Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) (20 page)

Not in this universe.

Obviously, he can order another title, but that takes time. In truth, she’s not even sure how to use this to her advantage, but figures it’s worth keeping just in case.

You never know.

THANKS TO HER
tequila hangover, her misery over Isadora, and her fury at Road, Blair nearly forgets she has a movie date with Graham that night. She almost cancels, but decides to grit it out instead. She’s not letting Road ruin her social life the same way he’s ruined everything else.

I’m going on this date, even if it kills me.

Graham shows up on time, dressed in his usual preppy style—light khakis and a blue button-down shirt—bearing a small box of chocolates.

“Thanks, that’s sweet of you,” Blair says, tossing them on the counter as she stares at the clock.

Where is Road, anyway?

It’s seven at night and he still hasn’t come back yet.
He’s probably out celebrating. Celebrating my misery!

“It’s great to finally see you,” Graham is saying. “It sounds like your work schedule has been as crazy as mine lately.”

Blair nods and tries to focus on him, determined to have a good time.

I’m going to have fun, even if that kills me, too.

They drive to the movie theater in his BMW, and Blair can’t help but notice for the hundredth time that Graham is exactly the kind of man she should be with. He’s smart, successful, and handsome. He’s a classy dresser with good taste. His car is spotlessly clean, and she’d bet money his refrigerator is organized down to the last piece of lettuce.
He even smells nice.
She breathes in his subtle, pine-scented cologne. In truth, he’s perfect in every way, and she knows they look great together. Like a matched set of luggage. Barbie and Ken.

So, why can’t I fall in love with him then? Why? Instead of some long-haired, tattooed asshole?

“Is everything okay?” Graham asks as they stand in line to get popcorn.

“Of course.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Because you seem kind of upset about something.”

“I’m
fine
!” she snarls.

Graham’s brows shoot up. “Whoa.”

Blair sighs. “Sorry, it’s been kind of a stressful day.”

“I see.” He nods, though he looks a little nervous.

The movie, some kind of highbrow drama she’d normally enjoy, might as well be about Smurfs for all she cares. Her mind keeps going back to Road, wondering what he’s doing. Cruising around in Isadora, no doubt, with some horrible Skank Factor X at his side. Probably Marla, though the image makes Blair want to scratch her own eyes out.

How dare he lower Isadora’s standards like that!

Blair squirms in her seat.
This movie is lasting forever.
She wonders what time it is, but resists the impulse to check her phone again. Road probably isn’t coming back tonight anyway. Why should he? She’s sure he has other plans. He’s probably lining up his next place to live and Marla’s already slipped him her key. The whole thing makes her sick to her stomach. A couple of his cousins will likely show up tomorrow to help him move the furniture out of her office.

Good riddance!

Then she’ll finally have her peaceful sanctuary back. No interloper there to leave crumbs on the counter and toothpaste globs in the sink, to torture her with his long, muscular body and delicious scent. No one there to remind her of all the things her heart wants, but can never have. And Mr. Maurice will have to get over his boy crush, too. Both of them caught under Road’s spell.

She sighs.

When the movie is over, Graham drives her back to her condo.

“Why don’t you come up?” she says, still trying to put a good spin on this somewhat disastrous date.

He looks at her with surprise. “Are you sure? You seem like maybe you want to be alone.”

“No, I apologize. I’ve been a bit preoccupied. Come up and have a glass of wine.”

“Really?” He hesitates, but then finally shrugs. “All right, if you really want me to.”

Graham parallel-parks his car on the street in front of her building, and they both take the elevator upstairs.

I’m going to have a glass of wine and relax. Maybe even try to get excited about Graham.

Those plans go out the window as soon as she unlocks her door. First thing she sees is Road’s beat-up leather backpack along with his red and black sneakers dumped on the floor by the entryway.

Adrenaline spikes through her. Her eyes flash over and sure enough, there he is, standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter casually eating one of his endless bowls of cereal. As always, the sight of him causes her stomach to flutter, and for a split-second she feels joy, but then she lets her breath out in anger.

Road looks over and she can tell the exact moment he sees Graham walking in behind her, the way he stops chewing, his spoon hovering in midair.

She marches over to the kitchen and throws her purse down on one of the tall chairs. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

Road’s eyes are still on Graham, but now they cut to her. “Why’s that?”

She glares at him, her voice icy. “You know why.”

“No, I don’t.” He resumes eating his cereal, but she gets the sense he’s on high-alert, his laser focus vibrating like a tuning fork.

Graham is standing awkwardly beside her, and Blair realizes she’s being rude. “Graham, this is Road.” She motions. “Road meet Graham.”

The two men eye each other and Graham puts his hand out first. Road reaches over to shake it.

“Are you a friend of Blair’s?” Graham asks, obviously bewildered to come upstairs and find a man in her apartment.

“He’s no one,” Blair says quickly. “Just an old acquaintance.”

Road’s expression goes flat, and she can tell he doesn’t like that. He puts his bowl of cereal down. “I’m Blair’s husband.”

Graham stiffens beside her. “Excuse me?”

“Road, stop it!” Blair hisses.

“You’re her
what
?” Graham’s brows draw together.

Road’s expression is still flat as he looks straight at Graham and says, “Husband.”

