End of the Loop by Brent Nichols

Author:Brent Nichols [Nichols, Brent]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781999200183
Publisher: The Seventh Terrace

When Ashley slid into the booth across from him, he knew he was dreaming. He reached across the table, took her hands, and clung to them, drinking in every detail of her face. “Oh, Ashley. It’s good to see you.”

She gave him a mocking grin, but he could see she was pleased.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Well, you should have saved me, then.” She still wore her mocking grin. “I’m very disappointed, David. You were supposed to protect me.” She tugged her hands free.

He was searching for a reply when she glanced out the window. “Oh, hell. Here we go again.”

Two men stood in the parking lot. One was fat, the other thin, but their long, sharp-nosed faces were similar enough to mark them as brothers. The Bagwell brothers. The fat one, Nathan, wore a cowboy shirt. He was younger than David remembered, his hair shorter. He looked right at David but didn’t react.

The thin man, Cameron, was smoothing his clothes, his gaze fixed on Ashley through the window. He didn’t seem to realize she could see him as easily as he could see her. He took out a comb, touched up his hair, and checked his reflection on the back of his phone.

Nathan punched him on the shoulder, apparently a gesture of encouragement. Cameron spent a moment fidgeting, then headed for the entrance.

Ashley pointed her thumb at Nathan. “His brother’s a little creepy.”

Creepy? He’s a maniac. David forgot Nathan as Cameron entered the diner, visibly gathered himself, then marched toward them. He stopped beside the booth, staring at Ashley, ignoring David. Ashley kept her gaze fixed on David, her posture rigid, her face cold and blank.

David leaned forward, examining this man who had somehow won Ashley’s heart before David came along. He wasn’t actually thin, without Nathan beside him for contrast. Cameron had an athletic build. He was even kind of good-looking, in an unconvincing way. He had the chiselled jaw of a TV actor, like the football player who almost gets the girl before she realizes she’s in love with the sensitive nerd.

He spoiled the effect when he opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry I smashed your stuff.” Cameron spread his hands in a helpless, frustrated gesture. “I was just so mad. I shouldn’t of done it. I won’t do it again.”

Ashley didn’t speak, didn’t move. She hardly breathed.

Cameron droned on for several minutes, promising to change, offering to replace everything he’d destroyed in a furious tantrum, apologizing for all the names he’d called her, all the vicious emails and texts. He swore he loved her and begged her to give him another chance.

Ashley didn’t react, except for an eyeroll only David could see.

Cameron’s voice trailed off, and at last he said, “Well? Can we try again?”

Ashley shook her head, a small, quick motion that drained the life from Cameron’s face, leaving his features slack and ill. His fists clenched, and David tensed.

“Bitch.” Cameron spun and stalked out of the diner. Nathan trotted over, following him out of the parking lot like a vast puppy.

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