Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Margot

Is he fucking kidding? Had a good time? A letter grade hastily scribbled in the corner?

I'm numb from the day, and coming home to the pathetic Post-it Note on my kitchen counter is like finding a spider floating in my coffee cup. I crumple it in my fist and throw it in the trash.

My happy oasis, my bright cheery apartment, feels tainted with memories of Jigsaw now. I don't bother to change out of my black pantsuit and emerald blouse. I grab my purse and head downstairs.

Outside, the cool evening air slides over my skin, refreshing me, encouraging me to go somewhere. Do something besides sit home and think about Jigsaw.

I drive around aimlessly for a while. Well, maybe not that aimless. I'm heading toward Johnsonville.

Faint lights glow from a side road. That's Remy's place, right? Maybe I'll stop there. Lynette was nice. And I'd love to get my hands on more of those dark chocolate chip cookies she gave me the last time.

The parking lot's more crowded this time. A few classic cars like mine, an SUV, and two motorcycles. My heart stops. I'd never looked at Jigsaw's close enough to know if one of these belongs to him.

The green flames on one catch my eye as I pass it. Pretty. Still looks like a death rocket, though.

"Hey, Margot, what're you doing here?" Remy grins at me from behind the bar and sets down whatever he was working on back there.

The tavern's kinda dark but clean and sort of vintage looking. The booth in the back Jigsaw and I had sat in is occupied with three larger guys in flannels or hoodies. No black leather vests with back patches.

I quicken my steps and sit on the stool in front of Remy.

"Hi. I was passing by, and I thought I'd stop in for something to eat."

He flashes a devastatingly handsome smile. "Welcome."

"Jigsaw said the buffalo chicken sandwich is good here." Mentioning his name sends a shooting stab of pain through my chest.

His smile fades and he lifts his eyebrows. "He did, huh? Here I thought he only liked stopping by to glower and threaten to stab me."

My jaw drops. "He does what?"

"I think it's because he likes me so much. Violence is his love language." The corners of his mouth curl. "You can tell him I said that, too."

"Sure." I'll make that my priority. "Are you working by yourself?"

"No." He sets a glass of ice water in front of me. "Lynette's here. Buffalo chicken, right?"

I nod quickly. "And extra blue cheese."

"You got it."

He slips out from behind the counter and strides down the short corridor. Such broad shoulders and good posture. Jigsaw says Remy's some kind of MMA fighter. He must be quite lethal. Too young for me, though.

And I don't want anyone else. Obviously, I can't tell Mr. Had a Nice Time that, though. Why did I have to ask him to teach me about sex? And why do I wish it could turn into something more?

He was honest that it wouldn't ever be a real relationship. At first, that was fine. But staying at my house for the last few days sure made it seem like it was heading in that direction.

Behind me, the door opens and closes, bringing in a cool swirl of night air. I don't bother turning around to see who it is. It's unlikely I know them, anyway.

A guy walks up to the counter. Tall, but not as tall as Jigsaw. Lean and fit but not as muscled as— stop it. His head's covered with shockingly orange spiky hair. He glances down the hallway, taps his fingers against the bar.

"Remy should be right back," I say.

He turns and his eyes widen for a second. Then a broad smile spreads over his face. "Hello," he says smoothly. "You look familiar."

I take a sip of my water and flash a quick, polite smile. "Do I?"

He arches an eyebrow, his grin broadening. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I've seen you around."

"Margot."

"Torch," he introduces, his voice smooth. "I'm a friend of Remy's." He glances down the hallway briefly before his focus returns to me, a playful glint in his eyes. "You here alone tonight?"

"Just grabbing something to eat." I aim for a casual tone, but I'm still anxious talking to this stranger.

Torch leans his elbow on the bar, his posture relaxed. "Mind if I keep you company while you wait?"

"Not at all." Why not? Jigsaw isn't interested in me. I wanted experience so I'd be comfortable dating someone else, right? He gave me what I asked for. Now it's time to move on. I glance at Torch again. He's shorter than Jigsaw. Isn't that what Jigsaw suggested, that I find someone shorter to try kitchen-counter sex with?

My stomach turns. That one had really hurt.

Remy returns with my sandwich, his attention shifting between Torch and me. "Here you go, Margot." He sets the plate down, then reaches over the counter to shake Torch's hand. "What's up, brother?"

The door behind us opens again, excited female voices chattering away.