“That’s enough.” Blair glares at Road. She turns to Graham. “It’s not what it sounds like.”

“You’re married?” Graham’s mouth is open as he stares at her in shock.

“I am, but it’s not a real marriage,” Blair tries to explain. “He just showed up here unannounced last week.”

Graham is shaking his head, trying to process everything. “How long have you been married?”

“Five years, but like I said, it’s not a real marriage. I haven’t seen—”

“
Five years
?”

“Let me pour you a glass of wine and I’ll explain the whole thing to you. It’s not as bizarre as it sounds.”

But Graham’s face is red, and he’s clearly disturbed. “I think I’d better go.” He turns, heads back toward the door, and Blair follows him.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” she says. “Just give me a chance to explain all this.”

Graham doesn’t respond and before she knows it, her door has slammed shut and he’s gone.

She whirls around. Road is still standing there, leaning against the counter, a little smirk on his face. Blair marches over, her vision so clouded with rage that before she can stop herself, she shoves him in the chest as hard as she can.

He barely budges.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she yells. She goes to shove him again, but this time his hands fly out and grab her wrists.

“Let go of me!”

“Calm the fuck down then.”

She tries to extricate her wrists, but he’s still holding them tight. “Let go!”

He doesn’t reply, just continues with his iron grip. Their eyes meet, and his are searching hers. “Does that guy mean this much to you?”

Blair is breathing hard, trying to gain control of herself. “Why did you tell him we’re married? You chased him away!”

Road smirks, and even has the gall to chuckle. “He ran out of here pretty fast.” He’s still watching her. “Guess he’d fail your little test, too, huh?”

Blair blinks. “You don’t know anything about it.”

“Maybe not.”

They’re standing close to each other with Road still holding her wrists. As always, his burnt autumn smell surrounds her, permeating her senses. And in that moment, she wants so badly to be done with him, to exorcise every part of herself that he’s somehow laid claim to.

“How could you do it?” she whispers meeting his gaze.

“I was just seeing what he’s made of, is all. Besides,” he snorts, “somebody had to set him straight.”

“No.” She shakes her head and takes a deep shaky breath. “Isadora.”

Road’s expression changes to confusion.

“I know you tricked me,” she says. “You lied.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m surprised you came back. Are you here just to gloat?”

“What?” Road stills, his eyes roam her face. Then suddenly, he drops her wrists. “I don’t believe this. You think I kept Isadora’s keys?”

“Didn’t you? Your wallet and phone were gone when I woke up, and you already had her keys.”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“Took my wallet and phone out of your purse because I
need
them. Left her keys here.”

“You did? Where?” Blair glances around.

But Road is shaking his head. “You really think I’d go back on my word? Jesus, it’s some high opinion you have of me.”

“Where are they?”

“Did you even bother looking?”

Blair shifts uncomfortably. In truth, she didn’t look for them at all, just assumed he had them—that he’d betrayed her. She lets her eyes roam around the kitchen then the dining room, but she doesn’t see them. Blair turns her head toward the mirror she has hanging near her front door and that’s when her eyes widen. She sees them right away, hanging on one of the hooks. It’s the place she always kept them herself before she had to start hiding them.

At the sight of those keys, she feels queasy. She knows Road is telling the truth—they’ve been there all day. Between her hangover and crazed state of mind, she didn’t even notice.

“I don’t know what to say.” She tries to smile, but it’s obvious he’s pissed.

“Let me tell you something, Blair. You’re not going to like hearing this, but you
need
to hear it.” He’s watching her intently. “That is
my
fucking car. Got it? No more games. My uncle gave me that car, and seeing as he’s one of the few people in this world who ever gave a damn about me, it’s not something I’m willing to part with.”

Blair is silent.
Tori was right
.

“Why did you abandon her then?” Blair thinks about the way he left Isadora sitting in the driveway of the house they’d rented. “If she means so much to you?”

“Didn’t abandon her, babe. I left Isadora in your
care
.”

“Give me a break.”

“It’s the truth.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I said so in that shitty note I wrote you before I left.”

“No, you didn’t.” Blair thinks back to the note Road left her. It’s burned in her brain even after all this time. He wrote that he couldn’t stay with her anymore, that it wasn’t working for him. He signed it, ‘See you later, Road.’ The p.s. mentioned Isadora, but only asked if she could take care of Isadora and check whether Brody had a place to store her.

Blair’s eyes flash to his face.

Road is nodding at her. “Remember it now, don’t you?”

“Well, I did take care of her.”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “That you did, princess.”

Blair’s throat goes tight and her heart hurts as the reality of what he’s saying sinks in.
It’s all over. I’ve lost her anyway. Despite everything.
Tears burn her eyes and she turns her head, trying to hide them.

“Why does Isadora mean so much to you? I don’t get it,” he asks. “It’s obviously not the money.”

She tries to answer, but the words won’t come. It’s all too overwhelming. How does she explain that fixing Isadora was like fixing herself? It helped her move past what happened, but also helped her in other ways, too. The confidence she gained driving her. Somehow, she and Isadora became strong and whole together.

“Talk to me, babe.”

Blair shakes her head. “I . . . can’t.” The tears and hurt that have built up inside her burst free. She tries to get away from Road, to go cry in private, but he doesn’t let her, and instead pulls her in.