Three of Hearts (24 page)

Wes was the one who called out, “Their both killer asses but bend over and give us all a good look, just to be sure.”

Mae laughed and Robyn turned and blew a kiss in his direction.

The billiard area was quite crowded but there was an open table toward the back but not tucked in the corner. Robyn racked the balls and broke because Mae’s three attempts yielded no movement. As they game went on so did the laughs. Robyn was a hot shit. She had a wicked personality and a dirty sense of humor. She hunched over the table causing her black peasant blouse to dip down low revealing her scarlet red bra. The opposite end displayed tightly in her black skinny jeans and Mae was certain she was deliberately widening her stance with her sky high heels. Bryan’s quick joining of them, confirmed she was doing it on purpose. The game became a team affair with Bryan and Robyn on one team while Wes and Mae were on the other. Seth and Dylan joined them shortly after. Seth thought it was his duty to help Mae shoot straight for a game winning shot, so he draped his big body over her and held her hand on the cue stick and deftly shot the eight ball toward the corner pocket. It missed by a mile but now Seth could play with his own cue stick the big one against his zipper.

Seth sat in one of the open spectator chairs; even with his height, his feet easily touched the ground. He pulled Mae into the space between his open thighs and rested his head on her shoulder as they watched Bryan slaughter Dylan and Wes at the table.

They were all commentating on the game when they heard a raspy voice coming from the left.

“So is that all it takes to get you in between the sheets, huh Seth?” Shannon said as she approached Mae and Seth. The billiard game came to a halt as well as a couple of the surrounding games.

Fed up with her constant suggestive behavior, Seth said “Shannon what the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh what Seth, chunky nurse girl didn’t tell you? She didn’t mention that not only once but twice she caught Conner taking your boat out alone after you’ve repeatedly told him he couldn’t?” Shannon said while she dramatically looked at her new French manicure.

Mae could immediately feel Seth go still behind her. Because of the bigger issue of the moment, Mae was willing to let the chunky comment slide; however, Robyn wasn’t.

“Shannon, go take your lying, whorish, silicone tits somewhere else, specifically somewhere that cares about the bullshit that comes out of your mouth.” Robyn hissed, ready to hop across the table and show Shannon the door.

“Oh Robyn, you think you’re such a tough bitch. But it ain’t bullshit, is it, chunky nurse?” Shannon said with bite, clearly enjoying the moment.

Seth stood, causing Mae to step forward, and walked around so he was facing her. “Tell her she’s wrong, Mae.” Seth yelled so now that everyone in the billiard area and those in the nearby bar area were now looking at their small group.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath and opened them and said more firmly than she felt, “She isn’t wrong, Seth, I did catch Conner.”

“You what?” he bellowed stepping closer causing her to lean back over the table as he put his nose to hers.

Wes, who was the closest to them, put a hand on Seth’s chest and said clearly “Seth, back off.”

“Fuck you, Wes.” But of his own accord, Seth stepped away and rubbed his hands over his bald head.

Dylan came around to Mae’s other side, knowing Seth would never lay a hand on any woman. He had never seen Seth so furious, and he had known Seth a long time.

Feeling that all the air had left his lungs and that his heart had been ripped open, Seth pointed his finger at Mae and said with deadly intent, “You don’t ever get to fucking decide what is my business and what isn’t my business when it comes to my kids, Mae. You knew how I felt about him driving that boat and you deliberately didn’t tell me so you could, what, get all fucked out and then when you got your rocks off you were going to tell me? When I was finished fucking going down on you?” he spat out the last of his words.

Dylan and Wes created a barrier between Seth and Mae. Shannon watched from her unmoved vantage point and couldn’t help but keep the cat with the cream smile on her face.

Not caring who was watching or who was listening, just knowing that the internal agony that was coursing through his body needed to get out and if it was thrown on her like acid, Seth didn’t care.

“Now you can get your fucking ass out of my house tonight. Stay the fuck away from my kids and stay the fuck away from me.”

With that he went over to the cue stick rack and ripped it off the wall with such fury. Causing people next to them to jump back to avoid getting hit. Wes and Dylan now each had a hold of one of Seth’s arms as he screamed, “Get out!”

