Secondhand Heart Read online

  “No shit he is. He’s always been a self-absorbed prick. He hates everything about Ev that makes her awesome. He likes having a hot little girlfriend on his arm and that Ev wants to make everyone happy. He can’t compete with a baby. It won’t be all about Roger anymore.” Unless. “You don’t think he’s seeing someone else behind her back, do you?”

  “Ewww. No.” Bree jumped back in actual horror. “He looks like Snidely Whiplash. I wouldn’t fuck him with a stolen pussy.”

  I had to pull back out from my parallel parking. I messed it up laughing so hard. “Coming from you, that’s something.”

  “You know, you look good.” Bree said as soon as we got out of the car. We decided to do some Main Street window shopping, the head down to the waterfront for lunch. It was weird to walk by The Lonely Heart Saloon and not go in. “This shacking up thing is working out for you.”

  “Thanks.” I smoothed out my clothes, which hung off of me instead of clung. “I found out I actually do like long romantic walks on the beach.”

  “That sounds like heaven.” Bree sighed. “So how’s it going?”

  “Really good.” I surprised myself with my confidence. “It’s different, but he’s still getting settled too, so it’s not like I’m intruding on all his stuff.”

  “You still making the place pretty?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Do you mind going into to some of the home stores?” I knew she wouldn’t, but I didn’t know if I’d tainted home shopping for us last time we’d gone out with my fit.

  “No, not at all. There are some cool shops down here, and I can never go in with the boys because I’d own half of it after they broke it all.” Bree looked excited. “I’ll live vicariously through you.”

  I cringed at her words, still not comfortable with any of this. “Listen, it’s weird for me when you talk about Cam’s money.”

  “Why?’ Bree asked, and shrugged when I gave her a look. “Come on, Daisy, stop acting like it’s not exciting. We don’t know any super rich people. It’s fun.”

  “It just makes me feel gross,” I said, looking at the stuff on the walls in the store instead of at Bree.

  “You’re not a gold digger, I know that,” Bree said. “Is that what you’re worried about? That I think that?”

  “I don’t want anyone to think that.” I sighed. “His wife’s been hanging around, my mom knew about it from the girls at the gym. I don’t walk around town waving his credit card around, buying everything. People are already talking.”

  “I know. Fuck them. I like this.” Bree cooed over the distressed wood wall piece with the names of all the local beaches stenciled on it. “Shit, it’s five hundred dollars.” She looked at me with eyes wide. “Sorry.”

  “No, that’s fine.” I put my hands up. “Back away from it before it attaches itself to you.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Bree suggested. “This place is notorious for being way overpriced, and that sales lady is going to pounce any second.”

  We made a bee line to the door, stopping short and giggling once we got outside, because it was such a stupid looking move. As long as the sales girl wasn’t up on the town gossip, she’d think we were just white trash and be glad to be rid of us.

  “Listen, if anyone’s saying anything, it’s because we’re just overprotective of you. And if they’re talking shit, they’re jealous.”

  “Bunch of bitches,” I laughed. “I need to go someplace that no one knows who I am.”

  “Not unless you take me with you.” Bree shook her head. “So how’s everything else?”

  “Good. Cam got a new record deal, or something. He’s recording an album this fall.”

  “That’s awesome!” Bree practically jumped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Did he tell you with who? When’s he doing it?”

  “No, I have no idea with who.” I didn’t even think to ask that. The names wouldn’t have meant anything to me, anyway. There was so much I didn’t know about country music. “But he’s working on songs now, and he’ll be going to Nashville in October. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving. Can we go to The Blue Eyed Crab?” Like there was a question, plus we were right in front of it. My stomach growled just looking at the sign. “Are you going to Nashville, too?”

  “No, I’ll have school, and Cam’s teaching me to do some of the management stuff at the restaurant.” I told her as the waitress seated us. “I wish I was going. It would be cool.”

  I’d never been to Nashville before. My wanderlust hadn’t gone away. My mind gears started turning, trying to figure out when I could get away to visit him. One week into my new job, and I was already planning a vacation.

