Page 2 of Break

Landon’s grin takes up his entire face. “Oh, he does. Trust me.” He winks at Kerrington. “So, what do you say, Nicole? Want to keep this night going?”

The champagne buzz I’ve maintained all night will wear off soon, and I’m not ready for the fun to end. Because once it does, reality will hit, and I can’t take it yet.

Tonight, I stood on a stage and yelled for help to get out of an arranged marriage with a man who happens to be Landon and Kerrington’s best friend and business partner. Mason Finch. The media will eat this disaster up for weeks. Mason and I were never a match. And he’s got someone better suited for him than I ever would be. Someone who’s going to make him so fucking happy. He would never have had that with me.

I can’t make anyone happy. Not myself. Not my parents. No one.

And love isn’t in the cards for me—a fact I’ve spent most of my life coming to terms with. My parents are probably already in damage control mode, working on a new plan to match me with another wealthy man who doesn’t care what his wife does as long as she’s pretty, silent,and spreads her legs when she’s told. The news that I’m back on the market will spread fast. Only now, my reputation is tainted, which means the respect I’ll get will decline.

My heart clenches painfully. At least with Mason, I wouldn’t have been used, or worse, abused. He’d have treated me like a queen and kept his hands to himself. We’d have been miserable together, and alone... together.

He got out of our horrible life tonight and dragged me out of it, too.

It’s for the best.

And maybe, if I prove I’m better on my own, my parents won’t shove me into the arms of the next man in line.

Impossible.You know that’s never going to happen.

Blood drains from my head and my knees give out a little.

“Whoa.” Landon grips my waist, all playfulness gone from him as he holds me up. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lie, righting myself.

Kerrington’s brow furrows. “You sure?”

Tears sting my eyes, and I turn to bury my face in Landon’s neck so they can’t see I’m upset. “I’m thirsty and my feet hurt in these stupid heels.”

His arms wrap around me like he’s protecting me from the outside world. “Let’s get you out of here. Kerr, get our girl some water to go.”

“On it.”

My heart thuds in my throat.Our girl. If only.

I’ll never be theirs. I’ll be someone else’s and I’ll never see these two again because I won’t be allowed.

“You smell good,” I say, forcing those thoughts down and clinging to the night a little longer.

Landon kisses the top of my head, and I don’t even care that my hair’s wet with sweat because I’ve danced the night away.

“Come home with us,” he practically begs me. “I don’t want this to end yet.”

Neither do I.

Tomorrow, I’ll have to face the consequences of my actions. But tonight? Tonight isn’t over.

“Okay,” I say, a smile tugging at my mouth.

Landon pulls back and tips my chin so I’ll look at him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” There’s actual happiness in my voice and I feel a little lighter already knowing I don’t have to face reality yet. “I’ll come back with you.”

My best friend Grace took a ride home from Gage about two hours ago. Kerrington and Landon said they were staying with me till the end, and I wonder if this was their plan all along. To get me into bed with them.

The smile on Landon’s face says yes.

The one on Kerrington’s says no.

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