Sidelined: A Wilde Players Dirty Romance Read Online Free

direction.
    Mentally I count to three while I load my lungs with some calming air. I don’t want to have a knock-down, drag-out argument with my ex here, especially with Fletcher to witness my shame.
    “Calvin,” I say when he gets close.
    “Cassidy,” he mocks as if I’d said his name like a curse. And maybe I had.
    “Why are you here? You’re drunk, and you shouldn’t be driving.”
    “It’s a free world, and I’m here because you owe me.”
    My jaw aches as I grind my teeth together. “I don’t owe you anything. You took everything and left me with a bunch of bills I’m still paying off.”
    So far our conversation has been halfway civil. No yelling, not yet at least. Of course, that thought comes a moment too soon.
    “You still owe me for the house.”
    “The house is mine. You know this. It states it in our settlement.”
    “I want my share when you sell it.”
    There really wasn’t a reason to answer him, as we’ve had this conversation several times since the divorce, but I do anyway. “I haven’t sold it. And I don’t plan to anytime soon.”
    “That’s not fair. I need the money.”
    A different voice enters the mix. “Is there a problem?”
    Calvin has to look up to see Fletcher looming over him. That doesn’t stop the fool. He’s too drunk and too stupid to care he could never win a fight if it comes down to that.
    “I’m talking to my wife, so buzz off.”
    Fletcher’s eyes flick to mine, and I sigh. He’s going to find out soon enough anyway.
    I say to Calvin, “I’m not your wife, nor have I been for over a year. Just leave, and take a cab.”
    “Don’t you worry about me, Cassie, unless you want me to give you a ride for old time’s sake? Word has it you’ve been keeping those pretty legs of yours closed tight.”
    What the hell? Is he keeping tabs on me? A bonfire rages in my cheeks.
    “I think it’s time for you to leave,” Fletcher warns.
    Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Gina approach. “It is time for you to leave, Calvin. You know I can’t serve you.”
    “Two bitches and Paul Bunyan. You all can fuck yourselves.”
    He makes his way for the door, and I mutter to no one, “I hope he’s not driving.” Because despite it all, I don’t want him to get hurt. Somewhere in there was the man I thought I loved or at least cared deeply about at one point in my life.
    “He’s not,” Gina says, answering my question. Her eyes are glued to the front window.
    Idling at the curb is a car all too familiar to me. It belongs to Calvin’s trashy girlfriend he’d cheated on me with. Apparently, she’s supported him through his joblessness. Not financially, that had been me. I’d nagged him too much to find a job, so he found her instead. That was his excuse at least. His unemployment checks must have run out and now he is back to bothering me.
    “Here’s your food.” Gina hands a bag to Fletcher while maintaining her scowl.
    My bestie stands in as the line drawn in the sand between me and all my bad mistakes.
    Fletcher glances at me, but I look away. “Here, keep the change,” he says to Gina before limping off.
    After the door closes behind him, she says, “Seriously, girl, you and I need to have ourselves a night on the town.”
    “Can I get that drink?”
    She gives me the saddest smile which mirrors my inner turmoil. I certainly know how to pick ’em.
    Only before I get my drink, Fletcher comes back in spouting curses like a man who stepped in dog shit.
    “Gina!” he shouts. Her eyes narrow, and I wonder what’s crawled up his ass in a short time.
    Pushing locks that are midnight black from her face, her glare pins me as she stomps over to him.
    “Yes.”
    The word is clipped, and if Fletcher knows what is coming he’d back down from the mad he’s sporting.
    His fist hits the bar top. “Do you have the number to the garage the…”
    “Wilson’s,” Gina finishes for him.
    “Yeah, the Wilson’s still run it?”
    She nods. “I do. But,” she