to see me.”
Betrayal was a strange thing. It could cut so deep. I didn’t wish I had a child with Sandra, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the man I’d once considered a close friend had known he had a son on the way. That was another secret he kept from me and the rest