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Funny how a few months ago, marriage and family were synonymous with pain and heartbreak.
But not anymore.
Not since Lottie came into my life and showed me that those words can hold a different meaning.
They can make a life wonderful and whole.
They can make a life worth living.
And I want that.
I want to experience all of it—with her.
So why the hell am I wasting my time here when I could be back in my hotel room, talking to her on the phone?
“I’m going back to the hotel.”
“What?! But we haven’t even been here an hour,” Caleb complains.
“Correct, which means I should have left an hour ago.” I grin, placing my barely touched beer bottle on a nearby table. “See ya.”
As I’m about to pass Caleb by and go on my merry way, something in the corner of the room catches my eye—a familiar smug laugh prickling my nape. I slice through the crowd of partygoers at a rapid pace, pushing through to get a better view, just in case my eyes are playing tricks on me.
All too soon do I realize I see just fine.
Just a few feet away from me, between two women who definitely look like bought-and-paid-for escorts, sits Cooper, laughing the night away without a care in the world. My blood boils as I watch the bastard snort coke from the cleavage of one of his female companions while he pushes the other woman’s head onto his lap, ordering her to blow him.
Caleb stands beside me as he follows my murderous gaze to the man who has put my whole life on hold.
“Oh, shit! Isn’t that the asshole who’s dating the girl you’re crushing on?” Caleb asks, wide-eyed.
Crush. Madly in love with. It’s all a blur to me now, with the rage pulsing in my veins.
For the past few months, this fucker has been a thorn in my side.
He’s the reason why Lottie and I aren’t together yet.
Whereas she’s denied herself an ounce of happiness, guilt-ridden by her unexpected feelings for me while she’s supposed to be in a committed relationship with him, this motherfucker has been living it up, not depriving himself of anything.
Worse still, he’s flaunting his lifestyle for the whole world to see, while Lottie has to hide away the love she has for me.
“What are you going to do?” Caleb asks nervously at my side.
“I’m going to kill the rat bastard,” I grunt, charging in his direction.
“Whoa, there, big fella,” Caleb interjects, jumping in front of me.
“Get out of my way,” I growl.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen, brother.” Caleb tsks. “See, here’s the thing. It took you months to get out of the doghouse with the team and the media, and there is no way I’m letting you throw all that away on that piece of shit.”
I know he’s making sense, but logic is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
“Dude, think about it?” Caleb urges assertively. “There are a lot of phone cameras up in here. No need to be putting on a show that may get you into trouble again.”
My nostrils flare as I try to take a few deep breaths to calm me down.
Caleb is right.
