Run to Love (Triple R Book 1) (25 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

I focused on work after I texted Presley again. The third one today. Had a feeling I wasn’t done. Far from done. I left two voice messages, both simple, asking for a minute of her time to talk. They still sounded like begging. I went a step further to reduce my manhood and e-mailed her twice, misusing my authority to gain access to her e-mail address. Getting fired was the least of my worries today. I guaranteed my balls were ready to jump off my body in a revolt of my behavior, and I was pretty sure Kiera would suggest a testiclectomy if she heard I had done exactly what she’d told me not to. I was a certified begging nut-bag.

Before I left Triple R, I texted Presley one more time.

It was confirmed. No testicles.

But in reality, I was doing this because I
had
testicles. I’d let this woman into my heart and as much as I wanted and needed her, she wanted and needed me, too. I wasn’t going to give up easily and if she thought we were done, she was wrong.

Shit, I sound like an obsessed man. Really, I wasn’t. I was just in love. Painfully, and maybe hopelessly in love with Presley Bradenhurst.

I drove home on autopilot. My phone rang in my gym bag. Normally I didn’t answer while driving, but I was hoping it was Presley. It was Willow, and my curiosity still got the better of me.

“Hi, Willow.”

“Hey, Jude. You still at Triple R?”

“No, almost home. What’s up?”

“Hey, I think you need to hear something.”

“Okay.”

There was a long silence. I pulled the phone away to see if the call dropped but the signal was still connected.

“Willow, you still there?”

“Yeah, just wondering if I should interfere or let Presley make her own mistakes.”

“Now you’re worrying me.”

Mistakes? Am I one of those?

“You should be. She’s going out for drinks with—”

“Don’t say it!”

“Yeah, Dixless. He’s fed her some bullshit line about how he’s always liked her even before she lost the weight and that she’s his Miss Perfect. Now either he’s truthful and he’s the most emotionally stunted jerk ever, or he’s playing her to get in her pants. Either way, I don’t like it.”

I don’t like it either.

“And where are they having this drink?”

Willow made a strained noise. I couldn’t do anything to change what happened last night, but I could do something about what might happen tonight. I fucked up, but not again. 

“Willow! I love Presley. I need her, I want her, and I will be hers forever, if she’ll take me back. And if she doesn’t, I will compare every girl to her for the rest of my life. If not for me and not for Presley, then do it for those girls who will get their hearts broken when they can’t live up to what
I
think is perfect.”

Willow’s voice was gravelly with emotion. “That was beautiful.” She cleared her throat. “Up until the weird and creepy logic at the end but the fact that you admitted you love Presley, well, that means something to me. So, Ponytail, explain the redhead to me before I decide to tell you or not.”

After I finished with my story, Willow sighed into the phone. “I figured. She just can’t let the past go. Firebirds at Village Point. Go get her, Jude, and please keep your tongue out of anyone’s mouth that isn’t Presley’s.”

I chuckled. “There was no tongue, but I got it. Thanks, Willow. How are things with Kanyon?”

“I get to meet Grace tonight, so you tell me.”

“That’s great. She’s an amazing little girl. She adores her daddy, though it might take a little time for her to warm up to you.” I pulled into the driveway of the duplex.

“I know, just hoping she will someday.”

“She will. Wish me luck.”

“Ponytail, you don’t need luck. You have love.”

I disconnected the call on that comment because I wanted to keep the words fresh in my memory.

After a quick shower and fresh clothes, I headed back out the door at half past six. I tapped out a frantic rhythm to Eminem’s “Berzerk” on the steering wheel. My brain buzzed with a million questions.

Should I wait outside and talk to her at her car? Should I make a huge scene and tell her I love her? Should I creep from afar, unless he touches her? Wait until their date is over to approach her? Should I just beat the crap out of him?

I wasn’t a violent or short-tempered guy, but Dixless might change my ways.

I parked my truck next to Presley’s sedan. From where I was, I could see them on the patio. Bringing out my phone, I texted Presley one last time. If this went badly, I wanted her to know how I really felt.

I took a few deep breaths and stepped out.

****

Presley

We walked into the restaurant and agreed the patio was a good choice. The weather held in the upper 70s and a light spring breeze flowed through as we took seats at a high-top table. The sunset provided a beautiful background, and the easy listening music filtering through the air calmed me. An acoustic version of “Someone Like You” came on and the words sunk into me, making me question what I was doing here with Drexel.

My mind kept wandering to yesterday morning when Jude stopped me at Triple R. There’d been a new intensity between us. Something had been left unsaid.

What if Drexel was right? Maybe I should let Jude explain? Maybe I’d made a big deal out of nothing and if he explained I would laugh at the truth.

Yeah, that would never happen.

I cared for Jude too much to be that flippant with our relationship. Maybe that was the point? If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t react? I missed him so much that every heartbeat chugged along in my chest, every breath wasn’t full of life, and every smile held less happiness
.

Brought back from my attention wanderlust by Drexel’s tenor voice, I was afraid that conversation between us wouldn’t happen easily, but I was proved wrong. We talked about baseball, work, and family. I didn’t know he played ball for the Kansas City Royals for two years before having to leave his pitching career due to an injury. I didn’t know he started out as a detailer at a dealer when he was in high school and although he liked car sales, he didn’t love it. He would rather go back to school and get a master’s degree in counseling to help kids with behavioral issues. He had a brother and a sister. His sister stayed home with three kids and his brother was a doctor. His brother and partner were adopting this year. Drexel’s blue eyes twinkled and his smile beamed when he talked about his two musically talented nephews and his baseball-loving niece. Apparently she had him wrapped around her finger, and from what I could tell, he didn’t care. In fact, it was clear that he loved it.

