Read Just One Reason for Free Online Page A

back in.  What right does she have coming back here and worming her way back into my life?  What fucking right?
    Now that I’d worked myself into a fury I pushed off the wall and stalked toward the pub.  Halfway there my phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket to see Josh’s name on the screen.  Josh had never met Lindsay, but I’m sure it didn’t take long to figure out who Leah’s new friend was. I hit Ignore and shoved it back in my pocket. He was probably calling to warn me.
    Well, he should be warning Lindsay, because I’m not letting her back into my life just so she can fuck it all up again.

Chapter Four
    Lindsay
    The Last Call was a typical sports bar with football, basketball and baseball photos and memorabilia on the walls.  A long bar lined the left side of the room and there were booths and tables for dining.
    L ooking around the room Leah said, “Josh isn’t here yet, so we can hang out at the bar for now.”  I quickly looked around too and sighed in relief when I didn’t see anyone I knew, i.e. Grady Hawke.  With some effort Leah perched herself on a tall bar stool, and I took the one next to her.
    The bartender greeted us with something that sounded like a grunt and said, “Hey, Leah,” befo re moving away to fix a drink.
    Leah leaned closer and whispered, “That’s Ford.  He comes across as kind of an asshole, but he’s really a nice guy deep down.  Cute too, don’t you think?”  She nudged me with her shoulder and winked.  I rolled my eyes at her obvious attempt to set me up.  She had no idea the last thing I was looking for was to be set up with a stranger.  Although he was cute - very tall, well built with sandy brown hair and blue eyes.  But not my type - he didn’t have blonde hair that was long enough to tuck behind his ears or tattoos running down his forearms.
    “Yeah, he’s pretty hot.  But I’m not really loo king to date anyone right now,” I replied hoping she wouldn’t push it any farther.  Ford came back over to us and set a glass of ice water with lemon in front of Leah.  He looked at me, scowling and raised an eyebrow.
    Leah ordered for me, “She’ll have a Lemon Drop Martini.”  Ford rolled his eyes and walked away.
    My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Was that his way of asking me for my order?  Because, if so, he really sucks at his job.”
    Leah laughed, “Yeah, he’s a tough nut to crack.  Ford was a star quarterback in high school and got a full ride to LSU.  He was set to be a first round NFL draft pick, but he hurt his leg his junior year and his football career was over.  Now he’s back home working here.”
    My attitude toward the surly bartender softened slightly.  It would be devastating to have the world at your fingertips and then have it taken away in the blink of an eye.  I would probably be in a constant bad mood too.  When he set my drink down in front of me I smiled kindly at him, but he didn’t return it.  Oh, well.  I guess I wouldn’t be adding Ford to my list of potential new friends.  So far Leah was the only person on that list.
    I took a sip of my drink and made a sour face at the sugary sweetness.  Leah noticed my pinched expression and apologized, “Sorry.  That’s my favorite drink and if I can’t drink it I want to at least be able to smell it.”
    I laughed and pushed it toward her . “Sniff away.”
    While Leah was busy inhaling the sickening sweetness of my drink, my mind wandered back five years to Grady talking about some of his friends.  I think he had mentioned somebody going off to play football, but I’m sure his name wasn’t Ford.  It started with a W - Wells or Walker or something like that.
    “Hey, Leah?   What’s Ford’s last name,” I asked holding my breath and praying she said Smith or Jones or anything that didn’t start with a W.
    She moved the drink back in front of me and said, “Walsh.  Ford Walsh.”  Son of a bitch.   Well, there goes the only friend on my