Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) by Nikki Belaire

Author:Nikki Belaire [Belaire, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00V42J57W
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: 2015-04-06T23:00:00+00:00

* * * *

“Hi.”

Jason looks up from tossing white towels into the industrial-sized washing machine filling the corner of his makeshift office also doubling as a storage closet. Too proud to let her help him, he has a long way to go until the gym is the dream he imagines it to be.

“What are you doing here?”

No smile or welcoming nod. Just an indifferent shrug of his shoulders making her stomach hurt. “It’s seven o’clock. I came to work out like always.”

He glances at his watch before resuming his work. “Where’s Nick?”

She skirts the truth to protect the men she loves. Their already tumultuous relationship doesn’t need another argument to sever the tenuous connection. “He had a meeting and couldn’t make it.”

His body stiffens as he stuffs the linens deeper into the tub. All the years they’ve known each other, they’ve never fought, somehow always avoiding conflict. Until now.

“Can we talk?”

After pushing a few buttons on the control panel, he plops down in the ratty chair behind his desk. The piped-in music fades to a new song, the acoustic version of her first hit. She sticks her tongue out. “I hate hearing myself.”

He sings along for a few lines, his voice soft and wistful, perhaps remembering like she does how good things used to be between them. Maybe as hopeful as she is they can be again.

“You sound so young.”

“I would hope so. I was only seventeen.”

Everyone, including herself, thought if she was lucky she might be a one-hit wonder. Yet, her first single rose to number one in just a few weeks. Practically unheard of in the music industry. She broke into the top ten with her next few songs, forever cementing her career as a pop star princess.

“A lot’s changed since then.”

Hopefully not their friendship. She leans forward, grasping the edge of his desk. “I know you don’t agree with my choices, but I still want you in my life.”

“I wish you would have listened to me from the beginning. Then you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

She also wouldn’t be in love, happier than she thought possible after Evan. The right relationship with whom everyone thinks is the wrong man.

“You love him, don’t you?” His shakes his head at her smile before his eyes roll to the ceiling. “That’s perfect. You love him, he loves you, and I’ll probably be attending your funeral soon. Good thing I just bought a new suit.”

Her cheeks burn as hot as if he’d slapped her. Jason may be a drama king, but she refuses to put up with his cruel remarks. “I have to go.”

He races around the desk and grabs her arm as she turns away. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just scared to death I’m going to lose you.”

Shrugging him off, she points to his chest. “If you were really my friend, you would love me no matter what. Just like I have you all these years, even when you didn’t love yourself.”

His hands rub over his bare head, resting on the back of his neck.

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