Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) Read online

  “What’s shaking, Dave baby?” Halley asks him when he stops next to her.

  He gives her an easy smile and tells her, “Just checking out the crowd, making sure everything is running smoothly,” before he heads over to the DJ booth, completely ignoring my presence as he walks passed me.

  A few songs later, a familiar song starts to play by Great Big World. This song really hits close to home, and I decide to sit this new game out, as I focus on what’s being said. Dave walks by again—looking at me with arched eyebrows—as he continues on his way past our little group.

  Something is definitely up with Dave, and I’m getting tired of his looks. I decide to track him as he makes his way back to the front, but he surprises me when he heads straight to the bar. That’s when I notice that he’s making a beeline for a very beautiful woman who just so happens to also be mine.

  Charlie.

  What’s she doing here? When did she arrive? And how did no one even notice her?

  Sitting back in my chair, I keep my eyes trained on them, mentally promising all kinds of harmful maneuvers I’ll use on Dave if he makes any moves on her. I know I have no right to say anything at this point, as I did this to us. I need to get my head on straight, so I let them be. For now.

  And that’s how the rest of my night goes. Me, brooding in the corner, while the rest of our friends are having a good time, and all the while, I keep a close watch on Charlie and Dave. I don’t like it, but that’s how it has to be. And boy does it kill me every time I see the sadness on her face, and the simple fact that she never looks directly our way, not once, the entire time we’re both here.

  After an hour, I can’t take it anymore. Really, I should have given up twenty minutes ago. I know it’s time to get out of here before I do something I’ll regret, or to make Charlie more upset. And I really can’t stand the fact that Dave hasn’t left her side once since he sat down next to her. And wouldn’t you know it? Charlie, who’s clearly hurt and upset, has been drinking soda all night. I’m not a big drinker myself, but the one time I let my guard down, I got myself hammered, and it was Charlie who picked up the pieces. But tonight? It’s not me she’s crying with, and it’s not me picking up the pieces. Instead, it’s me who made her break, and it’s me who sent her into Dave’s all too eager, wide-open arms.

  I’m completely ticked off at myself. I throw back the rest of my water, and decide it’s time to make a hasty exit.

  “I’m heading out. You guys coming?” I ask Holt and Tucker.

  “No, we’re cool. Halley can give us a lift when we’re ready.” Holt eyes me, then looks over to where my girl is sitting with the man I want to bounce right out of here. “Shouldn’t you be over there?” he nods towards the pair at the bar.

  “No. I’m the reason she’s messed up to begin with. I can’t stand watching him wrap his arms around her anymore. She deserves someone better than me. Anyway, I’m out. I’ll see you guys later.” I’m done with this conversation, and decide to take off before anyone else gets any bright ideas to confront me.

  I walk past Charlie, but she doesn’t even notice me as I go by. Dave sure does, though. He barely acknowledges me before cutting his eyes back to Charlie, like I’m a piece of dirt that he wants to brush off, or he’ll become filthy from being in my presence.

  Well, screw him.

  I slam out of the main doors and into the parking lot, running into the one person I haven’t seen in ages, and don’t wish to now. Heather Morgan, my ex-high school sweetheart. If I thought the night couldn’t get any worse, I was wrong. Way wrong. This isn’t the time to make nice and play catch up. Too bad, though, because that’s exactly what’s about to happen.

  I’ve been here for a long time. So long, I can’t even remember how long ago it was when I came into Texas Jacks. I know one thing for sure; I arrived before the guys showed up. Once they arrived, I made a beeline for the bar, planted my butt there, and haven’t moved since. At the start of their night, they didn’t even notice, but as time moved on, they slowly—one by one—started to notice me. Though, I will point out that none of them actually tried to come and talk to me.

  I’m getting pretty sick and tired of sitting here, avoiding them. I’m also tired of crying and pouring all of my problems out on Dave. He’s a great guy, but I’m in no mood to be consoled, and I really don’t want to keep analyzing what’s going on with Nate. I just want some peace and quiet. Why I thought coming here tonight was a good idea is beyond me. I should have stayed home and enjoyed the solitude, shutting out the world.

