Page 90 of The Fate of Us

Sera smirks at me. “Says the woman head over heels in love with a man who is head over heels for her even with his recent behavior.”

“I’m not talking about Noah anymore.”

“Fine. But we can’t get too drunk, we have to teach tomorrow.”

I clench my stomach. “Ugh I think we both have food poisoning from that takeout.”

Sera grabs a bottle of tequila out of a cabinet and raises a brow at me. “You’re right. I’m not feeling well either. I’ll text the other instructors.”

We both laugh and take shots to drink away the problems in our love lives.

Sera heads to the living room and turns on the YouTube app on her television. “Now let’s watch that sexy singer. Cole who?”

* * *

I shutmy phone off and slam it in a drawer at the bar. Noah has been relentless. Texting me to come home. I want to. More than anything I want to fall asleep wrapped up in his arms and wake up to that sexy smile on his face. But I am not comfortable with the situation. I don’t want to be around Claire.

I went to the studio two days ago to work on a song that’s been in my head for a while. Mason was able to get me some recording time in so I could send it to Austin. Mason let me know more of what’s going on with Claire. I’m pissed that Noah didn’t tell me but Mason said he didn’t even think he had the whole story. Noah and Carson have been tight lipped on the whole thing.

I wish Noah would tell me everything. But he is too stubborn. Whatever secret they are keeping, I would keep too. It would help build my trust back with Noah. But I am not giving in. He needs to come to me and let me in.

“Another text from lover boy?” Liam asks me.

“Stop calling him that.”

“Fine. Officer McDreamy?” He grins as he dries a glass.

I wipe down the bar and smile. “It’s Detective McDreamy now.”

“And has he used those handcuffs on you yet?”

I blush as I remember that day with the handcuffs. How special that day was. How happy I was. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“He’s been texting you ten times a day, Anna. And that’s just when you are at home. Who knows how much he texts you when I can’t hear that damn chime on your phone go off.”

I moved in with Liam four days ago. After spending two nights on Sera’s couch and waking up with a stiff neck, I couldn’t do it anymore. Luckily, it’s the beginning of April and one of Liam’s roommates moved out of the house he rents. I have a fully furnished room and a private bathroom. Liam told me I can stay there as long as I want rent-free and that he won’t look for someone to move in until I move out.

“Other people text me, you know.”

“He texts you more than anyone else.”

I prop my hip against the bar. “How do you know?”

Liam gives me a strange look and then heads to the end of the bar to serve a customer before answering me.

Another patron waves me down and I grab another drink order, pondering Liam’s lack of response.

We start to pick up and I don’t get the chance to talk to Liam much and bug him for an answer as the typical Friday night crowd pours into the bar.

I’m busy making a pitcher of margaritas for a table when I do a double take at a familiar head of strawberry-blond hair. I spill tequila all over the bar when she turns and I see Claire’s face.

What the hell is she doing here?

“You okay?” Liam asks me, gesturing toward the spill.

“Yep, okay. I’m just fine,” I mumble as I dump the pitcher and start over.

I keep glancing toward Claire. Liam must notice because his eyes follow mine. “Is that the ex-wife?”

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