his life.
Rayner staggered back heavily into his seat. His stomach was churning and his appetite was gone. "This doesn't make sense, George," Rayner's head was swimming, too, making the whole room spin while he got reoriented to reality. It was the exact opposite of what Jeneva had told him. He didn't know her to lie or go back on her word, ever. She was straightforward and didn't play games. That was one of the things that he loved about her. And the texts didn't even sound like she'd written them. He didn't understand what was happening. "Jeneva told me that she would never leave me."
"She probably told you that to keep you happy until she could get away from you. She hates hurting people. But there it is on the screen. There's no denying the truth."
The agony in Rayner's body was dialed up tenfold. He knew Jeneva had no problem letting people down. She had pushed him away to his face so many times before, right? But, it was there on George's phone. The words blazed up at him like a curse from God, telling him he was doomed to be alone, doomed to push women away from him. Why couldn't he get this right?
He examined George's face for clues, his body language. He was totally relaxed. He seemed sad for Rayner. That felt like a sucker punch to the gut. He was pitying Rayner. George had always been Jeneva's friend. He and George didn't always get along, but he had to admit George knew Jeneva better than he did. So why was his gut gnawing at him, telling him something was off? He read the texts again and again, the timestamp, the date. He looked for any clue that this was a deception of some kind, or a joke.
When he couldn't find any sign that he was being fooled – even though his feelings were blaring warning signs at him that he was about to make the wrong decision - he had to accept the obvious, as much as it hurt - Jeneva had played him. The dull rage he'd known for so long settled deeply back in his chest and heart.
"Thanks, George. You're a good friend," Rayner said as Marcus came back into the room.
"Rayner, got your sandwich on the grill now," Marcus said.
"Cancel it," Rayner growled. "I've lost my appetite. I need a drink. Give me a beer."
"A beer? You don't drink?"
"I'd better start, then to make up for lost time."
Marcus looked between George and Rayner. Now that Rayner was scowling down at his hands, George had a smug satisfaction on his face. Marcus shook his head and poured Rayner's beer. He'd have to make sure George got banned from the bar, if he could.
Jeneva tightened a screw on one of her motorcycles in the front yard of the house. "There you go, baby. Now you should purr." She revved the bike into life, and the engine rumbled steadily.
She heard the door open and Jaime came out of the house holding her cell phone. "Jen, George is calling you over and over. You should answer it."
"Thanks, Jaime," Jeneva wiped her hands on a rag. The yard was full of junk asking to be fixed up, but everytime she fixed something, she took it for a ride before she sold it. She petted the motorcycle affectionately. "Be patient. You'll get your turn." It gleamed silver in the setting sun.
Jeneva turned on the screen of her phone. She had five missed calls, all from George. She dialed him back.
"George? What's going on?"
"Jen," George said. "Rayner's here at the bar. He's drinking. You know how he gets after only a beer or two. He's had five. Everyone is scared he's going to do something awful. You should get over here, help him so he doesn't go off of the deep end."
"Oh my god, George, thanks for calling me." Jeneva ended the call and went into the house to find Jaime. "Rayner is drinking at the bar. He's freaking people out. We've got to go over there now before he does something bad."
"Alright. I'll drive. Get in the truck."
Jaime sped down the pine-lined roads leading to The Big Dipper. They pulled in front. Jaime let Jeneva out
Rayner staggered back heavily into his seat. His stomach was churning and his appetite was gone. "This doesn't make sense, George," Rayner's head was swimming, too, making the whole room spin while he got reoriented to reality. It was the exact opposite of what Jeneva had told him. He didn't know her to lie or go back on her word, ever. She was straightforward and didn't play games. That was one of the things that he loved about her. And the texts didn't even sound like she'd written them. He didn't understand what was happening. "Jeneva told me that she would never leave me."
"She probably told you that to keep you happy until she could get away from you. She hates hurting people. But there it is on the screen. There's no denying the truth."
The agony in Rayner's body was dialed up tenfold. He knew Jeneva had no problem letting people down. She had pushed him away to his face so many times before, right? But, it was there on George's phone. The words blazed up at him like a curse from God, telling him he was doomed to be alone, doomed to push women away from him. Why couldn't he get this right?
He examined George's face for clues, his body language. He was totally relaxed. He seemed sad for Rayner. That felt like a sucker punch to the gut. He was pitying Rayner. George had always been Jeneva's friend. He and George didn't always get along, but he had to admit George knew Jeneva better than he did. So why was his gut gnawing at him, telling him something was off? He read the texts again and again, the timestamp, the date. He looked for any clue that this was a deception of some kind, or a joke.
When he couldn't find any sign that he was being fooled – even though his feelings were blaring warning signs at him that he was about to make the wrong decision - he had to accept the obvious, as much as it hurt - Jeneva had played him. The dull rage he'd known for so long settled deeply back in his chest and heart.
"Thanks, George. You're a good friend," Rayner said as Marcus came back into the room.
"Rayner, got your sandwich on the grill now," Marcus said.
"Cancel it," Rayner growled. "I've lost my appetite. I need a drink. Give me a beer."
"A beer? You don't drink?"
"I'd better start, then to make up for lost time."
Marcus looked between George and Rayner. Now that Rayner was scowling down at his hands, George had a smug satisfaction on his face. Marcus shook his head and poured Rayner's beer. He'd have to make sure George got banned from the bar, if he could.
Jeneva tightened a screw on one of her motorcycles in the front yard of the house. "There you go, baby. Now you should purr." She revved the bike into life, and the engine rumbled steadily.
She heard the door open and Jaime came out of the house holding her cell phone. "Jen, George is calling you over and over. You should answer it."
"Thanks, Jaime," Jeneva wiped her hands on a rag. The yard was full of junk asking to be fixed up, but everytime she fixed something, she took it for a ride before she sold it. She petted the motorcycle affectionately. "Be patient. You'll get your turn." It gleamed silver in the setting sun.
Jeneva turned on the screen of her phone. She had five missed calls, all from George. She dialed him back.
"George? What's going on?"
"Jen," George said. "Rayner's here at the bar. He's drinking. You know how he gets after only a beer or two. He's had five. Everyone is scared he's going to do something awful. You should get over here, help him so he doesn't go off of the deep end."
"Oh my god, George, thanks for calling me." Jeneva ended the call and went into the house to find Jaime. "Rayner is drinking at the bar. He's freaking people out. We've got to go over there now before he does something bad."
"Alright. I'll drive. Get in the truck."
Jaime sped down the pine-lined roads leading to The Big Dipper. They pulled in front. Jaime let Jeneva out
Similar Books
