Sea Breeze 02 - Because of Low

seemed to be enjoying my frustration. He put a stupid cigarette to his lips and took a long drag then shrugged, “Since you ran off with Jess.”
    I turned to head outside when my phone rang. I hoped it wasn’t Manda with another crisis concerning Mom right now. That was the last thing I needed. I had been making some headway with Willow. Until Jess had drug me out onto the dance floor.
    “Hello,” I said pressing the phone close to my ear as I stepped outside.
    “I got my girl. I’m taking her home. In case you remembered you were her ride and couldn’t find her later I wanted you to know.”
    Cage had come to get Willow. HELL!
    “Why, what’s wrong? She okay?”
    She’d called Cage to come get her and he’d come to rescue her. Where had I been? Dancing. Perfect. Just perfect.
    “She was just tired and ready for bed. Didn’t want to bother you and your girl. I got her. All’s good. Later man.” The phone call ended.
    My girl? Jess was not my girl. I mean I’d messed around with her in the past. She was Rock’s hot little cousin but never anything serious.
    I stood in the parking lot looking out at the cars. I’d screwed up already. Willow had all kinds of walls built around her. I’d wanted to get past them. I wanted her to trust me and let me in. But I’d let her down and she’d gone running to Cage. There had been interest in her eyes tonight. I’d seen it. I’d wanted to shout out loud in triumph at it. But then Jess had shown up and I hated turning her down. Rock said she was going through a really bad time right now. All that had been about was trying to cheer up an old friend. Nothing more. But to Willow... it had looked like more. I’d left her. Cage had come for her. Who would have thought competing with Cage for the most trustworthy guy would be hard?

    “You find her?” Trisha asked when I returned to the table. I needed another drink. This time screw the Coke. I just needed the whiskey.
    “Cage got her.”
    Dewayne chuckled and I shot him a warning glare. I didn’t need to hear it from him right now. He always saw too much. Tonight, I wanted him to keep his opinions to himself.
    “Awww dang. Krit wanted to come see her after this set.”
    I shifted my angry glare toward Trisha who was grinning at me like she knew a hilarious secret.
    “Hey, Hardy don’t look at my woman like that. Save your angry snarls for someone else,” Rock’s warning wasn’t in jest. He meant business. I ran my hand through my hair and growled looking back toward the door wanting desperately to leave.
    “She’s got you all tied up in knots. It’s about fucking time. Sadie White did a number on you. Good to see you getting all worked up over another girl.” There was no reason to deny Dewayne’s observation. These were my best friends. They knew me better than anyone else. Lying to them was pointless.
    “Why the hell does she run off to him all the time? I don’t get it!”
    Trisha sat her drink down and leaned forward staring directly at me. “Because he’s her safe house. As screwed up as it is considering who we’re talking about. Cage cares about one thing in this world and it’s Low. He’s been fighting her battles and fixing her problems since they were kids. We all lived on the same street. I remember watching them. It always fascinated me how bad boy Cage York acted like a love sick puppy when it came to her. She fell down he came running. You want her, then good luck. Because every time you aren’t there to pick her up I can assure you Cage will be. She knows she can call him. She knows no matter what he’ll love her. Unconditional love is hard to compete with.”
    I reached over and took a long swig of Dewayne’s beer. Trisha was right. How did I compete with that? And did I even want to?

    Willow

    Cage closed the door behind us and threw his keys on the table.
    “I picked up some more of your Jarrito’s today. Go get you one while I get a shower.”
    I’d made Cage paranoid about the smell of perfume, sex and whiskey that always clung to him after his dates. I wanted to tell him not to worry about it. I was fine but I wanted alone time. So I nodded and headed for the fridge.
    Cage kissed the top of my head on his way to the bathroom.
    “I’ll scrub up good. I promise,” he called out as he closed the door.
    I laughed quietly to myself and started to go to his bedroom when the couch caught my attention. Memories of curling up against Marcus and waking up in his lap had