Meadowlarks 3 : Endless (12 page)

Hanging the towel over my head like a hood, blocking the eyes from the hotties and letting me wallow in slight privacy, I make my way to the punching bags.

***

Leah

“Mom, no! I can’t go back to Maine, you know that. I have a show tonight.” I stood in the small kitchen of my hotel suite, with my arms crossed over my chest, shaking my head at my mother.

“Leah, think about everything for a minute. You were taken from us! From me! Do you know what that did to me? I’m your mother, and I’m supposed to take care of you.”

“I know, mom. I know. But, just hear me out, okay?” I try and come up with something that she’ll understand. “I don’t know why they took me. I don’t know why they let me go. All I
do
know is, I’m not going to let it control the rest of my life. I’m not going into witness protection at your house, and I’m not going to stay cooped up here like an animal. I have to sing, I need to breathe! You know that…”

My mom frowns and sighs. “I know…Just promise me you’ll call me every day. I mean it, Leah. Every. Single. Day. And if you don’t Neil promised he’ll make you call me.”

“I bet he did,” I say, smiling. “Listen, come to the show before you leave. See that I’m okay…”

“Do I get a special VIP pass backstage?”

I laugh and reach out to hug her. “You, and only you, mom.”

“I love you, Leah.”

“Love you too…”

A gentle knock on my door breaks our embrace and I quickly give my mother a smile before walking across the room to open it. Not before checking the peephole, of course.

“There’s my girl,” Neil says when I open the door and almost tackle him in a bear-hug. “Ready to go?”

“Where are you going?” Mom asks.

“Leah needs to do some retail therapy. She also needs a new phone…” Neil says, straightening his jacket.

“Well, at least she’s with you, Neil. I won’t be in here panicking while she’s gone.”

“You’re not coming, mom?”

“No, baby. Thanks though. I think I need a nap, I haven’t slept much lately.”

I give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek and grab my purse before heading out the door with Neil.

“She okay?” He asks when he step into the elevator.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine. She’s just worried.”

Neil turns and looks at me. “We were all worried, Leah. We probably won’t stop worrying until they find those motherfuckers.”

I shrug. “At least I’ve got you.”

“That you do, my girl. That you do.” Neil wraps his arm around my shoulders and walks me out of the elevator and into the lobby of the hotel.

“What do you think about this one?” I ask, holding up a plaid babydoll shirt without straps.

“I think you need to try that on, it’s gorgeous. I love the colors,” Neil says, flipping through hangers on the rack in front of him.

“I’ll need a new push-up bra too, I didn’t bring one to New York.” I head over to the intimates department and thumb through bras. Selecting my size in a black half-cup, bust enhancing power-bra, I almost skip toward the dressing room. This is definitely what I needed today.

Stripping off my hoodie and t-shirt, I undo my bra and drop it on the bench in front of me in the dressing room. I can’t help but look at myself in the mirror. The marks are almost gone. The proof that Weston’s hands and mouth were on me…is fading away. Tiny pink marks are all that remain now. I absentmindedly trace my fingertips around the curve of my breast, over the place his mouth was only a few days ago.

I close my eyes, forcing the tears back into my head. Stop it, Leah. You can do this. You
can
do this! I swallow the sadness that’s building into a ball in my throat and drop my hand from my chest. How can I do this? How can I never speak to the man that I fell in love with overnight?

Damn.

Did I fall in love? I laugh softly…No, I couldn’t have. He gave me multiple mind-numbing orgasms, and the best sex of my freaking life. But that can’t be love. What I had with Joel was love…wasn’t it? Feeling gooey all the time, hearts and roses? That’s what it’s supposed to be, right?

I tell myself to stop being so stupid. I pick up the strapless bra, wrap it around my chest and clasp it. Oh, damn, this thing is a miracle maker. My boobs haven’t had this type of cleavage in a long time.
Hello, ladies…

“Well?”

“Well what? Did my jaw on the ground not give you reason enough to buy it? Fuck, girl, you’re hot,” Neil growls when he walks up to me outside the dressing room and spins me around with his hand. “You’re so getting that.”

Neil’s phone rings.

“Who is it? Huh? Who is that calling you?” I ask, playfully, trying to see his caller ID.

“Shh!” Neil puts his fingers to his lips and answers the phone. “Hello?”

