21. Chapter 21
twenty-one
Sadie
Iwas about to lock up when a very dapper-looking Wrecker strolled in.
Hair slicked back, clean clothes on—he looked… different. Still handsome as ever, but tonight he was polished.
Someone was going to be very lucky one day, I thought. He had that easy charm, the kind of smile that could melt stress right off your shoulders. Always quick with a joke, always upbeat. And the way he looked at women—like they hung the moon—yeah. He’d worship whoever won his heart.
“Heya, Wrecker,” I said with a grin, feigning innocence even though I knew exactly why he was here. “You got a date tonight or something?”
“I hope so.” His usual swagger faltered just slightly as he cleared his throat. “You wanna go dancing with me? Maybe get a drink?”
His cheeks tinted pink, and my heart softened in a way I didn’t expect.
“Of course I would,” I said, smiling warmly. “This week’s been Hell. I could use a nice night out with a handsome man.”
He held his arm out for me to loop mine through, and I took it. “Why, thank you, sir.”
He blushed again.
We ended up at the karaoke place again, but we just danced to others' songs, and it was fun. He made me laugh, and, just for a little while, he made me forget.
Forget the bakery. Forget the ache.
Forget that I’d been imagining a different pair of arms when the music swelled.
I leaned against him after a particularly wild two-step, catching my breath and fanning myself dramatically.
“You’re trouble,” I said, half-laughing.
“And you needed a little trouble,” he replied, his grin boyish and sweet.
He wasn't wrong.
But when I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, the shadow that drifted into my mind wasn’t Wrecker’s.
It was a man with dark eyes, a stormy scowl, and a voice like gravel and sin.
And I hated that I still wanted him.
Wrecker walked me to my door when we ended the night, and he kissed my cheek with a grin that was far too wicked. He knew what he was doing.
“Thank you, Wrecker. This was a much-needed thing. You will make the best partner to someone someday.”
He smiled again, large and real. “You’ll be a reference? Put in a good word?”
“The best word.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek before heading inside and upstairs to have a cup of tea and get to bed.
I curled up with my tea, the steam warming my face as I stared out the window at the empty street.
Tonight had been fun.
Easy.
Exactly what I needed.
So why did I feel like I was still waiting for something?
The street was quiet. The garage across the way was dark.
And the ache in my chest hadn’t dulled—it had just been quieted for a few hours by good company and better distractions.
But I was tired of waiting.
I was hoping someone would choose me.
I wanted to choose myself for once.
And I’d start right now.
Diesel
The little shit kissed her cheek. My jaw clenched. Then she said something to him, her smile sweet and lifted on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
My heart cracked. I couldn’t be that sweet, and she didn’t need my salt to dull her sweetness.
I got on my bike, revved it, and peeled down the street, away from everything I wanted. Because I knew I couldn’t have it.
I told myself it was better this way.
That someone like her deserved someone who could laugh easily and love more easily.
Not a man still haunted by the taste of regret and the ghost of every wrong choice he’d made.
I’d ruin her if I touched her.
So I left.
I left before I did something selfish.
Like begging her to stay sweet for someone like me.