I don't tell her that I have a sort of idea in mind because I really don't want to have to do it, and I have to talk to Jacob about it first as well.
“Fuck, now I feel like a real bitch. I've only spat on his truck twice, but I've spoken a lot of shit about him.” She rubs a hand up and down her arm in a way that indicates remorse, and I truly believe that she does feel bad. “Poor guy.” I nod in agreement, although I think “poor guy” is an insufficient description for him. “How did that even happen in the first place?”
“It's a long story. One for another time, maybe.” I blow out a breath. “I really hope they don't try to do anything to his boat. He makes barely any money as it is using it for fishing.”
“You're loaded, aren't you,” Tahnee points out. “Why don't you just give him some of your money?”
“I would give him every last cent I had if I thought for one second that he'd take it. He still has enough pride that he wouldn't accept any cash from me.”
It's her turn to nod now. “Okay. Well, don't worry. I'm going to go back over there and try to convince them that touching his boat is the worst idea. Who knows, maybe I can somehow convince them to leave him alone and ignore him altogether.”
I appreciate her saying that and offering to try, but from the look in her eyes, I can tell that even she doubts that she'll have any influence on them.
“Thanks, Tahnee. And thanks for believing me.”
“Sure. I mean, some people just give off honest vibes, and you're one of those people.” She shrugs. But then she's turning to me with a smirk on her face and a sparkle in her eye. “I can't believe you fucked him. What was it like?”
I let out a groan and start to pass her by, walking toward the front of the store to the sound of her chuckle.
“I'm just kidding. You don't have to tell me,” she says. “No wonder you didn't want anything to do with Damien. I wish I knew that sooner instead of putting you through that.”
I wait for her to catch up to me again. “It's okay. You didn't know.” I take another step but then pause. “Hey, listen, I'm going to be leaving town after work today. There's something I have to do.” I made the decision this morning after looking on his laptop, and I just hope that it doesn't backfire on me. “I should be back tomorrow, but if you see Jacob in town or anything . . .”
“Don't worry. I'm on his side now.”
“Thank you.”
CHAPTER 20
Jacob
I've gotten so used to seeing Remi's bright and happy face at the store whenever I walk in, even when I pretend not to be noticing her, even when I pretend that just seeing her isn't the fucking highlight of my day.
She's become like a safety blanket. No, more like a piece of wood that I can float on in what feels like dark, shark-infested waters.
So when I walk through the door to Peaches and don't see her smiling face, I feel on edge, like at any moment, one of those sharks is going to attack. I'm thrown back in time to before she came to this town and before she pushed herself into my life.
Remi told me she had to go out of town for something. Actually, she left me a note yesterday morning while I was out on the boat, so I couldn't even ask her why she had to go, how long she was going for, or even where the hell she was going.
So now, I just feel alone. But it's more than just having someone with me in the darkness. The strings tied around my heart further loosens whenever we're together.
Every time I look at her beautiful smiling face, especially when she's directing it at me, my chest swells, and I feel good.
Every time I see her, the eighteen-year-old boy in me, the innocent one who once had hopes of getting the girl, tries to fight his way up through the shit I've been through. But the man I am today just keeps on expecting something bad to happen.
Good things do not happen to me, and she feels really fucking good.
My dick twitches as I remember how good it felt fucking her up against the side of her house.
I had been going out of my mind thinking about her with another guy, and then when I saw him put his hand on her when I was walking up to her house from the beach . . . I told Remi that I wanted to slap his hand away, but really, I think I had to muster all of my willpower to keep from storming over there and knocking him out. And I am not a violent guy.
The feelings were all so foreign to me, but it was exactly as Remi had said. I was burning with jealousy. Add in the fact that I know I can never claim her as mine publicly, and it had me all sorts of messed up. Then I had to stand along the side of her house, fucking fuming, while I waited for them to leave.
I pass by the teenager at the checkout, who I've probably seen here in the evenings before but never really paid any attention to. I guess he doesn't have school today since he's here filling in for Remi. His gaze is bored and indifferent, probably wishing he was anywhere else but here.
I grab the loaf of bread and milk that I needed and head back toward the counter, feeling grateful that it seems pretty empty in here. That feeling is short-lived, though, when I make it back to the front of the store and see Jolene standing beside the teenager, talking to a woman with bright red hair.
I place my items on the counter, trying to ignore the thick waves of hatred radiating from the store owner.