  I even sent my friends away. They know me well enough to know when to leave me alone. Thankfully, they get it and took off to hang with their guys. It really doesn’t help that they’re dating Nathan’s friends, though.

  I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I think I’ve done pretty well all night without looking in Nathan’s direction once. I mean it’s not like I couldn’t see him. I had a good side view from my periphery all night, but there was no way I was letting him know how much he was affecting me.

  Dave jerks his head up all of a sudden, staring over my head at someone—who I’m pretty sure is Nate. I refuse to look, though. I’m not playing games, but I know he doesn’t want to see me, or talk to me right now. He made this mess, and he obviously wants time away from me. If he wanted to fix it, he’s had hours to do so tonight. Yet, nothing ever came my way from him. I didn’t purposefully come here with the knowledge that he and the guys would be playing pool. I just got in my car, started driving around, and found myself sitting in the parking lot. That’s how Dave found me, and learned what was going on. He took it upon himself to text the girls, letting them know what was up—causing them to make their way to the dance club, as well. We had a little chat, then they went their own way. Though, I’m sure they knew the guys would be here, too. Our two groups can’t go anywhere without each knowing about it.

  I throw a few dollar bills onto the bar and stand up, deciding it’s time to head home myself. I look at Dave and give him a half-hearted smile.

  “Thanks for being my shoulder tonight, Dave. It means more than you’ll ever know. I really shouldn’t have dumped everything on you, though. Sorry for that.” I smile again, giving him a shoulder shrug.

  He grabs my hand. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. The only person who should be sorry, and didn’t do a thing about it, is that sorry son of a gun, who broke your heart to begin with. Don’t you go apologizing to me for his mistakes.”

  Okay. Apparently someone is ticked off—maybe even more than me. I’m just sad and brokenhearted, but Dave seems really riled up. Up until this point, he’s been pretty quiet about it all.

  “Don’t worry, Dave. I’ll be fine, eventually. I’m tired, though, and I really just want to be alone. I’m going to head out.” I stifle a yawn. “Thanks for calling in a favor and getting someone else to man the doors tonight. I’ll text you when I make it home safely.” I lean in and kiss him on the cheek, then grab my purse.

  “You do that, but I’m still walking you to your car. Don’t even think about giving me any lip for it, either.” He stands up and wraps his hand around my elbow, leading us down the steps from the bar area and out the front door.

  As soon as we walk outside, we both stop dead in our tracks. I feel like a deer caught in headlights, as there stands Nathan and a tall, gorgeous redhead, talking to each other. She’s got the biggest smile plastered on her face, and she’s aiming it right at him.

  I can’t even move. I’m frozen in place as I continue to watch them together. I’m so confused and have no clue what’s going on with them, or who this woman is, or why he’s got such a fond look on his face. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I’m so thrown off balance at the moment, I don’t know what to think.

  I feel Dave nudge me a little, breaking the spell I was trapped in while staring at Beauty and Charming talking to each other.

  Turning my head, I look over to see Dave giving Nathan a hard look as he shakes his
head. He squeezes my elbow before leading me away from them, and out to my car. I turn my head back one more time, to take one last look. I don’t think I can bear any more tonight, but I have to see him just once more.

  He looks right at me, and there’s pain in his eyes, causing my own eyes to water before I duck my head and turn away from him and this woman who has just put her hand on his chest. I can’t stomach any more. I thank Dave again, giving him a quick hug, before climbing into my car and taking off, not even daring to look in my rearview mirror.

  Why did Charlie pick that moment to leave?

  My muscles were locked up tight from the second I noticed her and Dave. I really didn’t like his hand on her elbow, or that he was walking her to her car. That should have been me taking care of her. Instead, I stand here like I don’t notice her or care, while Heather chatters on about how she misses us, reminiscing about the good old days, and about my mom. I really can’t listen to any more of this, especially when she talks about my mom. It’s too painful.

