Living Again by L.L. Collins

Author:L.L. Collins [Collins, LL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L.L. Collins
Published: 2013-10-01T23:00:00+00:00

An hour later, he was checked in to the hotel where the conference was being held, a magnificent place right in the heart of Times Square. Looking out of his window at the flashing signs and bustling people below, he felt nothing but loneliness. He checked his phone for the conference schedule for tomorrow, sighing when he realized he would be in meetings from early in the morning until dinner time.

Changing his clothes into a pair of jeans and a casual button down shirt, he stuck his wallet and his phone in his pocket and headed for the hotel bar downstairs. He needed something to do other than look at the four walls in this room and think of Kayley.

He slid into a barstool, glad to see TV’s on behind the bar where he could at least drown himself in a mindless sports game. He sat his phone next to him, noticing that he thankfully had no more messages. He still hadn’t listened to the messages that Kayley left him yesterday. Or Emily. Or Cam.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, thankfully a middle aged man and not some flirtatious young woman.

“Scotch, neat,” Ben said crisply, not wanting to give the impression he wanted to chat. He passed his credit card across the bar to start a tab, and he left him to tend to someone else.

He downed the strong liquid, relishing the burn as it made its way to his stomach. He wanted- no needed- to be numb tonight. Or for the next five days. Or for the rest of his life. He signaled for another.

Just as he was ready to down the second, a familiar voice purred in his ear. “Fancy seeing you here,” Dana slid into the stool next to him. He practically groaned. She was right at the top of a very short list of people he did not want to see right now.

“What are you doing here,” he said with disgust, not even looking at her.

Dana scoffed. “God, Ben, really? Couldn’t you act like, I don’t know, friendly? I’m here for the same damn conference you’re here for.” The bartender approached and she ordered a Malibu and Diet Coke.

“Dana,” Ben tried to even his voice. “I’ve had a really, really shitty few days. So, if you don’t mind, I would like to sit here by myself and drink until I can barely make it to my room.”

Her slender eyebrows went up. “Wow. I’ve never seen you like this. What’s going on?”

Ben downed the other drink in one gulp, then turned to her. “None of your damn business.”

Dana laughed, sipping her drink. “Uh oh. Sounds like trouble in paradise. Things with Kayley on the rocks?”

Ben wasn’t a dick; he really wasn’t. But he had no patience for this right now. “Do not say her name. You don’t get to talk about her. Not after the stunt you pulled. Nice try, by the way. I didn’t think you were the conniving type.”

Dana blinked her heavily made-up eyes at him.

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