Page 18 of Mister McStudmuffin

UNKNOWN CALLER: In any case, I wouldn’t be a very good big sister if I didn’t do everything in my power to give my girl a chance at the kind of happiness I’ve found.

UNKNOWN CALLER: Do not make me regret telling you.

ME: Understood.

ME: Thank you, Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE: Anytime.

chapter

ten

Chelsea

By the time I hit the city limits of Saddle Creek, Texas, I’m hungry, pissed off and I have to pee. I could stop somewhere in town to take care of two of those problems, instead I just follow the directions straight to JD’s address.

Unlike his condo in Austin, which was modern and luxurious, this house looks like a proper home.

It has the bones of an old arts and crafts bungalow, but someone must have renovated it in the past decade. From the outside, it feels well loved and cared for. It feels settled.

From the street, I can see an extension built on the back that extends into the big backyard. Mike would love it.

It’s lovely, but seeing it kind of breaks my heart. This is the house of a man who has come home to make a place for himself. One that doesn’t include me.

I pull up to the curb and put my car in park, then just stare out the front windshield. I’m doing this. I’m really doing this. It’s time.

I can’t keep working for him and pretending that I don’t miss him like I’d miss gravity or oxygen and every other necessity that keeps me safe and alive. Telling him the truth about Mike seems irrelevant now.

He’s been gone for two months and we’ve barely had any contact outside of work-related emails. And my heart is completely broken.

I know it’s my own damn fault too. I’m not stupid. Doesn’t make it any easier though.

Just then my phone pings with a text.

CHARLIE: You’ve got this.

I smile. My sister is the very best.

CHARLIE: Now get in there. Tell him the truth and bone your man.

BRENDAN: For fuck’s sake, Charlie!

BRENDAN: I’m going to have to get a new number and not tell y’all.

ME: Love y’all.

I silence my phone and drop it in my purse and then get out of my car. It’s now or never. And I’m pretty sure if you park in front of someone’s house in a town this small, people will notice if you don’t get out.

I just need to do it. Quickly, like pulling off a waxing strip. It’ll still hurt, but maybe not as long.

I knock on the door.

JD pulls it open and holy shit. Is he trying to kill me?

He stands there, holding the door open with one arm. He’s shirtless and barefoot, wearing nothing but low-slung blue jeans that look like they were tailored just for his long, long legs.

I can see the full sleeve tat in all its glory. It’s stunning and comes up over his shoulder onto one pectoral. I gotta admit though, while the ink is attractive, I’m completely focused on his chest. The skin. The dark hair. The muscles. So many muscles.