Page 60 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

The conversations from the tables around us fill up the silence. I fidget, taking a deep breath and vomiting out the words. “Chase is back.”

She raises a brow. “I know.”

I groan, throwing my head into my hands. “Dang it. How’d you know about that already?”

“Ran into him the other day. He let it slip you knew he was back.”

Guilt crawls around in my chest. “I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”

She watches me for a few seconds, her eyes growing hazy before she snaps back into focus. “I get it, I guess. We all have secrets. How’d you find out he was back anyway?”

“Ugh, that’s the worst part. He’s the contractor doin’ the reno at the studio. Caught me totally off guard when I walked in on my first day, and he was just standin’ there.”

“What?” She laughs. “That’s some twisted sort of luck. I bet Jax lost his shit when you told him.”

My head drops. The napkin I’m tearing apart becomes the most interesting thing in the world.

“Alina… tell me you’ve told Jax.”

“I swear, I’m gonna call him tonight.”

“Girl, you better.”

“Oh, and you’ll never guess what else.”

“Does it have to do with you, Logan, and a bottle of lube?” She grins.

I roll my eyes. “No, you deviant. Eli’s comin’ home.”

She jerks. “What?”

“You heard me. Daddy dropped the bomb on me last night at dinner.”

“What?”

I nod and make a face. “I know. Get this, he’s gettin’ married.”

“What?”

“Are you broken?” I joke. “Is that all you can say?”

Her arm wraps around her stomach, the color draining from her face.

My brows furrow. “Hey, are you okay?”

She shakes her head, her fiery curls whipping around her face. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just suddenly don’t feel too well. Those damn mimosas.” She musters up a hint of a smile. “I’ll be okay, nothin’ good food and some water won’t fix.”

“If you’re sure.”

She winks, taking a chunk of bread from the basket in the center of our table and starts rambling about her high schoolers. I relax, knowing the Chase conversation is tabled, for now.

When I call Jax later that night, he doesn’t answer.

27

Chase

It’s Monday and the results finally came back from the lab. Luckily, asbestos is not a problem. Thank fuck. I’m more than ready to get the ball rolling with this project. Anxious to prove to the guys on my team I’m more than just Sam’s son. That I actually know what the hell I’m doing. It’s already past four p.m., but I tell Jack I’m planning to head over and work through the evening. I want to catch up on lost time. He decides to join me and manages to grab a couple of other guys willing to put in some extra hours.

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