Page 79 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

They are both so much a part of me now, that moving on, and leaving this all behind, will never truly be possible.

I will always be thinking of them.

Lexi grabsmy hand firmly in hers and drags me through the crowded dancefloor until we are right in front of the stage. A sense of déjà vu hits me. Taking me right back to last year and realizing how much has changed since then.Amazing what a year can bring.

My crazy bestie starts grinding her hips to the music and peddling my arms to loosen me up. I strain my neck over the lively crowd to see if I can spot Liam. Without a shadow of a doubt, that man is around. Probably in some dark corner, watching me. Waiting for the opportune moment to step in.

It’s actually really comforting.

I’d be lying if I said my nerve endings weren’t firing off with anticipation. A shiver runs through me as goosebumps surface on my arms.

He’s around. But not theheI was just thinking of.

A knot of guilt forms in my stomach, disrupting the sense of peace I had tonight. Maybe it’s too soon to be thinking of getting laid by my ex, when my late husband has only been dead for six months.

Conor approaches Lexi from behind, his arms circle her and pull her in close. “Hello, Beautiful.” He presses a sweet kiss to her cheek. The two of them sway back and forth, wrapped up in each other. Lexi’s eyes close and she releases a happy sigh.

Silently releasing a frustrated one of my own, I shout over the music to Lex, “Grabbing us a refill. Con, you need?”

“I’m alright, love. Can’t stay too long, just wanted a quick dance with my woman.”

I shoot him a thumbs up and navigate through the crowd towards the outdoor bar.

Which is packed.

There are definitely more people in attendance this year. Wiggling my way through the spaces between people, I manage to get to the side of the bar. I’m awkwardly standing at the corner, next to a man in a mask that looks like the skull of an elk or something of the sort.Props to him for at least putting effort into his attire.Many of the men here tonight have a simple black mask on. All three bartenders are busy at the other end of the bar making colorful cocktails for a large party of women.

“Here, you look like you could use this.” The man next to me slides a lavender colored drink my way. It’s garnished with a green sugar rim and a sprig of lavender, adding to tonight’s theme. Naturally, my interest peaks. I raise an eyebrow in response.Who is this man?The man with such an unusual, yet familiar, baritone voice.

It’s like whiskey, smooth and sensual.

I turn to look at him, unsure if I should be thankful for his generosity or worried my drink is spiked. His head still faces the bar, but his lip turns up at the corner.

“I was waiting for my date. It’s not poison, I promise,” he laughs, taking a small sip of it as proof.

Thatlaugh does something to me, rolling straight through like a fucking train. My gut roils, as bile makes its way up, and my last drink threatens to surface.

As if sensing my unease, the man turns and inches his face towards mine, his blue eyes piercing mine. “As I said, I was waiting for my date,” he slides the glass further towards me. “And now that she’s here, I can finally do what I’ve been waiting to do for the last six months,” he says confidently.

He stands, grips one hand at my lower back, the other cupping my cheek, and presses his lips firmly to mine.

Salt and coconut swirl around us as his minty tongue pries my lips open.

My hands come up and I push hard against his broad chest. Firmer than he had been anticipating, generating another smile from him. He looks impressed.

“Diego.” I say his name between clenched teeth rather than in relief. “How…how?” I stutter. “How is this even possible?” I lower my voice to a whisper, backing up as much as I can in the space we are in. “I watched you die!” I throw my hands up in the air dramatically before bringing them to my lips.

His fingers circle my wrist like shackles, lowering my hands back down and pulling me in closer. The Bone Breaker’s lips find my ear. “Let’s go somewhere more private and talk.”

I’m about to agree—because what the hell?—when Liam comes up from behind us and tugs Diego back by the collar. “You have two seconds to leave this party before you don’t leave this party at all,” he growls. A few heads turn our way, others aren’t impressed, used to this kind of activity by now.

I’m trying to focus but am finding it hard to even breathe. My skin prickles with goosebumps and my hands have grown clammy.

People don’t just rise from the dead.I need answers and I need them now.

“Didn’t mean to cause a scene, Liam,” Diego responds in formality. “My wife and I were just having a discussion.”

Wife. Jesus Christ.

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