AllFreeNovel
Share Us
PROLOGUE
FOUR YEARS AGO
REAGAN’S TWENTY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY PARTY
AMANDA
Deep breaths. Just take deep breaths. I inhale and exhale a few times in hopes of calming myself.
You’re setting a good example for your daughter, Amanda. You set a bad example for so many years and it’s clearly damaged her. Time to hold it together for her sake.
I get out of the Uber and look down at myself. I spent a pretty penny on this tight designer, strapless, pink cocktail dress. More than I’ve ever spent on a dress. These people are definitely not my normal salt-of-the-earth crowd. They’re high society. I’m way out of my league attending this party, but Reagan called me and told me she’s getting a birthday cake for Jade and singing to her. I haven’t even met Reagan yet. It was nice of her to think of me and incredibly kind ofher to think of Jade despite it being Reagan’s special night. I couldn’t say no.
I walk into the lobby of one of the oldest, most historic Philadelphia hotels and look up. Wow, that chandelier is something special. It must be fifty feet in diameter. As an artist, I would love to know the story behind the design. It’s exquisite. I’ve never seen anything like it.
I can hear the beat of music coming from the ballroom down the hall. I’m late. The party is already in full swing. It took me a while to get myself together enough to attend. Alone.
As I reach the hallway, I see two couples walking in, hand in hand. I feel the tears welling in my eyes. Shit. I need a few more moments to compose myself.
I open a door to what looks like a private room, but before I can step in, I hear a woman yelling, “Yes, Jackson, like that!”
Whoops. I quickly close it. I then try two more doors, but they’re both locked and there’s moaning coming from them. What the hell? Is everyone having great sex except me?
I try a fourth door, and it mercifully opens into what appears to be a dressing room. I walk in and close the door, leaning back against it and taking a deep breath.
Now that I’m alone, I allow the tears to fall. What have I done? I think I made the biggest mistake of my life. And I’ve madea lotof mistakes, but this really might be the biggest of them all.
I let out an audible sob and then immediately hear a deep voice. “Are you okay?”
I suck in a breath and clutch my chest in surprise. Looking around, I see a man sitting on the couch, holding a drink.
He raises his unoccupied hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I wipe my eyes. “I should be apologizing. I interrupted you. I’ll leave.”
He waves his hand around the room. “I’m alone. You’re not interrupting me. Have a seat. Keep me company. We can cry together.” He gives me a small, crooked smile. He’s obviously just trying to make me feel better.
“Are you sure?”
He nods. “If you can’t unload on a stranger, who can you unload on?”
I let out a small laugh as I walk toward the sofa and sit. I can see him better now. He’s a broad, handsome man with dirty-blond hair, likely a little older than my forty years. He’s in an expensive blue suit with the tie loosened and is holding a glass of what looks like some type of whiskey or scotch. His facial hair suggests he hasn’t shaved in a few days.
It’s not a large sofa, so I’m sitting less than a foot from him. He’s wearing a cologne that I can’t quite make out. It must be expensive. Everything about him oozes high society, from his clearly custom suit to his expensive watch.
We’re silent for a few moments as he takes me in. “What’s your name?”
“Amanda. What’s yours?”
He gives me a bemused look before saying, “Beckett.” I internally laugh. What a pretentious name. Everyone at this party probably has a name like his. I bet all the women are named Buffy or Bunny, and the men are named Ignatius or Prescott, with each of them being the third generation of men in their family with the same name.
“It’s nice to meet you, Beckett. Just give me a second to get myself together and then I’ll get out of your hair.”
“No rush.” He looks down at his nearly empty glass. “I need another scotch. Why don’t I grab both of us a drink and then you can tell me why you’re crying at a birthday party?”
I doubt I’ll be explaining my life to this stranger, but I wouldn’t mind a drink before walking in. “I’ll have a piña colada. Extra cherries.”
He lets out a laugh. “I didn’t realize adults drank those unless on a beach vacation.”