  “It would be awesome! I would love to go someday. All those hot cowboys.” Bree fanned herself with her menu. “Bring one back for me as a souvenir.”

  “Deal.” Although the reality was more like I’d be bringing her back a magnet. If I ever got to go.

  “I’m surprised he’s going back to Nashville.” Bree sipped her drink, something fruity with an outrageous amount of liquor in it for two in the afternoon. “I’ve read that things weren’t so smooth for him down there.”

  “Cam says this guy is stoked to work with him.” I’d stuck to beer. “Why would anyone else care what he does? People either buy the music, or they don’t. It doesn’t matter what other artists think.”

  “It’s more than that. I don’t know how the music business works, of course. But with his last record, I heard he’d had a hard time getting his songs played on the radio, and getting on a good tour. So it’s not just the musicians,” Bree chewed on her bottom lip, probably worried she’d said too much. “He’s good, and he doesn’t deserve that shit.”

  “I think that Cam’s doing this to make himself happy, and not worrying about what other people think.” It took balls. If only it was contagious. I could use some of that. “So what’s going on with you?

  “Not much. My mom bought this weird Groupon to an aquarium down the Cape, so she took the kids there today.” She wasn’t looking at me as she spoke, she was scanning the restaurant. I fought the urge to turn and see what she was looking at.

  “You’re not questioning her motives?” I asked, bobbing my head around to try to catch her eyes. “Your mother only leaves the house under court order.”

  “I am, I think it’s the new thing she’s overdoing it on. But I don’t want to discourage her, you know? This is the first time she’s actually offered to take the boys anywhere.” Bree’s eyes rested over my left shoulder. “So, I met someone, I think.”

  “You did?” Man, why did she have to tell me the good stuff when I was so distracted? I was dying to know what was going on behind me. Dying.

  “Yeah, so don’t judge. He’s one of the social workers at Head Start.” Bree looked back at me with a huge smile on her face. “I registered Landon and had to go in for an orientation. We’ve been texting each other ever since.”

  “Is he a teacher?” Bree dating anyone with a state job was the best news I’d heard in a long time. Although, it might be a little weird for Landon to see his teacher in his bathrobe some morning with no explanation. But probably less weird than some of her exes.

  “No, he’s an administrator.” Bree’s eyes grew wide. “Ashley’s here.”

  “What did you say?” My head flipped around to see what she’d been looking at. A group of girls who looked way too put together to be hanging out in Plymouth was staring at our table. In the middle of all of them, was indeed Cam’s ex, looking at me with this strange, satisfied expression on her face.

  I flipped back around to look at Bree, trying to contain my shock. Bree’s face darkened, and her mouth dropped to mirror mine. “She’s coming over here with one of her girls.”

  I took a deep breath and stared straight ahead, like if I didn’t make eye contact, Ashley would disappear.

  “Oh look, it’s the fat bitch that’s fucking my husband.” That lunatic actually had the nerve to sit down at the seat between me a
nd Bree. Her friend, a pretty black girl who was dragging herself down hanging out with this bitch, stood behind her, smiling. I guess Ashley saw the need to bring backup.

  “And it’s the crazy bitch who isn’t fucking him.” I took a long sip of my beer, even though I was afraid I was going to choke on it. “What are you doing here?”

  “Having lunch, of course. Which you should skip.” She looked up at her friend and they both laughed.

  “Listen, bitch, people talk around here.” Bree had had enough. “And the word on the street is you’re fucking nuts. If you’re trying to make Daisy look bad to get Cam back, it’s not going to work. He doesn’t fucking want you.”

  “Who the fuck are you?” Ashley’s friend bristled, taking a step towards Bree.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Bree wasn’t fazed at all. This wasn’t her first crazy ex encounter. “Go back to your table, enjoy your afternoon, and then take the first plane out of here. You’re making fools out of yourselves.”

  “Is everything all right over here?” The bartender came over, arms crossed, already knowing the answer was no fucking way. He raised an eyebrow at Ashley and her friend.

