Shep Walsh has been through hell. Loneliness is his constant companion, and though his friends mean well, getting back into the dating game is the furthest thing from his mind, and too scary a prospect to consider. The debacle that was something new.
Enter Emil Tucker, a friend of a friend who is foisted upon Shep as a coffee date. The dread he feels at putting himself out there again slowly fades away with gentle conversation and no-strings encounters; and for the first time in years, Shep thinks that, maybe this time, he'll get it right. That is, if his ex doesn't spoil everything first. Can he trust himself to try again?
“Hey, baby,” Tris said, smiling in that way of his which I used to think was sexy and inviting and now just seemed like he was trying too hard. He was still handsome, his dark brown skin reflecting the lights above us, and his manicured mustache and beard were the same. His brown eyes hadn’t lost their intensity, and his voice was as deep as ever. But the effect on me had definitely changed.
“What do you want, Tris?” I moved away from him as he tried to get closer -- hard to do in a crowd.
“You keep ignoring my calls and texts. Figured the direct approach might be better, since you’re being difficult.” He tried to touch my face, but I batted his hand away.
“How’d you find me anyway?” That was the one question I’d had since he’d started contacting me again.
“A friend of a friend told me where you were working now, and I did some sleuthing. We just happened to be in the same club at the same time. Must be fate.”
Not even. “Right. What about the boyfriends you’ve had in the past two years. That not enough for you? Or did they all become wise to your bullshit, just like I did?”
His eyes shifted away from me briefly, but then focused on me again. “They don’t matter. They could never match up to you. I miss what we were together.”
I laughed. “So, what you mean is, they wouldn’t put up with your asshole ways, and they kicked you to the curb quicker than I did. Good for them.” I cocked my head. “You think that I would want you back after all that happened between us?” I shook my head. “I want nothing to do with you, Tris. We broke up a long time ago. I’ve moved on.”
Well, as of today, I had. Seeing him again just solidified how silly I’d been, letting my regrets at his actions hold me back for so long. Emil and Montel were right. What a waste.
He scoffed. “Please. From what I hear, you’ve been celibate like a monk since then. Makes me think you might regret what you did to us.” He tried to touch me again, but I pushed him away, harder this time.
“I’m sorry, what I did to us? Seriously?” I might have raised my voice, since everyone in the vicinity was now focused on me losing my shit. “You cheated on me, multiple times, and then claimed it was because I didn’t put out enough to satisfy you. It was always my fault if there was a problem with our relationship. You were never to blame because everything was on your terms, about you and what you wanted. In what world do you think I’d have any regret about breaking up with you, you manipulative piece of shit?”
Tris was starting to look a little uncomfortable at the attention we were receiving, and the whole “I don’t give a fuck” vibe I was currently exuding. He had no idea how close to the edge I was right now. He tried again. “It wasn’t that bad, baby. Come on.” He laughed a little, though it sounded nervous. “You’re making this out to be more than it really is, and in public, which seems to be your thing. I just want to talk, maybe see if we can make things work again?”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. “There is no way in hell that I want anything more to do with you. Lose my number. In fact, stay the hell away from me, or I will file a restraining order.”
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