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He drops the handle, spreads both palms against the glass, and bows hishead.
That’s my cue to get the hell out ofhere.
Fuckhim.
Fuckwhiskey.
Fuck my stupiddecisions.
This is what I get for sleeping with a man mourning his deadwife.
Chapter One
Willow
Three Monthslater
I should’ve never answeredhiscall.
“Have you been smoking crack?” I screech into the phone. “I’m telling Stella to break up with you. I can’t have my best friend screwing a dude who does crack.” I’m deleting him from my Contacts as soon as the call ends. I can’t associate myself with someone this batshitcrazy.
Hudson sucks in what sounds like an irritated breath. “No, Willow, I’m not smoking crack. It’ll be the icing on the cake if you show. She missesyou.”
“You know I can’t come back there.” My throat tightens, the memory of that night crashing through my mind like a horror movie that keeps you up late at night. Hell, he does keep me up atnight.
“It’s not like you’re fucking blacklisted. You’ve chosen not to come back. I emailed you your flight information. See you in a fewdays.”
The line goesdead.
Asswad.
I grip my phone, ready to call him back and tell him to shove that ticket up his ass, but Ican’t.
I can’t because he’s proposing to my boss/best friend at her surprise birthday party. Stella deserves this—deserves love, happiness, and her best friend in attendance for one of the most important nights of her life. So, I’ll put my hate of the small town aside and risk seeing him—the jackass whose bed I fled from after our very drunken and very regrettable one-nightstand.
He’ll be in attendance, given it’s his brother doing the proposing, which means I have to put my big-girl panties on, keep them on, and refrain from smashing a wine glass over hishead.
All while keeping the biggest secret of mylife.
While stayingsober.
This will beinteresting.
* * *
Some people believein soulmates.
I believe in champagne andcupcakes.
The problem tonight is that I can only binge on one of the above, and it’s not the one Iprefer.
I get a whiff of Stella’s signature rose perfume before she cages me in for a hug. I squeeze her tight, a silent sorry that I’ve been a sucky friend, and we’re both nearly gasping for breath by the time we release eachother.
Damn, I’ve missed my best friend and how I could always confide in her without judgment. That’s changed now. My secret will destroy herrelationship.
“I can’t believe you came,” she cries out with a red-lipped smile. “How did Hudson convince you? Buy you a mini pony? Promise to kick Dallas in theballs?”
I laugh. “Two horses actually. And I didn’t consider the second option, so thanks for the idea. I’ll add it to my list of demands nexttime.”