  “Hi Derek,” Bree smiled broadly up at our new best friend. “Our friends just came over to say hello, and they’re going to pay their tab and go, isn’t that right, girls?”

  “Just so you know,” Ashley ran her fingernail down my arm and I cringed, then fought the urge to get up and pound her into the ground. We had the bartender on our side and I couldn’t lose him when we were so close to victory. Ashley had this insane grin on her face. If I ever had any questions before, I knew now, this girl was not right. “He’s got nothing. That’s why he came back to this shitty town to open up some dive bar. If you think you’re going to get rich quick, my dad owns The Spotlight Production Company and I’m seeing to it that he gets his money back from Cam.”

  “You’re not even making sense.” Bree pointed out. “If he’s got nothing, why are you so concerned with it?”

  Ashley rolled her eyes and sneered. “I meant he’ll have nothing when I’m done with him.”

  “You’re already done with him.” I glared at her. “And I’m done with you. So go.”

  She stood up and straightened out the tiny scrap of fabric she considered a skirt. “We were leaving this dump anyway.” She stood up, motioned to the rest of her little gang, and left.

  My head fell back and I let out the breath I’d been holding since I laid eyes on her. “Oh my God. I can’t wait for that frigging paperwork to get signed.” I looked back at Bree, who’d started her second drink. “How did Cam put up with her?”

  “She’s like stage five psycho.” Bree groaned. “Learn when to take a fucking hint, you know? Dude left the state to get away from her.”

  “They’ve been hanging out at the bar, too.” I sighed. “I only hope she doesn’t know where we live, because I don’t think this girl knows her limits.”

  We were too late. Ashley’s friends already had claimed a round table beside the bar at The Lonely Heart by the time Bree and I got there. My lunch churned in my stomach, bubbles from the beer creeping up my throat and strangling me.

  They had the gall to wave at us as we walked by. Stupid pageant waves that I thought people only did on TV when they were acting out some bad script. Bree grabbed my arm, a show of solidarity, as I pulled her towards the back room and headed to the office.

  I stopped short at the door, my hand in midair to knock. I realized when I heard Ashley’s voice, screeching and sobbing. I hadn’t seen her at the table with her friends.

  We were way too late.

  “You were the best thing that ever happened to me!” Ashley sobbed. “Why don’t you want me anymore?”

  “You kicked me out.” Cam’s voice was even, almost robotic. How did everyone else in my life have the knack of keeping their shit together when they got upset? I freaked out within seconds, and always looked like a jackass.

  “I didn’t mean forever.” she sniffled, too loudly. That must have been sexy. “I just wanted a break.”

  “Jesus,” Bree whispered. “What a spoiled, delusional brat. Should we break the door down SWAT team style or what?”

  I shook my head. “Give it another second.”

  “I didn’t want a break,” Cam said, still calm. “You walked out on me in the worst time in my life. And then I realized I didn’t miss you.”

  “How can you say that!” Something in the office broke into pieces it wasn’t supposed to be in. “You’re torturing me with that whale.”

  That was my cue. I still knocked on the door, so it wouldn’t appear like we’d been standing outside, listening.

  “Come in.”

  “Hi, honey,” I declared, syrupy sweet, and went right over to Cam and kissed his cheek. He put his arm around me, almost defensively. God only knows what that crash had been seconds before. Whatever anyone had been saying behind my back about the whole Me-Cam-Ashley thing, I knew just by the way he held me with his ex-wife practically dissolving into a puddle like the Wicked Witch before our eyes, I had nothing to worry about. “I was just coming in to tell you that I talked to Ashley at lunch, but it looks like she beat me to it.”

  “Shut up!” She sneered at me, taking a step towards me with her arms outreached. Jesus, what the hell had she done to herself in the last hour? Her eyes were the ugliest red I’d ever seen, like she’d squeezed tomato juice into them, and she was visibly shaking. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anyone that kind of fucked up before.

