Page 8 of The Burnt Heart

“You look nice.” I offered, wanting to acknowledge the effort she was going to on my behalf. She slid me a warm look of appreciation, brown doe eyes trailing over me as she slid into the passenger side of my car. She reached across, her white nails caressing the length of my arm.

“Thank you, you look very handsome yourself.”

If I didn’t know Nicole better, I would have said she was blushing, her cheeks a dusky pink. But Nicole understood what we were doing, that this was fake. I hadn’t told her exactly why I needed a fake date, and she didn’t press me. It occurred to me she was acting as the shield for me again. Just like she had when we were younger, and I had secrets I needed to hide. It had been easy to fall into our routine from the younger years.

“How is Fostering Futures going?” She asked. When Adelaide started her foundation, she wanted a project that gave back to the community. I’d suggested something that helped teens who were like I had been, and Fostering Futures was the result. Iloved the idea of the elite gym, but if we could leave a legacy of helping the foster kids that came after us? That would be my dream.

“Fantastic, I appreciate you volunteering last time.”

“My pleasure. You know I’m always happy too. The only good thing that came out of living in a foster home was my friendship with you.”

Nicole was a constant for me, listening to me vent, and always there when I needed a moment to regroup after the late nights and tension at home. With my hands on the steering wheel, I shot her a thankful smile. She’d been a rock for me, and I appreciated her friendship. She didn’t get on well with Jesse or Logan. Her humor was too sarcastic, and her opinions too pointed for them. In their eyes, she was a relic from a time they wanted to forget. They also judged her based on Adelaide’s concerns, telling me Nicole had designs on me when she was just a friend. My heart raced when we walked through the gilded entrance to the awards night, and Nicole slid her small hand through the crook of my elbow. I fought the urge to pull away. She was my date, after all. The ballroom was thick with people, and I looked about for a familiar head of golden locks. Jesse slid in beside me, shooting Nicole a narrow look but ignoring her otherwise.

“She’s not here yet,” he muttered, guessing my thoughts.

“You’re allowed to enjoy yourself outside ofhercompany, you know.” Nicole clicked her tongue under her breath, fingers tight on my elbow. “Why don’t we get champagne, Bry?”

I shuddered violently, knocking a soft squeak out of Nicole as I collided against her.

“It’s Bry now, is it?” Logan chimed in with a derisive snort, his escort date a step behind him. She was a petite brunette, with plump lips and batting lashes. He waved off her stretching hand with a curled lip and she retreated with a shrug. I shuddered atthe nickname, trying to swallow the bile that rose in my throat. Nicole’s lip rose a little, and I reached down to squeeze her hip, hoping to halt the insult I could tell was brewing on her tongue. Her eyes widened at me, and I pulled away as if burned, realizing how intimate the gesture may have seemed.

“Let’s keep it together now. We just have to get through tonight, remember?” I reminded Logan and Jesse, spinning on my heel and stalking over to the bar. Nicole hadn’t let go of my arm, and it throbbed with her unwelcome heat. I didn’t want her close to me. I wanted Adelaide. Nicole was wearing a thick perfume that clung to the inside of my nostrils and muddled my thoughts.

“You know I hate being called Bry.” I reminded Nicole as she waved down a bartender. She ducked her head, chagrined. I knew my preferences were strange. What was so bad about a nickname? But I couldn’t handle it, not when it reminded me of him.

“Sorry, I was trying to lighten the mood. Two tequilas,” Nicole lifted two fingers to the barman, and I protested, closing my mouth as she pinched my forearm.

“If this was a date, I would insist on shots. I’ve always wanted to see what you looked like drunk.”

She winked at me as the bartender placed the two clear shot glasses in front of us.

“This isn’t a date,” I whispered, leaning close in case someone overheard us. Nicole inched closer still, her gentle exhale brushing my face. A soft smile quivered on her lips.

“Let’s just pretend you’re mine tonight. Wouldn’t it be nice not to share for once? To have someone all for yourself and not spread between two others?” She passed me the shot glass and waited for me to respond before she continued. I fought the urge to set her straight. In all honesty, I would share Adelaide with a million men if it meant I got to have a sliver of hertime. But Nicole wouldn’t understand. Our relationship was unconventional. She wasn’t the first to dismiss it, thinking I was being cuckolded or brainwashed. Instead of arguing with her, I brought the shot to my lips and threw it back. The burn down my throat had me gritting my teeth and Nicole leaned into me, laughter exploding out of her.

“Oh my god, your face,” she teased, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as the sting faded slowly. Suddenly I felt a pull, my gaze snapping upwards and clashing with the green eyes of my love. They were dark with devastation. Her lower lip wobbled once before all emotions bled away. She was only a handful of steps away from me, but it was like an unbreachable chasm between us. Adelaide looked stunning in a dress that was very much Logan’s fantasy. A tease of soft, white cleavage, framed by her sleek golden hair. I noticed the hint of bags under her eyes, but she looked remarkably unaffected. Her focus left me and latched onto Nicole. Pure, unadulterated rage flickered over her features, and it amplified as she saw Nicole’s hand still hanging off my elbow. Nicole didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted and her eyes narrowed into a possessive glare. Was she leaning into the pretend role, playing the new girlfriend in front of the jealous ex? My stomach tilted on its axis, making the room spin.

“Let’s have another shot, Bry.” Nicole pointedly ignored my girlfriend. I froze, wanting to reassure Adelaide but knowing I had to play the part of the asshole right now. Nicole raised her hand to my cheek and forcibly turned my focus away. My shoulder was stiff when I presented it to Adelaide. I couldn’t speak with regret hogging my throat. Like I was on autopilot, and when Nicole pressed another shot into my hand, I swallowed without thinking. The burn in my throat was nothing on the storm in my heart.

“It’s okay, she’s gone now.” Nicole whispered in my ear. Her hand rubbed dizzying circles on my back.

The back of my neck burned with the desire to look over my shoulder. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from running to her, from ruining this elaborate plan. She was gone, but was it for good? I couldn’t shake the horror that we had made a mistake. We had thrown everything into this desperate bid, but if it didn’t work, there would be no coming back from this.

“Don’t call me Bry. I’m serious. I hate nicknames.” Nicole brushed off my biting tone, bumping her shoulder against mine.

“I got caught in the moment. Thought it might help Addy back off.” Nicole explained. It didn’t stop the sick, oily taint from spreading in my stomach. I slid onto a stool and tapped the empty shot glass on the sleek, black bar. Wordlessly, asking for another.

“Is that a good idea?” Logan leaned over with his arms crossed next to me. There was a frown on his face.

We both knew it wasn’t but the idea of being in the room sober was untenable. The tiny glass mocked me in its innocuousness. Nicole clinked the base of hers against mine with a defiant look at Logan.

“None of this was a good idea.” I replied, tossing the tequila down.

Did I mean the alcohol? Or this hare-brained plan I had agreed to? I let the alcohol fuzzy my vision, but nothing could erase the devastation on Adelaide’s face. That would brand me forever.

5

Adelaide

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