Waiting for Wednesday (2 page)

It was those words that reverberated in his mind when he looked at the empty hospital bed Thursday morning. She wasn’t there. She was gone.

Gone.

11

Mari Carr

Chapter One

Present day

“I need two gin and tonics, Tris, and another Guinness.” Tristan Collins nodded to acknowledge he’d heard the order and started making the drinks.

“My, my, my,” Keira said, leaning over the bar. “Aren’t you the stimulating conversationalist tonight?”

Tris gave her a dirty look and tried to ignore his older sister’s assessing gaze. The last thing he needed was to be analyzed and dissected by Keira. Lately, she’d been giving him hell about his lack of social life, trying to set him up with one friend after another. She simply wouldn’t listen when he said he wasn’t interested in dating. He figured her sudden obsession with his love life had something to do with her being madly in love. Her boyfriend, Will Wallace, had proposed over Christmas, which meant Tris had been subjected to hour after hour of wedding planning. He wished the day would come already, so they could get it over with and life could get back to normal.

Unfortunately, June was still two very long months away.

He put the drinks on her tray and turned around to polish a glass that didn’t need polishing, hoping it would deter Keira from continuing. No such luck.

“Oh yeah, Tris. Turning your back will definitely make me stop talking.
Not
. You men are all the same. So who stuck the stick up your ass tonight?” He sighed and shook his head, refusing to face her as he spoke. “No one, Keira. I’m just tired.”

“You’re always tired lately. What’s up, Tris?”

He knew what was up, but there was no way on earth he’d confess the truth to his sister. It had been a year since Lane Bryce had disappeared from Baltimore, from his 12

Waiting for Wednesday

life. For months he’d managed to hold that thought at bay, ignore the pain that accompanied the memory of her, but tonight he couldn’t seem to shake off the recollections that assaulted him. It was Wednesday night—
their
night. Yet for the first time in a year, he hadn’t looked at her usual stool and expected her to be there. It was as if the realization she was gone had finally sunk into his thick skull.

When he’d last seen her, he hadn’t realized she’d leave town without a word. And he definitely hadn’t known she’d be taking off with his heart. He closed his eyes. He’d been so stupid. She was married, unavailable, and he’d foolishly convinced himself she was off-limits. Christ, she
was
off-limits.

Then he’d seen her in that hospital bed, learned she was serious about her intention to leave her husband and in a few hours, everything had changed for him. He’d gone home that night feeling hopeful and happier than he’d ever been in his life. She was going to be free and he’d fully intended to grab her. To hold on to her with two hands before any other man realized what a gem she was and snatched her up. So much for that idea. She’d disappeared without a trace and weeks of searching hadn’t given him a clue to her whereabouts.

“Earth to Tris,” Keira said from behind him.

“Just deliver the drinks.” His reply was harsher than he’d intended and he heard his sister’s slight intake of breath, knew he’d hurt her feelings. Shit. He was a regular asshole these days. He turned to apologize but Keira had already stormed away from the bar.

“Damn, man.” Sean came behind the bar to drop off some clean glasses. “No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend. Must be all that charm you
don’t
have getting in the way.”

“Fuck,” Tris muttered. “I didn’t mean to snap at her.”

“You’ve been walking around here all night like a bear with a thorn in his paw. You wanna talk about it?”

13

Mari Carr

He shook his head. “Not particularly.” He refused to tell any of his siblings what a fool he’d been. He’d fallen in love with a woman who didn’t love him back. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that. He was never going to make that mistake again.

As far as he was concerned, his future relationships would never advance beyond casual, no-strings-attached sex. He was perfectly content running the bar, watching sports on television, hanging out with his guy friends on his days off and finding a woman when he had an itch to scratch.

“Okay. Well, it’s a standing offer,” Sean said. “Coming over Sunday afternoon to watch the Orioles?”

Tris nodded, pleased that at least his younger brother could appreciate he meant it when he said he didn’t want to talk. Sean didn’t even take offense. Just another reason why women were a pain in the ass. They always wanted to poke and prod at every sore spot they could find.