  Bree grabbed Ashley before she could get to me. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

  “Girls. Enough,” Cam finally yelled. “Ashley, get the fuck out of here. Now! The next time you set foot in here, I’ll call the police.”

  “So what.” Ashley wobbled, still in Bree’s grasp. “I don’t care about the police.”

  “The tabloids will get a hold of your mug shot, again, and you’ll look like a fool,” Cam continued.

  “You’d really fuck with my TV show?” Ashley bared her teeth, like a rabid animal. Shit, we didn’t need to call the police, we needed to call an ambulance. This chick was going to start foaming at the mouth any second. She had way more to be concerned about then some show.

  “You’re doing it to yourself.” Cam pulled me in tighter. “Go.”

  “Fine, I’ll go.” Ashley pulled away from Bree, stumbling. “I’m going to make you sorry you ever met me, Cam Hunter.”

  “I already am.”

  Ashley bumped against the door frame on her way out, and slammed the door. Cam dropped his head onto mine. “Boy, am I glad to see you.” He turned me into him so he could kiss me.

  “We saw her at lunch, and she threatened us there,” I told him. “So we wanted to come here and warn you.”

  “Wait a minute. You had lunch somewhere other than here?” Cam raised his eyebrow and looked back and forth between me and Bree. “I should make you go explain yourself to Marcos.”

  “It was her idea.” I pointed at Bree.

  “You asked me in front of The Blue Eyed Crab!” Bree threw her hands up. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “Okay, new rule. No one eats anywhere but The Lonely Heart Saloon. I don’t care if you just want Cheez Its.” Cam had a hard time holding in his laugh. “You get them from me.”

  “Yes, sir.” I jumped back as I said it, and Bree raised her eyebrows. She knew I used to say that all the time to Jordan.

  Cam let me go, and perched on the desk. “Actually, it all worked out. Seeing you sent her over the edge. She’s been playing the poor me thing, and camping out here, not really doing anything. So I felt kind of bad for her.” My heart sank. “But her coming in here and losing her shit, I finally had the balls to get rid of her.”

  I had to wonder if he would have had those same balls if I hadn’t walked in in the middle of her tantrum, but the more I doubted Cam, the more power I gave Ashley over our relationship. I just needed to convince myself I was being stron
g, not stupid.

  “When are you going to make this divorce final?” Bree asked, she must have had the same doubts about the scenario I did.

  “I’ve signed my half of the paperwork. I did it months ago.” Cam raked his fingers through his hair. “The lawyers can’t deliver the papers to her, since she’s never at our old house, and I’d have to go to California to get a court date, because that’s where we filed. She is making this as difficult as humanly possible.”

  “This is why I’m never getting married.” Bree shook her head, sinking into one of the seats in front of Cam’s desk.

  “Oh, bullshit.” I called shenanigans. “Like if things got serious with this Head Start guy, you’d say no if he asked you. I don’t believe that for a second, because—“

  “State pensions are sexy!” Both of us said at the same time, and we all laughed. One of my aunts was a chronic dater, even in her fifties, and it was one of her favorite sayings.

  “I thought I’d broken my streak of crazy girlfriends,” Cam said, and now I understood how he could put up with my cold feet. My crazy was so tame compared to what he was used to dealing with. “And I can’t get rid of the one I was stupid enough to marry.”

  “Has she ever been like that before?” I asked. “She was fucked up.”

  “Oh yeah. That wasn’t anything new.”

  “Shouldn’t someone be taking care of her?” I couldn’t believe I was actually concerned about this girl. “Are her friends really friends? I mean, she’s going to hurt herself.”

  “Forgive me if this sounds awful, but I’m so past the point of caring.” Cam frowned. “I have to totally shut myself off from her, or she’ll sink her hooks back in to me.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.

  “There’s been an accident,” Shauna ran in to the office. “In the parking lot. Someone got hit by a car.”

  “Holy shit.” The color drained from Cam’s face and his body went rigid before he ran past Shauna, down the hallway. Shauna stood in the middle of the office, staring at me and Bree.