AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That would be the one.” I sip my drink, turning my gaze forward again.
“He’s not right for you,” he spits, leaning into my space.
“How would you know? Because he doesn’t cheat on me? Because he doesn’t leave me for another girl? Is that what classifies someone as being right for me?” I’m seconds away from losing my temper.
“Hey.” Emma appears out of nowhere, sliding back into the stool next to me and I instantly relax. “Sorry. Robert’s on his way,” she informs me, assessing the situation between me and Gage.
“Can we go somewhere? Just to talk?” Gage presses, ignoring Emma altogether.
“I don’t think Lennon’s hot as fuck country star would think too kindly of that idea.” Emma turns her gaze on Gage, an almost taunting look in her eye.
“Country star?” Gage laughs, taking a pull from his beer.
“Oh you didn’t know. Lennon is dating Hudson James,” she practically sings, knowing that Gage loves country music and has likely heard the name.
“You’re really funny, Emma.”
“You’ve met him, have you not? Why don’t you look him up. See if you recognize him? You know what, better yet, why don’t I save you the trouble.”
The next thing I know she’s shoving her phone across the bar, the picture of me in Hudson’s arms backstage in Houston briefly catching my eye before he picks it up and studies it for a long moment.
“Now, if you’ll excuse us.” Emma stands, leans across me, and yanks her phone out of Gage’s hand. “Lennon?” She waits for me to stand before the two of us take off toward the door, leaving a shell shocked Gage sitting there looking like a wounded pup.
“Oh my god.” I look at Emma who laughs like a hyena the moment we’re outside. “I cannot believe you did that.”
“Motherfucker had it coming,” she says, swiping her hand through her hair.
“How drunk are you?” I laugh.
“Pretty toasted actually,” she quips. “Damn it, that felt good. I wanna go back in there and do it again.” She bends over like she might puke but shoots back up again.
“I think we should get you home.” I chuckle at my friend, thanking god I have her in my life.
As if on cue, Robert’s black Lexus pulls up to the curb and the passenger window slides down.
“You two pretty ladies need a ride?” He smiles at his inebriated wife who returns his smile tenfold.
“Hey, baby.” She climbs into the front seat in a very ungraceful fashion but still manages to make it inside.
“How much did she have?” Robert asks when I climb into the backseat.
“Five cosmos. I remember when that girl could drink three times that and still walk a straight line.”
“Still can.” She throws her hands up and lets out a loud whoop.
“Sure you can, babe.” Robert chuckles as he pulls away from the curb.
Less than ten minutes later, Robert pulls into the parking garage of my condo building, parking the car one spot over from the elevator.
I climb from the backseat but instead of heading to the elevator, I stop next to the driver’s side door. Sensing I want to say something, Robert checks on his sleeping wife before quickly stepping out of the car and shutting the door quietly behind him as to not disturb Emma.
“Is she okay?” I ask, not able to shake how quickly she brushed away the news she told me earlier about the baby.
It’s not like Emma to keep things from me but I understand why she did. That doesn’t mean I can’t see how deeply my friend is still hurting.
Part of me feels like maybe if I had been paying more attention I would have seen it. Maybe if I wasn’t so preoccupied with Hudson and my own life I would have noticed that something was off with my best friend.
“Not completely. But she’s getting there.” He offers me a warm smile.
