Page 65 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

She continued to think, ignoring his digs to get her going.

“You’re quiet,” he said.

“I don’t have anything nice to say.” The man was as trustworthy as a rickety rope bridge stretched across the mouth of a jagged canyon.

“Are you plotting my death?” he asked wryly.

“Yeah, because I want to get arrested--I look great in orange jumpsuits, in case you didn’t know that,” Amber said absently.

Russell laughed. “I’m glad we can joke.”

“Don’t take my jokes as me saying everything is okay, because it’s not. It’s really not. What you did was unkind and unfair.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I don’t think you are. The tears have already fallen, Russell. It’s too little, too late.”

“The book was a gift and you’re obviously already over it. Cry me a river, babe.”

“I’ll get you a life jacket so you don’t drown.”

“Look below Ember’s surface.” Russell was raising his voice, angry with her for not being the weak, easy-to-sway woman he’d dated only weeks ago. “She’s tough, resilient, confident. She is unafraid. She’s bold. She goes after what she wants and makes the best of crappy situations. That’s supposed to be you. I wanted to tell you that. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I wanted you to know that I saw those traits in you and that I hoped you could do something with it. Something positive.”

Amber felt tears prick her eyes as scenes from Russell’s book flashed through her mind. Emberwastough. Resilient and confident and all those things Amber had wished she was, and was on her way to becoming. But it wasn’t because of him or his book. It was because she had the undying love and support of people like her mother and Scott.

Russell would not take credit for who she was. Not now. Not ever.

“You were a rotten boyfriend, Russell, so you just keep on telling yourself whatever you need to hear to make yourself feel better about the way you betrayed the woman who’d had your back. You are not the kind of person who could ever look out for me, protect me, or take care of me in the way I deserve. So don’t rewrite history,babe. I was over you the moment your trailer went over the side of the cliff.”

She began storming away, but turned and stomped back for one final blow. “And I will not pay for that ‘writing cave,’ as you called it. I doubt you had anything in it, and I did you a favor by getting rid of it. If anything, you should be paying me--your muse whose life you used without permission--half of your royalties.”

Russell’s mouth opened, then he closed it with a glare.

“Right. So we’re close enough to even, and done with each other. Wish your next girlfriend good luck from me.” Amber blew him a haughty kiss and sauntered down the street, high-fiving Liz, who had been eavesdropping on the whole conversation and was grinning like a mad fool.

Amber straightened her spine, realizing that shewassomeone--the someone she’d always wanted to be. She was strong enough. Smart enough. Confident enough.

She was finally enough.

She had a mother, a sister, a town, and a really fine best friend. She might not be super wealthy or put together like Delia, but she helped people and made a difference in their lives, even if only on a small scale. She didn’t intentionally hurt others and her mother was proud of her.Sheshould be proud of her.

And she should finally feel able to tell the man of her dreams that she loved him with all her heart.

* * *

“I sawRussell in town today. Did he bother you?” Scott asked. His arms were crossed and his brow lowered as though he was a bull about to charge if given the smallest inkling that there might be a threat.

They were sitting on the walkway of the water tower, enjoying the view and sharing a massive sandwich from Mandy’s, along with brownies for dessert.

“No. Why didn’t you warn me before I wasted a year on him?”

Scott scowled at her and she hugged him to her, warm and tight, kissing him to lighten him up.

“I figured if you dated a jerk you’d eventually see what a catch I am,” he said at last, his body softening against hers.

“Well, thanks.” She crossed her own arms and pretended to huff.

“It worked, though.” He drew her back, caressing her cheek before kissing her lightly on her lips.

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