"Hey, girls," Remy greets, and gestures toward the booths.

Torch turns and points at one of the women. "Ella, you owe me another race."

"In your dreams." A tiny pixie of a woman runs over and gives Torch a quick hug. "I'll smoke your ass every day of the week and you know it. What're you doing over here?"

Torch reaches over and touches my sleeve. "Talking to Margot. Margot, this is my cousin-in-law, Ella."

"Hi." She sweeps her hand in a quick wave. "Is the Thunderbird out there yours?"

"Uh, yeah."

At my confused face, she touches her hand to her chest. "Oh, sorry! That probably sounded creepy, huh?"

"No, no," I protest. Odd, yes, not quite creepy.

"I recognized all the other cars but that one. It's sweet."

"Thanks."

She lifts her hand and waves to someone behind me. "My man's getting impatient over there." She laughs and punches Torch's arm. "Are you joining us?"

"I'll be over."

The girls cross the bar, squealing and hugging two of the guys at the table. The third stands to make room and our eyes meet. I know him. Griff smiles and nods at me. He leans over and says something to his friends, then crosses the bar, coming straight toward me.

Good grief, this is a small town.

"Hey, Margot," Griff's warm, rich voice greets me. "What're you doing here?"

"A friend brought me by the other day. I fell in love with Lynette's dark chocolate chip cookies, so I thought I'd stop in again."

"I think they're walnut chocolate chip today," Remy says. "But I'll grab a few for you now. Before these clowns eat all of them." He teasingly jabs a finger toward Griff, then Torch.

"Why you throwing shade at your brother-in-law, Remy?" Torch asks with a smirk.

"Nice to hear you admit you're a clown." Griff reaches over and claps Torch on the back, then laughs.

Torch doesn't seem insulted. If anything, it seems like their verbal jabs are a regular occurrence.

"How's it going?" I ask Griff.

"Good, thanks. I wanted to say thanks for sending that guy with the ‘67 Mustang Fastback my way."

"Oh, he actually came to see you? That's great!" I smile, happy I could help.

Griff nods and glances at the table in the back where the two couples are laughing and sharing a pizza. "You're welcome to join us if you want."

"Uh, I'm good, thanks." I gesture to my sandwich, though I'm suddenly too nervous to eat in front of everyone.

"All right, well, glad I ran into you." He gives Torch one last hard look before heading back to his table.

Torch has moved down a few seats to talk to Remy. I take a quick bite of my sandwich, savoring the spicy sauce, then lift the bun and drizzle the cup of blue cheese over the whole thing.

I glance at the guys in the corner. Griff nods at me. Not in a flirty way, more like a subtle sense that he's looking out for me.

I hurry to finish my sandwich, taking sips of water to quell the spiciness.

I'm dipping a piece of celery in some stray blue cheese dressing when Torch returns. I quickly swipe my napkin over my mouth.

"So, Margot, do you ever go to the drive-in out on Route 50?"

"Oh, wow. Not in years. My parents used to take me there when I was a kid." Until my mom passed away and we stopped leaving the house all that much.

"Well, they're still open. Wanna go Friday night?"

As of right now, I have Friday off, but that can always change. I hate to make plans and then break them, but I'd also like to go out and do something fun. Torch seems safe. Remy knows him. Griff knows him. That woman, Ella, seemed comfortable around him. "Sure," I finally answer.

"Great." He pulls out his phone. "Give me your number. I'll pick you up?—"

"I live all the way out in Pine Hollow." I smile apologetically. "And my job's kind of unpredictable. I might get called in." Shoot, why'd I mention my job? Please don't ask what I do .

He stares at me for a few seconds. Probably trying to decide if I'm giving an excuse.

"Really," I say.

"Okay. You want to meet here first? Have dinner and then go?"

"Sure."

"If you get called in or something, I can bring you right back."

"Okay."

A pleased smile spreads over his face. "Good." I hand him my phone and he punches his number in. When his screen lights up, he answers, then disconnects.

"I'll call Friday afternoon to make sure we're still on," he suggests. "That okay?"

"Yeah, that works."

"Great. I'll see you then." He nods at me, then walks over to Griff's table.

A refreshing wave of confidence washes over me, like I'm in control of my life again.

Torch might not end up being anything serious, but maybe that's exactly what I need. Because for a few seconds, he actually helped me forget about my Jigsaw problem.