Page 126 of Say I Do

Ash smiled as he practically hopped out of the car. “They have the best pancakes.”

“And we know the guys don’t have the place bugged or anything.” Tex led the way inside, and an older woman waved at us.

“Welcome. Pick a seat, and I’ll be right with you.”

We moved to the back. Tex and I both went for the booth facing the diner. Ash slipped into the booth that would have his back facing everyone else. I gestured for Tex to go ahead, and he slid in, muttering under his breath. It seemed he was as reluctant to put his back to people as I was.

“What can I get you fellows?” the older woman asked as she stepped to our table.

Ash smiled up at her. “The usual.”

“Same,” Tex said.

I hadn’t even looked at the menu, not that I could stomach food. I hadn’t eaten anything all day, and it would probably stay that way. The alcohol was burning a hole in my stomach, though.

“He will have a coffee and toast,” Tex said.

“Tea if you have it,” I corrected. I was drunk, but that didn’t mean I’d lower my standards and drink shit water.

“Sure thing, sweetie. I’ll bring it out.”

“I won’t even make fun of you for not drinking coffee,” Tex said.

I grunted in response. I just wanted to get this over with. “About the diary.”

Tex stiffened next to me. He was so damn big his arms brushed against mine. I probably would have been more comfortable sitting next to Ash. But then my back would be toward the door, and there was no way in hell I’d allow that.

“What diary?” Ash looked between us, innocent as ever.

“Enzo will kill me, or maybe Benito will do it.” Tex ran his hand over his face.

“I’ll handle Benito. You’re on your own with Enzo.”

Ash smiled at me. “So glad you two are working out. Gin was really nervous.”

I fought not to fidget in my seat.Were we working out?Right now, our conversations were superficial. Benito hadn’t looked at me for more than a few seconds, he was back on the couch, and there were still no messages from him either. Fuck. I hated feeling like this.

The waitress brought out our drinks along with Tex and Ash’s food. I was good with my toast and tea. It wasn’t a huge selection, but it was better than nothing at all. The smell of food made my stomach cramp.

I took a sip of my tea and closed my eyes for a brief second. “Start talking, Tex,” I said.

He froze, a fork full of French toast halfway to his mouth. “Fine. Can I read them if I tell you the story as I know it?”

I shrugged. “Thought you didn’t care anymore.”

“I might not be in that line of work anymore, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about the missing pages.” Tex shrugged. “They’ve stayed on my mind since I laid eyes on the diary.”

Nothing in them would be of importance. Except there’d been an address. I’d already checked it out; it was long gone. The abandoned building had already been demolished, and now a luxury apartment building stood in its place.

“Sure.”

Tex put his fork down. “When I met Enzo, we had an unconventional start to our relationship. I found pictures under his bed. One really stood out to me.” Tex rubbed his hands together before he placed them under the table.

Anxiety crossed his face. I squirmed. Whatever he’d seen had clearly affected him.

“I made Enzo get rid of all of them. He didn’t need them anymore.” Tex rolled his shoulders as if the story bothered him personally. “Brycen Grennan was a drug addict and heavily involved with Benito and Enzo. Neither brother knew he was with the other. Apparently, it was a time when they had all started to grow distant.”

“What?” Ash’s mouth dropped open.