Page 23 of Lost Lyrebird

Squinting against the sunshine, I give it to him straight.“Was hoping you forgot.”

He arches a brow over the rim of his sunglasses and spins his hat backward over his messy blond hair.“You think I’d forget a smokin’ hot chick that can turn you catatonic?Hell no, I gotta see this.”

Still leaning against the back of the club, boot heel against the stucco, arms crossed over my chest, I shoot him a dark look.Which only makes him laugh harder.

He removes his glasses and tucks them into his collar.“Be honest.How long’s it been since a chick with her clothes on made your dick stand up and take notice?”

I say nothing and look away.Apparently, that’s answer enough.Because he bursts into laughter.“Seriously?”

Sex is a daily offer, here, at the clubhouse, women walking around all but naked like it’s nothing, coming on to me, even though I haven’t shown them a lick of interest because none of it appeals to me.My body’s been numb for a while.Shut down in a way I can’t describe or make sense of.Except to say it feels like I’m older than I am.

“You realize how fucked up that is, right?What?You switchin’ sides on me?”

“Oh, shut the fuck up with that shit.I’m not gay, and you know I’ve got no problem with it.Just not for me, nor am I interested in anything on offer.”

“How long’s it been since you—” He swivels his hips and mimes fucking.

I rub my forehead, my irritation doubling.“Is nothing sacred to you?”

He shrugs.“Sex is sex.Ain’t nothin’ sacred ’bout it, unless it’s so good you see stars.Don’t know why people gotta act like it’s more than that.”

“This is why your sex life with Blaire has gone down the rabbit hole,” I shoot back.

He laughs, unapologetic.“Nah, man.I didn’t start that; she did.I’m just a horny bastard, and my wife’s got kinks I’ve tried to tell you about but—”

“Yeah, no.Keep that shit to yourself.”

Throwing his hands up, he says, “That.That’s exactly what you do.”

“What?Fuck.I don’t want to know.”

His fists curl at his sides, and his shoulders tense up.“Then don’t throw shade, man.”

I study him for a moment and read his body language, because I can’t see his eyes.Exhaling, I say, “Fine, I’m listening.But no details.Give me the gist of it.”

His built-up tension deflates, and the corner of his mouth kicks up.“Blaire knows exactly what I’m doing when I’m not with her.She acts all high and mighty in front of you all, but she goes off like a fuckin’ Roman candle when I whisper in her ear all the seedy shit I’ve been up to with other chicks.It’s our thing.Don’t gotta make sense to anyone but us.”

I give him a look because, in my opinion, that’s fucked up.But their relationship’s always been toxic, and I don’t think he sees it for what it is—or would know what a good relationship looks like if it bit him in the ass.Not that I’m the expert.But you can be sure I wouldn’t stick around if my woman wanted to stray.I wouldn’t expect her to if I did either.And you can be damn sure I wouldn’t want a woman who was okay with me going to another woman’s bed.It’s just not how I’m built.

“So, where is she?You said two, right?Thought I’d be late and miss the show.”

It’s nearly 2:35.I shrug as anxiety hits me.I hate this feeling of not knowing where she is or what happened.It messes with my head, pulling at old threads that are barely holding me together.

We both fall silent, waiting, leaning against the building.Bodie attempts to start a conversation several times, but when I don’t bite, he gives up and calls me an ornery ass.

Finally, a little Honda whips into the lot.A second later, she jumps out of the car, flustered and breathless.“I’m so sorry… I’m never late.I swear.”She’s distracted, reaching into her purse.“A cop stopped me for speeding.” She produces an inhaler and takes a quick pull on it.After taking a few steadying breaths, her gaze finally meets mine.

Bodie mutters, “Fucking Davis.”

“Do you have asthma?”My question catches her off guard, she looks down at the inhaler, then back to me.She hurries to stuff the inhaler back into her purse.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal.It won’t hinder me in any way.”

“That’s not why I was asking.”It’s another feather, and a big one at that.The way she’s studying my expression sets off little alarm bells pinging in my mind.

“Oh, yeah.I’ve had it my whole life.It’s manageable if I don’t get too worked up.But I keep one of these on me at all times.”

I nod, tucking these details away.“Good to know.”