“Yeah. Wouldn’t miss it. I’ll bring the pizza.” He and Sean had a regular Sunday-afternoon routine that involved watching baseball, NASCAR or whatever other sport was in season while devouring two large pizzas and sucking down soda.

“Cool. Hey, I think I might knock off early tonight. Do you mind? I’ve got a date and I want to go home and change first.”

“No problem. It’s Wednesday and slow as shit. Keira and I can handle it.” Sean grinned. “Try not to piss her off any more than you already have, okay? I’d hate to break up a fistfight between you and Will. He’s too damn protective of her and he’ll be ticked if you make her cry.”

Tris saluted. “I’ll try my best.”

He watched Sean leave then glanced at the clock. It was nearly eleven. Only one more hour to go before he could hit the sack. Sunday’s Side, the adjoining restaurant named after his mother, had just closed, and a couple meandered through the connecting door between the bar and dining room, clearly not ready to call it a night.

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Waiting for Wednesday

There were less than a dozen people scattered around the pub and he wished they would all go home.

Keira came back over to the bar. “Where did Sean go?”

“He had a date. I told him he could take off early. Listen, Keira, I’m sorry about snapping your head off. I really am tired.”

Her face lit up at his apology and she smiled. He had to admit the best thing about his sisters was they never held grudges. “It’s okay. I never know when to shut my mouth. I’m worried about you.”

“I know, but you’re just gonna have to believe me, sis, when I say I’m fine.” She nodded and went to take drink orders from the two newcomers. He walked to the storeroom to grab a couple cases of beer, returning to restock the cooler behind the bar. The bell above the front door rang and he fought back a growl at the thought of more people coming in. He’d never get out of here early tonight at this rate. He didn’t even bother to look up as he continued loading the cooler. Keira could get their orders.

“Hey, Everest.”

He stopped moving at the sound of Lane’s voice and for a moment, he thought he’d imagined it. He’d purposely tried to put the woman out of his mind for months, until tonight when the memories simply wouldn’t stay away. He slowly rose, bracing himself to find an empty barstool.

And she was there.

He stared at her for a moment until her friendly smile began to waver and he realized he was frowning at her. He blinked a couple times, forcing himself to snap out of it.

“Well, well, well.” His lighthearted tone was rusty from disuse. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

She grinned at his comment. “You always did call me kitten. Been a long time.” 15

Mari Carr

He nodded, wanting to drag her over the bar and scold her for disappearing on him, for vanishing without a trace and driving him crazy with worry.

“Almost a year,” he said instead. “Want a drink?”

“I’d love a glass of white wine.”

He turned to grab a wineglass, proud that his hands were steady. It was obvious seeing him again after a year’s absence wasn’t tearing
her
insides to shreds. Apparently he was the only one feeling the painful effects of this unexpected reunion.

He poured the wine and set it in front of her, trying to ignore how pretty she looked. She was lovelier now than she’d ever been. Her skin radiated with a healthy glow and she had a tan. Her dark brown hair was a bit longer and he detected lighter streaks that could have been brightened by the sun or a bottle. He loved when women put those highlights in their hair. The thick tresses looked as soft as he remembered.

He’d often fantasized about running his fingers through the silky mass, spreading it out over his pillow as he kissed her, touched her, loved her. He shook himself for staring at her like a lovestruck fool.

He cleared his throat. “So what brings you back to Baltimore?” Some small, stupid part of him hoped she would say him.

“I thought it was time to come home.”

“Home?” Jesus, was she coming back for James? After she’d disappeared, Tris had torn the city—hell, he’d torn Maryland—apart looking for her. Through it all, his only consolation had been that wherever she was, she wasn’t with her husband.

James, after spending a few days in jail, actually had the nerve to come by the pub asking about her. Ewan and Sean had physically restrained Tris from pulverizing the man while Pop escorted the asshole out. If his family ever wondered about his intense reaction to seeing Lane’s husband, they’d never mentioned it. As far as they knew, he and Lane were friends and he’d been furious with her husband for hurting her so badly.

No one seemed to suspect how deep his feelings really ran.

