Sidelined: A Wilde Players Dirty Romance Read Online Free Page A

eyes the clock over the bar, “they should be closing for the day.”
    “Closing? What the fuck is wrong with this town? Give me the number anyway.”
    Gina eyes me, and I nod. He’d been kind of cute coming to my rescue with Calvin. Gina glares at me but rattles off the number anyway. Cars break down all the time in town. Most folks don’t own brand new ones, so everyone knows the number for the garage.
    Fletcher is a big guy with deep lungs and his voice carries as he speaks into the phone. “What? I need a tow. No, it can’t wait until fucking tomorrow. Wait, I’ll pay—”
    He stares at the phone, and I know he’s been cut off.
    “Goddamn townies.”
    “You know what—” Gina begins.
    I let out a sigh resigned to what I have to do. Walking over from my spot, I stand in front of my first love. “I know it’s been a while, but things move slowly here. Troy is never going to come for your truck now. I’ll give you a ride home and sweet talk him tomorrow into forgiving your shits of the mouth.”
    “Shits of the mouth?”
    Goddamn, if he doesn’t look so cute perplexed.
    “Come on, Fletch. Let’s go.”
    “What about my truck?”
    “You can sleep with your truck and make babies for all I care. But if you want to get home, you’re going to have to part ways with her for the night and catch a ride home with me.”
    He’s had that truck since high school. I don’t understand why he still has it, but I don’t wait for his answer. I prowl out into the growing dusk, and he follows way too close. Any closer and my clothes would erupt in flames. Damn him .
    “This is your car.”
    I’m not sure if he’s annoyed or amused.
    “I happen to like my Mini Cooper. It’s perfectly suited for me.”
    “And how am I supposed to get in there?”
    I shrug. “I can always ask Gina for some rope and strap you to the hood.”
    His eyes narrow. I click the unlock button.
    “Come on. I know for a fact a guy your size can get in the car. Plus, you’re lucky I’m not giving you shit for walking around without your crutches.”
    My father is a tall and solidly built man, and I’ve driven him around with no problem.
    “I didn’t have that far to go, so I left the crutches at home.” He pauses in thought before glancing back at the bar. “Maybe I can get a ride from Gina.”
    A frosted laugh puffs out of my mouth. “Now that I want to see.” When he eyes me with confusion, I add, “Gina rides a Harley.”
    He stares at me in disbelief. “In this weather?”
    “What can I tell you? She’s a badass. Plus, she lives upstairs over the bar.”
    “Maybe I’ll just call Mark.”
    Mark is Fletcher’s best friend.
    “I heard he moved to Asheville. That’s thirty minutes away. Stop acting like a grumpy old man and just get in the car.”
    I open the door and hold out a hand. He resentfully takes it. It’s almost comical how low he has to bend before he tries to fold himself into the seat. As funny as it is, I make sure he doesn’t put undue stress on his leg.
    “I can’t move the seat back. Where’s the button?” he complains.
    His one leg is still outside of the car, and I have to lean over and in between his legs to reach under the seat.
    “Sorry, Fletch,” I say begrudgingly. “We’re all not rich like you. I could only afford the base model, so you’ll have to remember how to push the seat back.”
    His hand lands on the back of my head. “I have the sweetest memories of you positioned like this.”
    When I yank my head up to glare at him, I bang the crap out of it under the console.
    “Dammit,” I spew, as he continues to smirk at me.
    I’m stuck between wanting to hurt him and not wanting to because of my job. His hand covers mine as I feel for the goose egg surely there. His eyes soften on mine, and I stare at him a moment to long until a gust of wind reminds me it’s not summer. I pull back out of the car, losing contact with him. I focus on his leg and gently help him get his braced knee