Page 44 of Everlasting Love

His face drops and disappointment washes over his features momentarily but he hides it quickly. “Good. I’m glad. I worry about you.” I open my mouth to interrupt but he holds up his hand, and I close it again. “I know you don’t want anyone to worry about you because that’s your job to worry about us, but you’re my best friend. You can’t ask me not to care about your well-being.”

I swallow past the guilt and drop my eyes to our food. I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve such a true friend but in this moment I don’t feel worthy. “I have trouble sleeping since I returned home. The army trains you to become a light sleeper, ready to leap into action.” His eyes widen with surprise that I’ve shared something with him and I feel like an asshole. “Add in the stuff that happened over there, I also … uh … have night terrors.” I rub my hand over the top of my head and clench my jaw. “Both things aren’t conducive to a decent night’s sleep.”

His eyes trace my face and concern colors his features as he nods slowly. “Have you talked to anyone about it?”

“Yeah, I’ve been seeing a psych. I’m making steady progress and the night terrors don’t happen as often as they used to.”

He nods. “If there’s anything I can do …”

“Thanks. I know.”

Sensing that he’s pushed me enough for one day, he changes the subject. “I’m gonna call Finn when I get home and set up a time to play my new stuff atBrady’s Pub.”

“Let me know what you need.” I know Finn’s a good bar manager and he’ll organize extra security, so there won’t be much I’ll need to do beforehand.

“Sure.”

And just like that, my best friend reads the situation and my mood, guiding the conversation away from me as we chat about the logistics of his impromptu gig.

We head back up to our room and Toby excuses himself to join Cassia in their bedroom, and I shut myself away in my space.

I drop into the club chair by the window and drag my phone out of my pocket. What happened with Violet has been playing on repeat in my mind, and I’m concerned that things will be irreparable when I get back. Pulling up her number, I shoot her a text.

Me

Are we okay?

17

VIOLET

My phone buzzesas Tristan drives us back down the hill to the office so we can go home. Since Saturday, every day has felt like it’s dragged. My mind keeps replaying myprivatetime with Shane on the dock against the boat shed over and over, making the ache in my lady parts annoyingly persistent. I dig it out of my pocket, unlock the screen, and groan when I seehisname. My heart stutters.

Shane

Are we okay?

Tristan glances at me. “You okay?”

I take a sip of my tea from the cup Shane bought me, trying to buy some time. “Yeah.”

Dropping my head back against the headrest, I blow out a breath and roll my eyes up to the roof of the cab. I don’t know how I’m going to face him when he returns from Disneyland after what happened at the wedding. I threw myself at the man, and while he didn’t immediately push me away, him walkingaway so easily after what he did to me stung like a bitch. It had taken me two years to recover my pride after Allen, and even though it took a hit on Saturday night, I refuse to let Shane’s rejection drag me back to the depths that my ex-husband sent me.

I’m better than that.

Stronger.

Even though, I still feel weird about seeing him again. Will he acknowledge what happened between us or will he act like it didn’t happen at all? Should I act like nothing happened? I have no idea what to do.

Tristan pulls into the parking lot and shuts off the engine, then turns toward me in his seat. “You’ve been off all week. If you need to talk about anything, I’m here. I know I’m not a chick, but I’d like to think wearefriends after all these years.”

Tristan is one of the few men in my life who shows me that not all men are assholes, and I love him dearly for that. He studies me carefully, waiting for me to spill my secrets but I don’t feel comfortable talking to him about what happened with Shane. And I don’t think he would really want to hear about it either. I may talk to Quinn about it because I feel like I need to work through the emotions surrounding what happened. I think I’ll stop in on my way home and talk to her about it before I respond to Shane’s text.

Shane

Are you ignoring me, Blue?

I’ve never been given a nickname before, apart from my family shortening my name to Vi, and to be honest, I’ve wondered why that was. I thought maybe I wasn’t a nickname kinda girl, but then Shane calls me Blue and I love it so much. I love the implied intimacy of it and the way he says it in that deeprumbly voice of his. Even when he uses it in a text message, it sends my girlie parts into overdrive.

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