His eyes light up.

“Oh, hey…I was wondering when I was going to hear from you.”

I stand in front of him, crossing my arms, bulging my cleavage out further, waiting for him to tell me who is calling him.

“Jay,” he whispers, covering the phone with his hand.

I muffle my squeal.

Jay is the bar owner of a club we play at a few times a month. I told Neil when we were on stage that Jay couldn’t take his eyes off of him. Neil didn’t believe me. So I took matters into my own hands.

I had walked off the stage during our break, made my way up to the bar and leaned over, beckoning Jay in a ‘come hither’ motion with my finger.

“Jay, either you go over there and
finally
talk to him…or I’m going to bring him over here and make you.”

“Leah,” Jay said, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck. “What makes you think he’s even interested?”

“Because even though he’s behind me on stage, I can feel his eyes on you the entire time. He drums with more passion when we’re playing here…don’t you notice that?”

Jay blushed. His soft brown hair falling onto this forehead when he lowered his head to smile. “Well…yeah.”

“So, what’ll it be?”

Jay stood up, rolled his neck to loosen his muscles and probably gained some courage. “I’ll talk to him. And damn, you’re a pushy little thing aren’t you?”

“You’ll thank me later.”

Neil paced in front of the dressing rooms, chewing his fingernails. “I don’t know, Leah…”

“You don’t know what? He likes you, you like him…what’s the problem?”

“The problem is…well, there isn’t one. Shut up.”

“Exactly! Is he coming to the show?”

Neil nods and grins.

“Let’s find you something new to wear then. We’ll get my phone later.”

Neil picks out a new pair of worn-style jeans, a snakeskin belt, and a dark blue button-up shirt with short sleeves and silver buttons. I nod approvingly when he comes out of his dressing room. His tattoos peek out from the sleeves, and when he raises his arms to run his fingers through his hair, his biceps bulge.

If Neil wasn’t gay, I would have made a move on him ages ago. He’s just…beautiful.

“Jay’s gonna have a hard time keeping off the stage when he sees you wearing that.”

“Let’s hope so, baby girl.” Neil grins and fixes his hair with his fingers in a mirror. “Phone?”

I nod, and we head to T-Mobile.

Lucas is the first person I call on my new phone.

“Are you ready for tonight, Leah? If not, we’ll cancel.”

“Lucas, yes! I’m ready…I need this. Neil and I already bought outfits anyway, so we can’t back out now.” I giggle…something I haven’t done in a few days and it feels good.

“Good,” Lucas says with a sigh. “This time I’m personally coming in the car to pick you up.”

“Okay, we’ll be ready. Bye, Lucas.”

My next call is to Riley. But it goes to voicemail. I leave a message. “Hey, girl. It’s Leah. This is my new number…Thank you for everything…I mean it. I know it wasn’t easy to lie to him, and I appreciate you always being there for me. I can’t wait to talk to you again.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Weston

I’ve been in Wyoming for exactly twenty minutes, and already I’m internally screaming at myself for coming back. Leah’s not here…and even though I didn’t see her in New York, I knew she was at least in the same city. I have to meet with Pete in forty minutes to discuss the final details of the build. I texted Riley not to come. I don’t want to see her right now. Too painful.

She showed up anyway. Damn it.

“Weston, hey…” Riley said, climbing out of her car.

“Hello.”

Pete’s truck is here, but I don’t see him. I take the opportunity to step out of my shell.

“How is she?” I ask, thankful for my sunglasses as I’m sure my eyes are glistening.

Riley hesitates and looks up to the sky, sighing. “I told you to forget her, Weston. She didn’t want anything more than one night.”

She’s lying, I know it. “I don’t believe you.”

“Shit, I don’t know what to say. Just let it go.” Riley starts to walk away.

“Don’t walk away from me, Riley. Be a fucking adult and tell me what’s going on. And don’t you dare spill that bullshit about only wanting one night again, I know it’s not true.”

“Wow…well, damn.” Riley fights some internal battle. “Leah asked me to tell you to leave her alone, okay? I don’t know what happened to her, but it was bad enough that she doesn’t want…whatever.”

I know that is a lie. I saw Leah’s face that night, I felt her touch, heard her whimpers. The light in her eyes was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and there’s no way she could just turn that off. Something happened to her, and I’m going to find out just fucking what it was.

