Page 30 of A Taste of Whiskey
Quinn stifled a laugh, and as she headed up to the display case, she said, “Go easy on her, Birdie.”
“Stopenabling her.” Birdie planted a hand on the hip of her Hawaiian-print wraparound shorts that had Moana on them and pinned a dark stare on Sasha. “You’ve been hiding out here for two days, eating everything you can get your hands on.”
Sasha chewed fast and gulped down the four pieces of fudge she’d shoved into her mouth. “It’syourfault. You said to go for it with Ezra, and I did.”
“I thought you’d get your answer and move on,” Birdie said emphatically.
“That would be a lot easier if he’d said he wasn’t into me or if his kisses had sucked,” Sasha snapped. “But he is into me, and his kisses weresofreaking good, and he’s so passionate, I was ready to get naked right there in his kitchen. And the worst part about it is that it felt so unbelievablyrightto be with him, despite knowing it was wrong.”
“I get it, Sasha,” Quinn said. “I’m sorry you guys can’t be together, and I hate to say this, but he does have a lot at stake. You both do.”
“Iknowhe did the right thing by stopping us,” she admitted in a pained whine. “But that doesn’t mean I don’thateit and it doesn’t hurt like hell.”
“I know it hurts,” Birdie said. “But it’s not like you to wallow like this.”
“I’m not wallowing. I’m…taste testing.”
“I hate that you hurt so badly, but you need to taste test something else to get your mind off Ezra once and for all,” Birdie said.
“She needs to taste test another man,” Quinn interjected.
“Yes.That’s exactly what she needs to do. The Roadhouse is hopping on Friday nights. We’ll go ride a bull,andshe can save a horse!” Birdie was the best mechanical bull rider around and was always up for that.
“I don’t want to ride a bull or a cowboy, thank you very much,” Sasha said.
“Then skip the bull,” Birdie said.
“She’s right.” Quinn sauntered over. “The best way to get over a guy is to get under a new one.”
Sasha crossed her arms. “Bobbie said the same thing the other night when we were having drinks.”
“Because everyone knows that’s the best way to do it,” Birdie said.
“Well, it doesn’t work for me. I’ve been with plenty of guys since Ezra and I first kissed way back when, and he’s still the one I see when I close my eyes at night. It’ssofrustrating. It’s like he’s always there, even when he’s not. I hate being in this position.”
“Then do something about it,” Quinn said. “You’re the only one who can fix this.”
“She’s right,” Birdie said. “We can give you ideas until we’re blue in the face, and you can eat chocolate until you’re stuffed to the gills, but untilyoudecide it’s time to do something to get over him, it’s never going to happen.”
Sasha crossed her arms, looking between them. “Being schooled by you two is annoying, but you’re right. I don’t need to bury my feelings in chocolate. I need to get out there and figure out a way to get over the only man I really wa—”
“No!” they said in unison.
“You can’t think of him that way,” Birdie said carefully. “It’ll make it harder.”
Why is this so difficult? It’s not like pining over him will change anything.She didn’t want to feel like this forever.I can do this. I have to do this.She took a deep breath, determined to make the pain go away. “I am going to get out there and figure out a way to get over Ezra Moore.”
“Darn right you are,” Quinn said.
“Yes!” Birdie did a fist pump. “Roadhouse it is.”
Suddenly their small town seemedtoosmall. “I’d give anything if there was another fun bar in Hope Valley, so we didn’t have to go to the one where the Dark Knights hang out.” At least Bobbie was working tonight. She was a full-time elementary school teacher and a part-time bartender.
“Well, there’s not, so deal with it,” Birdie said. “You have to let us pick out your outfit. You need to look super sexy and available.”
“Fine, but nothing hot pink or crazy like you wear.” Birdie had a unique throwback style that might look ridiculous on anyone else, but she owned it, and it worked for her.
“I don’t dress crazy,” Birdie insisted.
