This Time Around (Maybe) by Chantal Fernando Read Free Book Online

customers, which isn’t unusual for this hour. “Thought I’d see if you need some help.”
    Jade looks around the bar. “I think I’ve got it under control.”
    “Well, now that I’m here you can do some cleaning,” I say, smiling evilly. She pushes her short blonde hair behind her ears, and rolls her eyes.
    “I’ll get right on that.”
    When she doesn’t move, I pick up the broom and hand it to her. She takes it with a sigh, and walks around the bar. I really need to stop hiring family and friends.
    After telling Jade to make sure she does the bathrooms, I wipe the counters clean and stock up the fridge. When the entire bar is sparkling, and I finish all the paperwork, I’m thrilled when Reid texts me asking me if I want to spar with him at the gym. Nothing like keeping busy to distract myself. Tag walks in just as I’m walking out.
    “Hey,” he says, smiling. I slap him on the shoulder. “Everything al l right?”
    “Yeah, just came in for a bit.”
    He looks at me knowingly. “Who’s in?”
    “Jade.”
    “Fuck me,” he mutters, and I can’t help it, I chuckle. Jade can be a huge pain in the ass.
    “She probably would,” I tell him, just to be annoying. Jade has been ey eing Tag for a while now, but Tag isn’t interested in the least. Something about the crazy outweighing the hotness. I think he’s been watching too much How I Met Your Mother .
    “ How’s Bella?” I ask referring to Tag’s daughter.
    “She’s good,” he says, his eyes brightening like they do every time someone brings up his daughter.
    “Bring her over, she and River can have a play date again.” We did this last month. We took the kids to the beach and had a BBQ with everyone.
    “Will do. Better get to work before the boss comes in,” he says, smirking.
    “Ha ha. See you soon, bro.”
    I get on my bike, and head straight to the gym.
    *****
    I walk up the stairs quickly, wanting nothing more than to get home and have a nice hot shower. When I hear the soft laugh of Taiya, I come to a standstill.
    “Ryan,” she gasps, sounding surprised and a little wary. Standing next to her is the guy I saw her with last time. The one who is still sporting a slight bruise from where I hit him. His face pales when he sees me, glancing to Taiya as if looking for direction. My hands instantly clench, wanting nothing more than to pound him into the ground. It kills me, but I don’t. I force a smile, knowing it looks more like a grimace, but it’s all I have to offer, and I continue past them up to my apartment. I hear her say my name softly behind me, but I don’t reply or look back. I exit the stairway onto my floor, fumbling with my keys as I unlock my front door, slamming and locking it behind me. Pulling my shirt off as I walk into the bathroom, I toss it onto the floor, my shoes and socks following. Taking off my basketball shorts, I turn on the water, letting it run until it’s the perfect temperature. Then I stand in the shower, unmoving, replaying seeing Taiya and that fuckhead over and over again.

Chapter Seven
    Taiya
    I look over at Scott and sigh. We’re sitting on the couch, and I can’t take my mind off Ryan. I don’t know why I feel guilty, considering Ryan and I are separated and Scott is just a friend, but I do. The look on his face… I scrub my hand down my face, wanting to go and talk to him. I don’t want him thinking that I would bring a guy and shove him in his face, even though I don’t really have to answer to Ryan. He’s been around the block and back while I was away. True, he hasn’t shoved any women in my face since I’ve been back, but does that change anything? I guess it does. To hear about something and to see it is something completely different. Scott is a family friend of mine, and we became close when he came to South Africa on holiday. There is nothing romantic about our relationship, and we’ve never so much as held hands. I tried to explain that to Ryan the last time, except he was