“So we’re back to animal examples again? What if no one believes me?”
He scowled at the ceiling then looked back at her. “If they don’t believe you, then fuck ’em. Look, sugar, you can’t control what people think or what they do. You can only control how you react to it. Bottom line is you need to decide who it is you’re living this life for. You or them?”
Delaney reached over and picked up her beer, taking another gulp.
“That’s kind of smart, Reg. You might be on to something.”
His chest puffed up as he moved his feet and sat forward on the sofa. “My vast wisdom is a well-kept secret. But listen, I hate to leave you all by your lonesome, but me and the boys agreed to play here for two more nights. You want to come down to the lounge?”
Was it that late already? Evening now and still no word from Grant. “No, I think I’ll keep a low profile tonight. I’ll just hang around here and eat my spaghetti. Alone.”
“Maybe your fella will still show up,” he said.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s coming back.”
He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry, sugar. I’d hit on you if I thought it would make you feel better.”
It took all her strength to smile at that. “Thanks, Reg. I appreciate it. I’ll pass, but do you think you could go with me to the airport tomorrow? I need to leave around nine thirty in the morning, and honestly, I’m not quite ready to take on any scene at the airport. I’ll be OK by the time I get to Los Angeles, though. Home-field advantage and all.”
He stood up. “Absolutely. It would be my pleasure. Speaking of pleasure, you sure you don’t want me to come back later tonight and tuck you in? You might need some comforting.” He cocked an eyebrow suggestively but she could tell he was teasing. He still looked mostly sympathetic, and the knowledge that even Reggie was realizing Grant was history made her feel worse than before.
She did need comforting, but she needed it from Grant. She needed him to call, and to come back to the hotel. She needed him to kiss away these tears and tell her he understood. She needed him to say he forgave her and he loved her.
She needed all that, but she wasn’t going to get any of it.
All she was going to get tonight was a plate of cold spaghetti.
Chapter 24
GRANT, PLEASE CALL ME. I HAVE TO FLY TO LA TOMORROW MORNING BUT I REALLY, REALLY NEED TO TALK TO YOU. I’LL BE AT THE HOTEL UNTIL 9AM. I’M SO SORRY.
The woman formerly known as Elaine Masters had sent him that text last night, but he’d turned off his phone and didn’t see it until this morning. He’d deleted her three phone messages without listening to them too. In fact, he’d turned off his phone specifically to avoid her, knowing that the temptation to call back would be too great. And if he’d called her back, they would have talked in circles for a while, with her apologizing and trying to explain why she’d lied, and him feeling no better than he did right now. All things considered, her sorrow was irrelevant. It didn’t change the fact that he’d offered up his heart to a mirage. A woman made of smoke and mirrors. And that made him feel like a fool.
It must have been the novelty of her that had made him act so recklessly. The novelty of all of it, having a woman in his house, the sweet-smelling soap and the lacy panties in his laundry. He’d have to be a zombie to not fall prey to her allure, and he’d gotten to play the heroic knight to her damsel in distress. It was fun. Exhilarating, even, but he’d let himself get caught up in the hype. The frenzy. He of all people should have realized that the things that seem real, often are not.
He’d thought he was wiser than that, but he was an idiot. A love-sick idiot. And his brother was an idiot too, with all his when-you-know-you-just-know crap. Nobody knew when love was real. If it was ever real. Hadn’t his own mother shown him that with her collection of husbands?
His mother. There was another whole set of issues. If this was what Tyler had put up with during all those years Grant was off traveling, well, he owed his brother a case of scotch. Now Grant was sitting in Tina’s kitchen drinking coffee as dark and bitter as his mood. No amount of sugar could sweeten it. Donna sat across the table from him, and Tina was there too. They’d eaten breakfast and now his mother was toying with her red-and-white coffee cup and staring off into space.
“You need to come back home with me, Mom,” he said finally, setting down his own coffee cup.
Donna looked over at him and nodded. “I know. I’m ready. I spoke with Carl last night after you went to bed and he’s happy to hear I’ll be home soon.” She paused and looked into her cup. “I didn’t mean I was going to leave him, leave him. I only wanted to leave him for a little while.”
“Maybe you should be more careful how you word your notes then.”