Follow You Down by Hot Tree Editing, K. B. Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

did take my clothes off and dance around a pole, but I danced for hundreds.” I’m sure there is an edge of cockiness in my voice, but I’m okay with that. I am cocky when it comes to my dancing abilities, on and off the pole.
    “Shit, Red, hundreds? You were that good?”
    “I was the best.”
    “Well, if you were the best, why did you quit and move here?”
    Here comes secret number two.
    “Well, I had a bad breakup. I guess bad breakup is an understatement.” I sit up straight, bracing myself for the judgment in his eyes that will come once I tell him about my affair.
    “I had an affair with a married man, a very rich married man. And when his wife found out, she gave him an ultimatum, her or me. He picked her, and I moved here to get away from the heartbreak that choice caused.” Huh, that was a hell of a lot easier saying out loud than I thought it would be.
    “Holy shit, Red. You got yourself into some shit, huh?” He doesn’t mean it in a degrading way; he’s laughing when he says it and shaking his head.
    “Looks like we both got ourselves in some shit, Lucas.”
    He nods in agreement, before raising his coffee cup. “A toast, Red.” I raise mine also, with wary eyes, wondering what the hell he could want to toast about after what we just told each other.
    “Here’s to two things in life that are always certain; heartbreaks are a motherfucker and pancakes can fix anything. Cheers.”
    I can’t help but laugh hysterically at his toast. He’s so right, but there is something about it coming out of his mouth at three a.m., with coffee cups as our beverage of choice, that makes this moment a truly laughable one.
    The waitress places our ticket down, glancing between us with questioning eyes since we have been laughing out loud for the better part of ten minutes now.
    I reach for the check, but Lucas gets to it before I do.
    I know I look confused because our deal was that I would buy breakfast. So I don’t know why he’s taking the check.
    “Naw, Red, this one’s on me.”
    “But you said I had to buy you pancakes so you would help me tomorrow night.”
    “I know what I said, but I changed my mind. I feel like I kind of owe you. You’re the only person I’ve ever told about Lisa beside my mom and Candice.”
    “Logan doesn’t know?” Molly told me that Logan and Lucas are really close, so I can’t understand why he wouldn’t have told his brother about everything that transpired between him and Nikki.
    “Nope. At the time everything was going down, he was living in New Orleans, and once he moved back, I just never found the right time to tell him. He would feel sorry for me, and I don’t want that. Plus, he’s got a lot of shit going on right now. No need for him to stress about me, too.”
    I admire his protectiveness over Logan. It’s one of the many charming qualities I am quickly realizing he possesses.
    He pays our tab, tips the waitress way more than the customary twenty percent, and holds the door open for me as we walk out of the diner.
    After jumping in my jeep and driving the few miles back to Ricky’s, we are sitting in my jeep in an empty parking lot next to his truck. Suddenly, there is an awkward tension in the air. I want to invite him back to my apartment, and I know if I did, he would come without any persuasion. But I don’t have the balls to say it.
    I watch as he tips his hat at me, thanks me for the good company over breakfast, and says he will see me tomorrow. He steps out of my jeep and into his truck. I smile and wave as we drive in opposite directions, and I want to kick myself.
    I should have just invited him over. It wouldn’t have hurt anything. The worst thing that could happen would be him saying no, but I doubt he would. I swear to myself that the next time the opportunity arises, I won’t bitch out and I will invite him back with me.
     

     
    Less than twenty-four hours later, after a Friday night that was way busier than I expected, Lucas and I are