Robyn was at Mae’s side the minute Wes and Dylan left her to corral Seth. She rubbed her friend’s back and couldn’t believe her brother was being so evil. She’d never witnessed him like this before.

Mae stoically patted Robyn’s hand and stepped forward. Not ever feeling in danger, but rather lost since he pulled away from her physically.

When she spoke, she was clear and sincere. “Seth I know you are upset and you have every right to be. I was completely in the wrong by keeping it from you and my reasons for not telling you seem frivolous at best.”

Seth couldn’t even look at her without thinking how his world just imploded. Needing space from everyone especially her, he hollered at her, “Mae I don’t give a flying fuck what your fucking reason was, just leave.”

Squeezing her eyes shut and willing her eyes to stay dry until she was away from him, she grabbed her bag and walked toward the exit. She was next to Shannon when she turned back and said with the last of her nerve, “The only thing I’m guilty of is keeping you in the dark, but that is what you do when you love someone, you protect them. And I’m not talking about you, I’m talking about Conner. I protected him not because I wanted to keep anything from you for an ulterior motive, but because I saw in him, the mistakes in judgment a young person can make. So my actions were done from the heart because to me that’s what love for someone does to you. It isn’t the decision everyone would make but the decision you make because of the love you have for them. If you don’t believe me, Seth, ask Maggie why she did what she did.”

She quickly headed out through the pub and out into the night. Her tears fell in gushing rivers. She was half way through the parking lot when she realized they arrived in his car, so she headed off on foot toward her apartment.

“Wow, is that all it takes? I’d suck up and cover for your kids too if it got you in my bed Seth,” Shannon said caustically.

“Fuck off Shannon!” Seth hissed as he shook off Wes and Dylan’s hold.

Bending to pick up the pieces of the rack he broke, Seth needed air, but he couldn’t stand the thought of running into Mae.

It was Robyn who first spoke and said, “Only my brother could ruin the best thing that has happened to him in a long time, by flying off the handle with his Irish temper.”

“Ro, when you have kids and someone decides what you need to know and what you don’t then you can preach to me. Until then back the fuck off,” Seth said harshly.

“Hey Seth, don’t take it out on her and don’t ever talk to her like that again.” Bryan said with cold steel. Yeah, he was a joker and usually the most laid back person you’d come across, but if anyone talked nastily to Robyn it’s joker to combatant real quick. He guided Robyn out of the room without a backward glance.

Wes looked at one of his longest and closest friend and let out a pent up breath and said “You realize what a colossal mess you made, Seth.”

“Wes, I’ll pay Cal tonight for any damages I made,” Seth said with biting resolve.

“And that my friend is why you didn’t truly deserve her in the first place, you selfish prick. I’ll admit Maggie was your first love and that in itself is very special. But Mae, was your match in every way. Because of your ego and temper you just let her walk away. You fucked yourself royally.” Wes said disgusted with him, and he headed out to find Mae.

Seth squeezed his own eyes shut as he took in all of Wes’ words. He just couldn’t get over her going behind his back when it came to his son. That was a deal breaker.

When he opened his eyes, Dylan was leaning against the forgotten table, and quietly waited for Seth to say something.

“You have any parting words Cross?” Seth said with newfound anger.

“Nope, I know better to piss off an already agitated bear. Do you need a ride home?” Dylan said without his usual sarcastic tone.

“Fuck! We came in the Tahoe, her car isn’t here.” Seth said. He may have been pissed off and furious with her, but he would never make a woman walk home at night by herself.

“On it, I’ll go see if I can find her.” And with that Dylan left too.

Seth watched as Dylan walked out. Seth decided he need a shot of something, anything, right now. He picked up the last of the pieces, laid them on the table and ignored all the eyes staring at him, as he made his way to the bar. Forget one shot; he would need the whole damn bottle.

SEVENTEEN

Wes went down the front porch stairs and found Robyn and Bryan in an embrace in front of her Corolla.

“Taking off Wes?” Bryan asked causing Robyn to turn toward the new arrival.

“Actually I was looking for Mae, have you seen her?” Wes said with concern.