  “Nate?” Heather calls me back from the rage-induced fog I’m experiencing over watching Dave with Charlie. I mostly checked out to whatever she was saying.

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you okay? You look like you’re ready to cause some bodily harm to the man who was just walking his girlfriend to her car. Do you know them?” she asks with a bit of concern and suspicion, all rolled up into one.

  “Oh, I know them all right.” But I don’t bother going into more detail than that or correcting her mistake as Dave walks back towards us.

  “Was that really necessary?” I ask him. My pissed-off meter is off the charts at this point.

  “What do you care? You seem occupied to me.” He gives a pointed look at Heather.

  “What’s going on here?” she asks us.

  “Nothing.” I don’t want to give her unnecessary details, and I’m hoping Dave keeps his trap shut, if he knows what’s good for him.

  “Oh, it’s something, all right. But that’s for him to explain, not me. I’m not the idiot in this story.” He scowls as he turns to walk away.

  “I beg to differ.” I taunt him. I’m so mad, I really can’t stop to filter what comes out of my mouth at this point. He stops walking and turns back to look at me.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Will someone please fill me in?” Heather tries again.

  Continuing to ignore her and focusing my attention on the man of the hour, I go on. “I’m not the one who sat on his hands, waiting for something to happen. You had plenty of chances to get in there, but you blew it. Now it’s me who’s in there, so back off,” I warn him.

  “I don’t think you have any idea what you’re doing to her.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I know exactly what it’s doing to her, because it has the same effect on me.”

  “Bull. If it did, you wouldn’t have let it go on this long. You would have done something about it the moment you noticed her at the bar. That’s right, I clocked you the minute you saw her. I’ve been watching you all night. You didn’t make one attempt, so why should I believe you?”

  “Stay out of it. It’s none of your business. I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

  “Nate’s a good guy. I’m sure that whatever is going on, he will work it out when he’s ready to. Not when he’s being forced to.” Heather throws down for me.

  “And who are you, again?” Dave asks her a bit rudely.

  “An old friend of Nate’s, who can vouch for his character, which you are calling into question. And who might you be?” She eyes him up and down, finding him a bit lacking, before settling back on his glare.

  “A good friend to the woman he just destroyed.”

  Heather turns to me, giving me a questioning look.

  “I didn’t destroy her. Broke her heart, sure. But her in general? Never.” I’m confident in that fact.

  “I will give you this,” Dave starts, as he returns his attention back to me. “I did wait too long, and blew my shot with her. But, the moment she’s over you, I will be there to pick up all of the pieces, and I’ll be the one to glue her back together. Then I’ll be the real man who treasures her, and I won’t be letting her go.” And with that final parting shot, he turns and walks away.

  “Uh, do you want to explain what that was all about?” I hear Heather ask, as I stare daggers into the back of the man who just told me he’s ready and waiting to steal my girl.

  Shaking my head, I look back to Heather, not really wanting to bother with her any longer. I don’t want to be a jerk. But what we had is long over, and it’s never going to come back again. I know she’s hopeful, but I have some things to work out, and when I do, it won’t be her I’ll be groveling in front of to take me back.

  “It’s a long story, and I really don’t want to talk about it. Look, Heather, it was great to see you again. But this really is a bad time for me to go down memory lane.”

  “I can see that. I’m sorry. I had no clue what I was jumping into the middle of when I saw you.” She looks down for a moment, but then strengthens her resolve to carry on. “It’s just that, when I ran into Carianna the other day, I couldn’t help but remember what we had. I missed you. She never mentioned if you were dating anyone, so I was hopeful.” She gives me her best breath-taking smile, one that used to do me in, but now doesn’t have quite that power. “I guess.” She shrugs, as she looks out towards the parking lot.

  “How did you know I would be here, anyway?”

  She looks back at me. “Carianna. She said you and the guys come here quite often. I had to take a chance in the hopes that I would see you.”

  “Heather, you’ve had years to seek me out, why now?”

  “You.”

  “What?”

