Page 100 of Fractured Frets

I shook my head. “I’m an emotional wreck. That’s what.”

“You’re a bit messed up. We all go through periods like that.” Heartache washed across her eyes. “You’ve been together for almost two years. During those months when you were just hooking up, you didn’t see him every day. But that didn’t stop you from planning to see him or falling for him. You live busy lives. You gotta get out of your head the notion that you have to be under the same roof every day. When you were engaged to Noah, did you honestly think you were going to work together on the same show until you died? No. It doesn’t work like that in this business. Shows don’t last forever...unless you work on something like The Simpsons. Time apart won’t last an eternity.”

“You didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship with Flint.”

“God no, I didn’t. But if I got that job in Maine and left LA, I honestly believe that we would’ve found our way back to each other and made it work. You just helped us get there a lot quicker.”

Yep. Slip and I had helped. But this was different.

I ran my hand over the mattress’s divot where he’d slept. “Slip’s pissed because I didn’t discuss re-signing with him.”

“Flint would be pissed at me too if I didn’t talk about my show contracts and schedule with him. But he’d never stop me from doing what I loved. Our guys will do anything to support us. They’re good men.”

“I know that. I love my show. I love Slip.” Tears pooled on the rims of my eyes, then cascaded down my cheeks. My heart hurt. “But I’m married, and he’s not around...and I’m so fucking lonely.” Fuuuuck. Was that it? Yes. I’m lonely! All the damn time.

“Oh, sweetie.” Leaning beside me on the pillow, Sutton hugged me and kissed my head. “I know it’s hard. But you have something amazing with Slip. I don’t want to see you lose him over a few problems that I’m sure you’ll work out after the tour. Hang in there. Okay?”

“I will. I am.”

“Get some rest. Talk to him tomorrow.” She sat upright and rubbed my arm. “I love you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yeah. ’Night.”

She left, closing the door behind her.

But I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned for a couple of hours. Slip didn’t come back to our room.

Just after midnight, I went downstairs to look for him.

No one else was up.

He wasn’t in the kitchen or the living room, or out on the terrace.

Was he still in the vineyard? Or had he crashed in one of the spare rooms? My head ached. Was he with Harper? Shit. Surely not.

I had to stop letting my insecurities rule me. I had to stop letting other elements in our life get in the way of what we had. If Slip and I were to survive, I had to do those things.

We’d had a disagreement . . . that wasn’t uncommon for us. Nothing unusual.

I just wanted stability. Security. Him.

I made a cup of green tea and headed out onto the terrace.

Taking a seat on the outdoor sofa, I curled my feet underneath me and stared across the dark expanse of the vineyard. The village lights twinkled like stars in the distance. My diamond caught the soft light streaming through the glass windows behind me. I held out my hand and fidgeted with my rings.

I’d never believed in love at first sight, but Slip had stolen my breath the moment I’d laid eyes on him. I’d never wanted our casual relationship to turn serious...but it did.

Was spending less than fifty percent of our time together better than being completely lonely?

Fuck.

I took a sip of tea, savored the warmth on my tongue, and closed my eyes.

Images of Slip filled my mind. His breathtaking face and electric smile. His bronzed skin and gorgeous hair. The way he looked at me every time we were in the same room together. He made me laugh, feel alive and treasured. Those stolen moments made life bearable.

But it was the nights and days where we’d been there for each other, when life had felt like it was falling apart and we’d rushed over to see each other or spent hours talking on the phone, that were impossible to ignore. We’d become each other’s rock.

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