Page 101 of Clash

Ramona nodded, giving her a quick kiss on the head, before her, Axl, and the other girl left the tent.

Shasta carefully got up from the chair, a well pronounced baby bump already formed.

“How are you, little momma?”

“Good,” she said. “A little nervous, and my feet hurt, but good.” There was a long silence between us, and most of the time we both just stared at the floor, kicking at invisible dust bunnies on the ground.

I didn’t even know where to start.

“What do you want, Clash?”

My head snapped up, and those big brown eyes studied me for a reaction, trying to figure out what I was here for. How do I apologize for months of being an asshole for no apparent reason other than I’m a dick?

“I just wanted to say that I’m happy for you and Snyder.”

“You are?” She seemed surprised. “I thought you hated me?”

Sighing, my hand raked through my hair.Apologizing is rough.“I’ve never hated you, Shasta, not really. I’m sorry for the mean shit I said to you. I’ve realized now that even though I was somewhat hurt over you choosing Snyder, I never loved you, nor did you love me.”

She nodded. “I’m glad you’ve finally realized that, Clash.”

“I do care about you though… and Snyder… against my better judgment.”

The corners of her lips barely quirked up, but at least I kinda made her smile.

“You didn’t deserve what I said to you or anything that happened to you. I’m glad you came back. You make him happy and a better man.”

A few tears pooled in her eyes, but she said nothing.

“You both have shown me what real love is, and because of it, I found the woman who has stolen my heart.”

“That’s great, Clash.”

“I want you to know, that from here on out, I won’t be talking shit as much anymore. I may still give Snyder shit from time to time. Who would I be if I didn’t? But I won’t be hurting you anymore. It wasn’t fair of me—or any of us to treat you the way we did. I should’ve never blackmailed you into my bed. I should’ve just let you and Snyder be. It wasn’tjustyour fault that shit went down in the club. I was a part of it too, maybe even the catalyst that started the disastrous trainwreck that spiraled after. And for that, Shasta, I’m so sorry.”

She sniffed. “I can’t believe you’re saying all this. What has that woman done to you?”

Laughing, I took her hand and kissed the back of it, before bringing her into a hug. “Changed me. Just like you changed Snyder. It’s amazing what a good woman will do to you.”

I noticed she looked a little sad. “Hey now, what’s wrong?”

She shrugged. “I invited someone to come today, but he never showed. He was the one who helped me get through everything after I left you all. I was hoping he would come… but he didn’t.”

“I’m sorry, Shasta. But if he fell for you, I understand his pain. You’re a hard woman to get over, even when the man’s not in love with you. I speak from experience because I acted like a stupid prick because of that shit.”

“And a baby,” she added, playfully hitting me in the shoulder.

“Yeah, that too.”

I suddenly felt like a kindergartener on the playground as I rubbed the back of my head, afraid to ask her the next question. “Do you think we can be friends again?”

Her smile brightened, and that look of sadness washed away. “Of course! I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Do you have someone to walk you down the aisle?”

She shook her head. “I was going to walk it alone. My parents never showed. And I was going to ask Joe to do it, but like I said, he declined my invite.”

“Well, that’s his loss, because you’re fucking amazing. Anyway, if you don’t have anyone to walk you down the aisle, I’d be happy to do it for you.”