  “Because it was you. I never got over you, Nate. I’ve always loved you, ever since I was a little girl. The time we spent together, they were the best years of my life. I miss that. I miss you. I want it all back. I gave you as much time as I could stand, which was really hard to do, and now, I want a second chance.” Her eyes are pleading with mine to give in and take a chance on her. On us.

  “Heather—” I gently say, running my hand down her cheek, like I used to do.

  She latches on with her own hand, twining our fingers together. “Please, don’t say no,” she whispers.

  “I’m not the same guy you dated back then. I’ve changed. My life took a different direction, and I’ve moved on. It may not have been a healthy change, but it was a change all the same. I really loved you, Heather. But that was then. This is now, and I have a complicated relationship—of all my own doing—and I need to fix the broken part in me first before I can move on with anyone, her or you.”

  She gives me the most sincerest, hopeful look, just as I hear a loud noise from the crowd inside the club. I look up just in time to see our friends. They’re staring at me with a mix of hard looks, disbelief, and disappointment. Great. Another moment that I have no doubt will be shared with Charlie.

  When will this night ever end?

  “Lucy has some ‘splaining to do.” Holt says in his best Ricky Ricardo impression.

  Ignoring them, I look back to Heather, giving her hand a squeeze as I pull my fingers from hers. “I’m sorry, Heather. When, and if I ever get myself together, it will be Charlie’s door I’ll be breaking down.”

  “Charlie? Is that the woman who just left, looking like someone stomped all over her heart?”

  “The one and only.” I give her a small, sad smile. I’m silently wanting to berate myself for putting that look on her face, and none too pleased that Heather just reminded me of that fact all over again.

  “You can’t blame me for trying, Nathan. If your mother hadn’t passed away, we would still be together. I truly believe that. I really believe we could make a second go of it, and be so happy.”

  “Heather, please don’t bring his mother into this. That was a low blow. If it was meant to be
, don’t you think he would have tracked you down a long time ago, once he got his head on straight?” Tucker’s now aiming his hard stare her way, clenching his jaw. My mom was like a mother to both Tucker and Holt. They don’t like to be reminded of that sad time in all of our lives. Though the guys both have wonderful moms of their own, they really loved mine.

  “Hey, Tucker. Holt.” Heather says, smiling fondly at them. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your mugs. And Tucker,” she says, glaring at him, “I wasn’t being a jerk to Nate, or blaming him for his mom dying and our relationship falling apart. That was never my intention. So, Nate,” she turns back to me, “I’m sorry if it came out that way. I meant no harm. I can see now that my idea was a bad one. Honestly, you can’t blame a woman for trying to get back the best thing she ever had. It was worth a shot, because Nate, you are worth it.” She leans in and gives me a lingering kiss on my cheek, then pulls away. “I’m sorry to have shown up at a bad time, and for causing any pain for you, Nate. Or any of you,” she amends, looking over at the guys.

  “Heather, it’s always a pleasure to see you. We miss having you in the guy’s club with us, but Nate has enough on his plate at the moment. He doesn’t need his ex-showing up to complicate matters further. Good thing Charlie left awhile ago.” This comes from Holt. Little does he know, the damage has already been done.

  “Well, I wouldn’t say he got off scot-free with her. She saw me talking with Nate, which caused problems with some other guy, and honestly? I have no idea what that was all about. But I’m pretty sure this other guy is ready to take over Nate’s place when he gets the chance.” She not so helpfully fills the rest of the gang in.

  “Oh, boy.” I hear Halley say. She can say that again.

  “It’s late. I’m tired, and I feel a headache coming on. I need to head to bed and forget that this day happened.” I turn back to Heather. “It was great seeing you again, Heather. You look beautiful, as ever. I’m sorry for how our story played out, but that was long ago. It’s time for you to make your own story with someone who deserves a good woman like you. I’m not that man. And no, I don’t blame you for trying. I just want you to be happy.” I reach out and give her arm a light squeeze. No need to add more fuel to the fire of the glowing eyes of the two women staring my way.