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Waiting for Wednesday

“To Baltimore,” she said. “I tried a year in San Diego, but the entire time I just wanted to get back to the East Coast. Back to four distinct seasons, Phillips crab cakes and the Orioles.”

He grinned. Lane was the only woman he’d ever met who followed sports more religiously than he did. And that was saying something.

“Yeah well, maybe this isn’t the year to come home for the Orioles. Their fucking pitching game—”

“I know!” she interjected. “What the hell is their problem? Why can’t they get a decent guy on the mound? After last Tuesday’s walk-off against the Rangers, I just wanted to put my head down and cry.”

“Amen. That game was brutal.” Tris leaned his elbows on the counter, struck by the familiarity of their conversation. She’d been gone a year and yet, within minutes, it felt as if she’d never left at all.

“Why, Lane?” He didn’t explain his question, didn’t need to.

Her smile saddened and she shrugged slightly. “I had to leave, Tris. Had to get out of here and get my head screwed on straight.”

“I didn’t notice anything wrong with your thinking.” He hadn’t. “Seems to me before you left you’d started making some smart decisions. Leaving James was a step in the right direction.”

She laughed mirthlessly. “Yeah, leaving James was such a great idea I ended up in the hospital with two cracked ribs and ten stitches in my forehead.”

“You regret leaving him?”

“Holy shit, no. The guy was an asshole. I just didn’t handle the situation very well. I thought I could sneak out like a thief in the night. Thought I could leave and he’d accept it and there wouldn’t be any ugliness, any conflict.” He grinned. Lane hated fighting and dissention of any sort. She was the ultimate peacekeeper. “Divorces aren’t usually known for being easy, kitten.” 17

Mari Carr

“I know that…now. Back then, I wasn’t thinking too clearly. Speaking of divorces, mine’s final. I’m finally free and I have to tell you, Tris, I love it. Love not having to answer to anyone. Love making my own decisions. I can’t tell you how great this last year has been.”

Her words, the ones he’d waited years to hear, hit him squarely in the chest. She was free. And despite that freedom, she seemed more unattainable than ever.

“Congratulations.” As he spoke the word, he realized he actually meant it. He’d never wanted anything more than for Lane to be happy, and discovering she was lightened some of the heaviness weighting down his heart. He’d never seen her so at peace. It looked good on her, even if her newfound happiness was tearing him apart.

“So what’s the plan now?”

“I’m staying with my friend Joy until I can find a place of my own. Then I suppose I’m on the hunt for a job.”

“I’m sure the hospital would take you back in a heartbeat.” She shook her head. “I worked in private care in San Diego and loved it. I don’t think I want to go back to working all those crazy swing shifts at the hospital. At least not if I don’t have to.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” He silently wondered where he fit into her plans, and then sadly he knew. It was Wednesday night and she was here. Once again, he’d no doubt be relegated to her once-a-week friend, keeping her company while she sipped her wine and unwound after work.

“Sort of,” she said. “I…” She paused and he could see she was struggling to find the words to speak what was on her mind.

“What is it?”

“I owe you an apology, Tris. A big one.”

“What for?”

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Waiting for Wednesday

“I don’t think I was wrong to leave town, but I think in my haste for a fresh start, I didn’t stop to think about our friendship getting thrown out with the dirty dishwater. I mean, I don’t know if you were worried or—”

His temper spiked at her comment and he felt his tenuous control of his emotions give way. “You didn’t know if I was worried? Are you kidding me, Lane? What the fuck did you think I would do? Shrug and say no big deal? Last time I saw you, you were beat to hell in a hospital bed. Next day, you’re gone without a trace.”

“I know.” She cut off his tirade with her anguished tone. “It was wrong of me to take off like that without a word. Wrong of me not to call. It’s just—” She stopped and took a deep breath. He could see her analyzing her words, trying to say the right thing to calm him down. “I was scared.”

“I would have protected you from James.”

She raised her hand, pointing at him, her voice raised. “And
that’s
why I had to leave. I wasn’t afraid of James. I was afraid I’d let you—” She took another deep breath and her calm demeanor returned.