Everything he said was honest and real. He could be charming when he wanted to be. We moved to a different place with each other. Friendship. As long as he didn’t return to his reign in Jerk City, I was good with keeping our relationship right at this level, but there would be no moving up in the ranks of affection.

He had a lot to offer someone but he didn’t have the things I’d found in Jude. The things I couldn’t imagine living without.

Like his cocky but restrained cockiness.

I smirked at the thought.

His impatient-patience.

I bit my lip.

His ability to say just the right thing to me.

I sighed loudly.  

Just talking to Drexel cemented that I had found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and trying to fit someone else into that mold would be both heartless and pointless.

There was no substitution for Jude Saylor and his ponytail. I needed to bow out of this and find him.

Drexel started a new conversation about travel. My phone buzzed in my purse and I dug to find it.

“Sorry, Drexel.”

He waved my apology off and called the waitress over to order me another martini and some appetizers to share. He handed the waitress something, said something ending with a loud sigh, and the waitress gave him a friendly smile. I typed in my access code and Jude’s texts hit my screen. I tried to get rid of his newest message but I didn’t move fast enough as the text flashed on the screen.

I inhaled sharply.

“What?” Drexel’s eyes narrowed.

I reread the text and my eyes watered.

I started from the first text Jude sent me last night and read through today’s texts. What I should’ve done before I agreed to have drinks with another man.

Jude:
Here’s the truth. That was my ex-girlfriend from ISU, Kiera Maxwell. She’s in town for the night. I invited her to dinner at my place. No, I didn’t tell her about you and no, I didn’t tell you about her. I’m sorry, that was wrong. She told me she was going to be moving to Omaha and she tried to kiss me. That’s what you saw. I did NOT kiss her. Then I ran after you, because Presley, I only want you. Not her.

My chest constricted.

It is a misunderstanding.

Jude:
I’m sorry. I know they are only words but I really do mean them. I don’t want to be vague by text. Please let me explain.

My heart pounded.

He means them and he remembers I don’t like vague answers.

Jude:
If you are still awake, can you please just let me know that you are okay? I’m worried about you.

My lips quivered.

He worries because he cares … about me.

Jude:
Good morning (well, not good). Again, I’m sorry for what happened last night. I want to say thank you for trying to surprise me with Chinese food. That was very thoughtful. I’m sorry you’re the one who really got a surprise. I’d like a chance to talk to you, just hear me out for five minutes, please.

My hands shook.

He wants to talk
.

Jude:
Hope your day is going okay. We’re supposed to have dinner tonight. If your schedule is still open, I’d still like to make you dinner and talk. Please, Presley.

My stomach dropped.

It should be Jude sitting across from me
.

Jude:
I feel like a stalker. I don’t know what more to say. I already miss you, Presley. Kiera told me women don’t like men to beg, but I’m going to ignore her. Please, Presley, all I ask is a few minutes to talk. Please.

My heart rose.

He was ignoring her advice because he knew what I needed to hear.

And the text he just sent me.

Jude:
I should have told you yesterday morning when I wanted to but I thought saying the words would make you run from me. That happened anyway. I have nothing to lose. Presley Bradenhurst, I love you and I always will.

My eyes closed.

He loves me, too.

Drexel reached across the table to squeeze my other hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Presley.”

My heart exploded in my chest upon hearing the familiar deep-tone boom.

Drexel released my hand and turned in his seat.

When I brought my eyes up, like always, I wasn’t prepared for the vision of the beautiful man that had painted his name across my heart in a colorful script.

“Hey.” Drexel eyed Jude up and Jude stepped to the table.

“Jude Saylor.” He held out his hand.

“Drexel Mason.” They shook hands while I wiped my tears. “So you’re Presley’s boyfriend?”

Jude didn’t hesitate. “I am. And you’re the guy who acts like an ass to her because you would like to be her boyfriend, but you’re not.”

Drexel’s jaw ticked, but he chuckled lightly. “Yes, Jude, I know what you have, and honestly, I’m pissed as hell at myself that I missed my chance.” Drexel stood. “But after sitting here and having her a million miles away, I’m assuming thinking about you, I know I’m too late. Right, Miss Perfect?”

I nodded the tiniest of nods to let him know he was right.

Jude stepped closer to him. “You don’t get to call her that
ever
again, Dixless.”

After having a long stare-down with Jude, Drexel twisted to me. “Is that what you call me?” His bright blue eyes dimmed.

“I’m sorry, Drexel. My roomie made up the nickname after you sprayed my white dress-shirt with water in the break room.”

Jude grunted his disapproval at that bit of information.

It was a long time ago.

Drexel closed his eyes and shook his head at himself. “All right, maybe I deserved the nickname.” He reopened his eyes and smirked. “That was an entertaining day though, very eye-opening.”

I rolled my eyes.

“It’s time to leave, Mason.” Jude’s body language was like a peacock ready to defend its mate.

Fitting.

“Okay, okay!” Drexel held up his hands in surrender. “I get the point. No need to go all protective mammal on me, Saylor. See you at work tomorrow, Miss … Presley. Good night and good luck, Jude.” Drexel turned and walked out the side fence to his car.