“No, Bryan and I looked around the whole bar and parking lot and I even checked both ladies room, she must of left already.”

“Damn,” was all Wes said.

Dylan quickly joined their small group after hearing Robyn’s account, he said “They came in the Tahoe, so if she isn’t here, she’s on foot.”

“Oh God, we have to find her. She can’t walk to Seth’s from here.” Robyn said with growing distress.

“She couldn’t have gotten far, especially in those heels” Bryan said trying to calm Robyn.

Not knowing which way she would have gone, Dylan headed one way on his bike while Wes headed in the other in his SUV.

It was Wes who found her walking down Route 29 toward the back road to Seth’s house, a good two miles from Cal’s. Wes pulled along the shoulders, got out of the vehicle and jogged to catch up to her.

“Hey Mae, let me give you a lift.” Wes said kindly.

Refusing to look at him, she just shook her head, not trusting her voice not to give her away.

“Please Mae” Wes grabbed hold of her and pulled her into his arms. She was frozen to the touch from the cool, damp weather. He rubbed her arms up and down trying to make her warm. She still wouldn’t look at him, but Wes knew she was crying.

She allowed him to walk her to the passenger door and assist her into the seat. When he got behind the wheel he positioned the vents to blow directly onto her and turned the heat on high. Before pulling back out onto the road, he sent a quick text to Dylan to let him know he had found her. He knew Dylan would let Robyn know.

Silently, he drove to Seth’s and pulled along the road out front that allowed her to walk down the side closest to her stairs without drawing attention from the main house.

When she made no attempt to move, he said softly, “Why don’t you go in and grab a few things. You are more than welcome to come and sleep at my house or if you’d rather I can drop you off somewhere.”

Sniffing loudly and trying to dry her face with the sleeve of her top, she finally looked at Seth’s friend. It was so kind of him to come after her when Seth was so upset. I mean isn’t your loyalty supposed to be to your friends?

Talking softly due to the scratchiness of her throat, she said to him, “Thank you Wes, I appreciate the ride and the offer, but I wouldn’t want to get you in any more trouble with Seth than you must already be in for coming to get me. I’ll just go in and pack a bag and head to my friend’s house, if he’ll have me.”

Feeling sympathy for Mae after Seth’s vicious verbal attack, and because he genuinely liked her, he spoke as her friend. “Go in and make your call to your friend. I’ll wait until you let me know you indeed have some where to go. Once I know you’re okay, I’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you want,”

He got out and walked her down to the bottom of the steps leading to her apartment and waited until she reappeared. She returned five minutes later carrying a small suitcase and a matching duffle bag over her shoulder. He noticed she changed too. She was wearing a purple velour running suit with sneakers. Her hair was in a hasty ponytail that wasn’t pulled all the way through.

“Were you able to get a hold of your friend?” Wes asked inquisitively.

“Actually no, I’m just going to head to the motel outside of town. I’m sure Seth will find them, but I left the keys on the counter. If you could just ask him to leave me a message on my cell about when I can come and move the rest of my things out, I’d appreciate it.” Willing herself not to let her tears spill over.

“Thank you Wes, for the ride and all, it’s meant more to me than you could possibly know.” Feeling the need to show him how much his kindness meant to her, she kissed him lightly on his cheek and started to walk to her car.

“Mae, just for the record, I don’t give a damn what Seth thinks of me going after you. He was wrong to say what he did to you. And as his friend I’m ashamed to say I witnessed it. I’ll come and get your stuff for you if he’s that much of an ass. But then again, he was an ass to let you get away.” Wes reached her in three steps, kissed her on her forehead and slipped his card into her bag; at least when she found it, if she needed anything she could call him. He climbed into the SUV and watched as she backed out of the drive and drove off.

Wes Thompson would go above and beyond for a stranger, would move heaven and earth if his friends needed him to, and he would absolutely never let his best friend live it down if he let Mae leave him permanently.

Mae was physically and emotionally exhausted as she drove. She just wanted to get to the motel, take a long hot shower and cry herself to sleep. She was about a mile out from the motel, when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out and looked at the screen, discovering she had twelve missed calls including the incoming one and ten texts, all from Robyn.