Page 4 of Unraveled

“Turn left here, then it’s the first right into the lot. I’m really sorry. We met at an audition a few weeks ago, and again today. I thought he was different.”

I finally pulled into her parking lot, stopping the car. “So did I.”

“Again, I’m sorry. And did he say biopsy? I really hope it’s okay.”

Damn, the girl would have to bring it up.

“It’s fine, but thank you for asking.”

“I’m Felicia, by the way, not that you really wanted to know that. You’re beautiful. I guess I’m stunned he would cheat on you.”

A compliment in the midst of chaos. I’d take it. I’d also take the irony of being able to say, “Bye, Felicia.”

“Bye.” She got out of my car with a wave. Her exit was just in time as my emotions started to check back in. I pulled out of the lot with silent tears running down my face.

By the time I’d driven to my place and gone inside, I was doubting all of my life choices. Clearly, I had not chosen to surround myself with the right people.

I had no one to rely on. Actually, that wasn’t true. I had my family in Washington. I swallowed hard, looked around my apartment, and started thinking about whether I wanted to stay here.

It was time to dry my eyes, make some decisions, and call my brother.

Chapter One

Kellan

“Ignore her,” my friend Russell offered. “She’s just hoping to ruin your night. And she drove all the way up to Bellingham to do it.”

It couldn’t be coincidence my college ex-girlfriend, Carly, had chosen this particular bar to visit on the night of our fantasy football draft. Every August, a group of guys from my freshman year of college got together at the local university hot spot to do the draft for our online team. It was an excuse to catch up, drink beer, and talk football, and they’d done it for each of the six years since graduating. This was the first year I’d been able to make it.

No doubt she’d heard about this evening through all of the social media postings about it. I’d asked around, and no one had invited her. Why six years after breaking up, she chose to show up now, I wasn’t certain. All I knew was I hadn’t wanted any part of her drama back then, and I sure as hell didn’t want it now.

“You’re right. I don’t intend to waste a minute on her. How are you, my friend? Everything okay?” Although I didn’t see Russ often, he seemed off tonight.

“Yeah. It’s just been a crazy few weeks getting Layla moved up here.”

I knew his older sister lived in the LA area but had never met her. “I didn’t know she’d relocated.”

He sighed. “Yeah. It’s good to have her back home.”

Guess I wasn’t the only one returning after having been gone a number of years. Directly after college, I’d moved to the East Coast, outside of Boston, to accept a position with a home remodeling company. But I’d decided I missed both the milder winters and the more relaxed vibe of the West Coast. Not to mention being able to watch Monday night football at a decent hour.

“How’s Seattle treating you?” Russell asked. “You happy you moved back?”

“I am. I have a good team assembled and our first big job starting Monday.” I’d only been here a couple of months, but the Pacific Northwest was in the middle of a booming housing market. One on which I hoped to capitalize. All I needed were the right connections, and word of mouth would spread quickly to grow my business. This new job promised all of those things and more. It involved the remodel of a large mansion on the Eastside in Kirkland.

“Great news. But do me a favor and don’t spend all of your time working.”

Yeah, so I had some serious workaholic tendencies. So much so that going out tonight was a rare occasion. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. My priority was my business.

“I won’t. How about you? You still enjoying Bellingham?” The city, two hours north of Seattle, was both a college town and only miles from the Canadian border. It had a lot of charm and gorgeous views. I’d really enjoyed attending college here at Western Washington University. And not just because the drinking age was nineteen over the border.

“Yes. I love it. For me, it’s always been my hometown, but it’s growing like everywhere else. Can’t complain, though. I love both teaching and coaching.”

Russ was a high school math teacher in addition to coaching the football and basketball teams. He was in his element in both the classroom and on the field. There wasn’t any better guy to influence the youth.

I glanced over toward Carly and watched her talk to some of the women who’d come along with their boyfriends. She remained beautiful, with her honey-blond hair shorter than she’d worn it in college, and a body encased in a tight black dress that showed she kept in good shape. But all I saw was a cheater.

“Kellan, you’re up,” called out the commissioner, signaling me to make my next draft pick for the board and focus on the reason I was here.