“Okay.” I put my hands up in surrender. “I’ll leave her alone.”

“Good. Now, can we get this over with?”

I nod and follow her into the new office. It’s almost finished. All the walls are up, the drywall is in place as well, windows too. All that’s left is paint, trim, flooring and fixtures.

“Damn, you guys work fast.”

Pete comes out from what will be the washroom. “Hey, buddy! Good to see ya. What do you think?”

“I think it’s awesome. Great job so far.”

Riley clicks her heels on the bare floor, checking out the rooms. “Weston, who will be in this office?”

“Me.” I smile, obviously the boss gets the biggest office.

“And what about this one?”

“You.” I smile again, at the adjoining room.

“Thought you might say that…” she whispers quietly. I hear her, but I don’t think Pete did.

“I’ll need you to start looking for employees, too. Put an ad in the paper, the online classifieds and on the surrounding business sites. We need staff. You’ll do the interviewing.”

Riley nods. “Gotcha, boss.”

Pete flips through papers on his clipboard. “I got a call about the flooring, it’s out of stock until November. Is there any other type you’ll be willing to settle on?”

I exhale through pursed lips. “Yeah, I guess so. Riley, let’s go…”

She opens the door to her car once we’re outside. “I’ll just follow you then?”

“Just come with me, save your gas. We can have a late lunch before we get there.”

One the drive to Lake’s restaurant, Riley’s phone rings from inside her purse. I lean in to turn the radio down so she can answer it.

“Hey, baby…I know, me too.” She smiles. “I’m going flooring shopping with Mr. Casey, but I’ll let you know when I can get that up, okay?”

I pull into Lake’s parking lot.

“Yes, sounds good. Love you too. Bye, Alex.” Riley hangs up and grabs her purse to climb out of the car once I’m parked.

I don’t ask about the call. I don’t care anymore. Riley is still sexy as hell, but she’s so far off my radar now…every woman is, it seems. I only want Leah. The one woman who doesn’t want anything to do with me. I slam my car door and walk into the restaurant behind Riley.

The waitress is too perky. I don’t want to deal with, or listen to perky today. Riley knows her, and chats her up about university and some kid named Bobby. I don’t listen in much, I read the menu and decide on something big and full of calories. Hey, men need comfort food, too.

“I’ll have the double bacon cheeseburger with extra cheese and gravy on the fries….and a beer. What do you have?”

The waitress blushes and glances toward the counter. “Budweiser, Coor’s Light…Heineken, and…”

“I’ll have a Bud.”

“Okay, great. What can I get you Riley?”

“I’ll have the Greek salad, with extra olives, please. And a Coke.”

“Olives are gross,” I whisper.

“You’re gross.” Riley sticks out her tongue, trying to cheer me, it seems. It works for the moment. “I’ll be back, excuse me for a sec.”

I nod, and sip the beer the waitress has quickly brought to the table. Sitting back in my chair, I pick up my fork and twirl it between my fingers.

“Weston?”

I look up.
Shit
.

“Sara…hello.”

“Can I sit?”

“No.”

She sits. “You don’t ever call me back…I miss you. I need to talk to you.”

I sit up in my chair and lean in. “Sara,” I growl softly. “I don’t know how I can spell this out for you but…you need to move on. It isn’t healthy. There isn’t anything between us anymore. Please, for the sake of any friendship we did or could still have; stop this.”

Sara’s eyes glisten with tears, and she pulls on the end of her blonde ponytail. “I…I can’t. I can’t move on. I love you.”

“You don’t love me.”

“Yes!” She yells. “Stop pushing me away. You’re making a mistake…”

“Listen to me very closely. If you don’t fuck off, I’m going to…”

“What? You’ll what, Weston? Nothing! Exactly. You can’t do anything to me…you wouldn’t anyway.”

This girl is mental. How did I not see this before?

Riley is making her way back to the table, behind Sara, and see glares at me. “
What the fuck?
” Riley mouths, pointing to Sara’s back.

I look at her and form a hard line with my lips. “Time to go, Sara.”

“Well, hey, Sara…surprised to see you. How’s it going?” Riley says too sweetly, and sits back down in her seat across the table from Sara.

“Riley! Hey, girl!” Sara morphs back into the
normal
girl that used to work at Pine Ridge. “I’m great! So good to see you, too!”