He was his own man now.
This time, he would fight for Nicole with everything he had.But, first, he had to prove to her, and to himself, that his mother no longer pulled the strings.He needed his own place, his own work, a life free of her shadow.
Chapter24
The little beachside bar glowed with strings of twinkle lights, casting the whole place in a warm golden haze.The surf rolled just beyond the open windows, its rhythm weaving through the laughter and clinking of glassware.The music was a blend of reggae and rock, playing softly in the background.
Two days had passed since the meeting with the parents, and Nicole hadn’t felt this empty, this detached, since she left for college without Tripp.It was that same dull ache, like something had been carved out of her, and nothing had grown back.
Nicole almost stayed home, but even there, the air was uneasy, every silence sharp, as if they were all tiptoeing barefoot across seashells.Nothing felt safe anymore.It was time to slip away, to find a place where she could finally breathe.
She spotted her friends instantly: Paige, Crystal, Jennifer, and Amanda gathered at a high-top near the window, their faces lit with easy camaraderie.
God, how she had missed these women—her lifeline, her laughter, her family of choice.She loved them fiercely, and tonight, all she wanted was to sink into their warmth, to forget the years of distance and heartache and simply enjoy their company.But the shadow lingered.She knew the questions would come, and they would want to know what had happened between her and Tripp.And that day…that wound…she wasn’t sure she could rip it open again.Not yet.
For the first time since the disastrous meeting at Suzanne Masterson’s house, Nicole felt herself exhale.These women would make her feel better.They would help heal her from the pain and maybe even help her decide what to do about Tripp, because right now, she wasn’t certain.
Once again, her life felt like it had been tossed in the air, pieces scattering in every direction, her family, her career, and worst of all, her love life.She and Tripp had been so close to finding their way back to each other, only for the past to rear its ugly head and breathe fire over everything they’d fought to overcome.The dragon of betrayal had scorched the earth beneath their feet, and it had scorched them too.
And all she could see now were the ashes of what they might have been.
“Nicole!”Paige called, waving her over with a grin.She lifted her glass ofwater, as if it were champagne, ice cubes rattling against the rim.
Nicole slid into the empty chair with a weary smile.“Sorry, I’m late.Work ran long.”
Crystal, round and radiant in a soft maternity dress, raised her brows.“Nice try.You live ten minutes away.You just didn’t want to come sit with four nosy women and answer a hundred questions.”
That earned a ripple of laughter.Nicole laughed too, a little weakly, but she felt some of the heaviness in her chest ease.
And yes, she could already feel them circling, priming her for the details they were dying to hear.
The waiter swung by and took her order, a margarita, heavy on the lime.Paige tapped her water glass when he looked at her.“I’m pacing myself tonight,” she said.“Someone’s gotta keep the rest of you from dancing on the tables.”
Jennifer leaned over.“That’s a shame, Paige.You’re usually the first oneonthe table.”
“I’ve retired,” Paige deadpanned.“Graceful exits only.”
Amanda snorted into her mojito.“Until karaoke starts.”
The women laughed again, and Nicole found herself almost smiling for real.
“To surviving another week,” Amanda said, raising her glass.“Have I told you that dating at this age sucks?”
They all laughed.
“To surviving the trial,” Jennifer added.“And not strangling opposing counsel, even though he’s entirely strangle-able.”
“Here, here,” Crystal said, clinking her glass of ginger ale against Jennifer’s.
Nicole lifted her margarita.“To friends who refuse to let me sulk in peace.”
Glasses clinked, laughter rippled again, and for a moment Nicole let herself just be.
But her friends didn’t let her off that easily.
Paige leaned in, her chin resting on one hand.“All right, spill.How’s it really?Because every time I see you on the news, you look like a stone statue.Meanwhile, we know you’re probably dying inside.”
Nicole hesitated, then sighed.“It’s over.Evelyn Reddick admitted to murdering Bianca.”
