Page 61 of Unforgettable

“Because it feels like we’ve been waiting for this opportunity for forever,” I pleaded, chancing a step closer to her. She didn’t step back—which I took as a win—but she continued to watch me warily.

“Look, I’ll tell you what I told Josh this morning: I just need some time, okay? Let me at least get through this week, and then maybe this weekend, I’ll be in a better headspace to talk.”

“You mean to tell us that you’re not interested? That you’re not feeling it?” I clarified, and she didn’t hold back her eye roll.

“No, Reed, that’s not what I’m saying.God,you are both so infuriating. I just have a lot going on right now with school starting back up and Adam moving in. Not to mention I have a new fucking wrinkle every time I look in the damn mirror and am now contemplating Botox.”

“Well, you show your emotions all over your face, so I’m not surprised about the wrinkles.”

She scowled in response, and I motioned to her expression. “Yes, exactly like that.”

If looks could throw daggers, I would have been dead. But she withheld the verbal lashing I knew she wanted to give me and instead settled for a deep breath. Her eyes closed, and I chastised myself that my eyes went directly to her chest as it rose and fell with her breath.

“This conversation isn’t going anywhere, so I think we’re done. If it makes you feel better, and you can mention this to Josh as well, I haven’t made my decision yet, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. But that’s all I have to say. So, just give me the rest of the week,” she pleaded, and when I opened my mouth to respond, she whispered, “Please.”

There was this invisible pull to wrap her in my arms and tell her that it would be okay. That no matter what happened, I would make sure we were all okay. I wanted to run my hands over her back and soothe away the concern and frustration that was twisting her soft, beautiful features.

I felt horrible that I’d been the one to make her feel that way. So, I only nodded and backed away from her car, giving her ample room to open the door and slip inside without another word or glance in my direction.

NINETEEN

Amanda

“We really don’t haveto go here, you know? There’re a million other bars in this city,” I explained as Hazel pulled into the parking lot of Murphy’s Law.

It was packed as it usually was on a Friday night, and even more cars pulled in behind us.

“Yes, I know. But the renovations have helped.” She put the car in park and glanced over her shoulder at the front door. “And I’m not going to let a place have that kind of power over me anymore.”

Only a little over a year later, Hazel was, in her words, “done being scared and trapped by her past.” She hadn’t died, although that had been Valerie’s intent when she kidnapped her. And Murphy’s, being the place where it all came to a head, was an overwhelming reminder of how close we’d all come to losing her.

“If you’re sure,” I said, watching her watch the door.

Her eyes flashed to mine, and thankfully, there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation. And the smile she gave me was genuine.

“I’m sure,” she said and promptly hopped out of the car. “It’s also a bonus if one of your guys is here,” she added with a wink.

I groaned and contemplated throwing a fit until she agreed to go somewhere else. I’d missed her something fierce while she and Luke had been on their honeymoon, and the last thing I wanted was for our girls’ night to be commandeered by my boy drama. But she didn’t give me a chance as she opened the passenger door and all but pulled me from her car.

I wobbled on my heels for a moment and threw a glare in her direction. Her response was a long eye roll. “Leave the glares for the guys. Let’s go!”

By the time I turned around to grab my purse and close the car door, Hazel was already halfway to the front door, her little black boots clicking on the newly paved parking lot. I knew it was under Josh’s direction that Rhonda had finally decided to pave the lot after decades of the same gravel. And my feet and balance thanked him at that moment because heels and gravel were a really shitty combination.

Hazel stopped next to the door before turning her attention back to me.

“You look a little like a baby giraffe,” she commented as she swung the door open.

“These are new heels, so I feel like a baby giraffe.”

Loud pop music greeted us as we stepped inside. The room with the pool tables to our left was packed, and the back bar was crowded with several people waiting for drinks.

“I didn’t think they did karaoke on Friday nights,” Hazel whisper-yelled into my ear.

The stage in the corner of the place was set up with the karaoke equipment and the large screen that projected the lyrics. Across the top of the screen was a banner that read “Happy Birthday, Grady!” and it all made perfect sense.

“Looks like it’s special for Grady’s birthday.”

“Is he seriously still working on his birthday?” Hazel pointed to the older man who was in his usual place behind the bar. Only he had a huge grin on his face watching and listening to the woman on stage butcher a Taylor Swift song.

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