Page 51 of Denim & Diamonds

“I heard about what you did to your ex. What was her name? Tina?”

“Nina.” I gritted my teeth. “And excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?What Idid?”

She smirked. “Drove her out of town…”

This was pissing me off. I shouldn’t encourage any more discussion of this, but I felt the need to defend myself. “Where exactly are you getting your information?”

“People talk around here, Brock. You know that.”

“I didn’t drive anyone out of town. That isn’t what happened at all. Nina’s a grown-ass woman with a mind of her own.”

She shrugged. “Well, maybe she left of her own accord. But I’m pretty sure women don’t leave town entirely unless their hearts are broken.”

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Sasha. And I suggest you spend less time entertaining the Meadowbrook gossip mill and more time doing your damn job.” I glared at her. “Can you kindly just measure me?” I shook my head. “Actually, no.” The last thing Ineeded was Sasha’s hands down by my balls or some shit. “Can you get someoneelseto do it, please?”

She rolled her eyes and left in a huff.

A man came by a few minutes later, taking a tape measure to me. He didn’t say a damn word, which was exactly the way I liked it.

I had both of my arms sticking straight out when I glanced at the window and noticed Trevor walking by. He did a double take before a look of amusement spread across his face.

Great. Just great.

He entered the shop wearing a shit-eating grin. “What’s this all about?”

“What does it look like?”

“Don’t tell me you’re eloping with Fancy Pants? If that’s the case, might I be the first to say, ‘I told you so’?”

“I’m accompanying her to a wedding next month. It’s black tie.”

“Interesting. And where might this wedding be?”

“New York.”

Trevor’s eyes went wide.

After the guy finished taking my measurements, I went to the register to put down some money while my nosy brother waited for me. Sasha flashed me a dirty look from across the store.

As we walked out of the shop together, Trevor started grilling me.

“I’m surprised you’re going out of town for some wedding,” he said. “The last time we spoke, it seemed like you had written off anything happening between you and February. Now you’re getting fitted for a tux and traveling to New York?”

“Yeah, well, I’m just taking it day by day.”

“Cool. I just, you know, wanna make sure you’re staying true to yourself.”

I wasn’t following. “In what way?”

“Youin a tux shop? It’s like the apocalypse, man.”

“I’m not changing for anyone, Trev. It’s just a damn wedding. One day. Calm your nutsack.”

“Just keep in mind that you’re sending her a clear message that you’re interested by going to this wedding. Nothing wrong with that. And I’m all for it. But if youdon’tplan to try to make things work once she leaves, you may not want to lead her on.”

“I thought just the other day you were supporting me pursuing her,” I noted. “Why are you trying to mess with my head right now?”

“Idosupport it, so long as you don’t lose yourself in the process, you know?”