CHAPTER 1
MORGAN
New Year’s Eve found me in my favourite place in the world; my parent’s living room, log fire crackling, with one of my favourite people. My mother’s friend, Andie, though closer in age to me than my mother, was only thirty years old and breathtakingly beautiful. Andie had spent the last two months with us since she had moved back home from the US, and we had hit it off instantly. We liked the same books, food, and video games. She frequently asked me to play a game or two after work, and my feelings for her grew with each passing moment.
We were playing a combat game, and she was kicking my arse. “No, no, no!” I yelled, button-mashing the controller to try to beat her at least once.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Andie shouted back in glee, standing up and doing a little happy dance as her character knocked mine out.
‘K.O.’ flashed on the screen. “Aw fuck, how do you do it?” I said, throwing myself back onto the sofa. I’d lost for the fifth time in a row.
“Well, it helps that I don’t suck.” She laughed, placing her hand on mine and giving it a small squeeze. Her voice was like music to my ears.
“Come on, you two, the car’s outside,” my mother called excitedly through the door.
“Do we have to?” I whined like my younger cousins when told they needed to leave the house.
“Well, you don’t, but I do.” Andie smiled at me as she was putting on her coat.
She looked beautiful in a sparkly blue all-in-one, matching heels, and a long black overcoat that hugged her curves. Her long, chocolate-coloured hair hung in soft curls down her back, with a shiny silver clip in the shape of fireworks placed in the back to hold the longer strands out of her face.
“Yes, you do. You’re twenty-five, not five. Act like it. Now move,” my mother called out.
“Come on, Morgan, you can keep me company.” Andie grabbed my hand.
I ignored how my heart rate sped up when her hand connected with mine, my skin tingling in the heat of hers, and tugged me from the sofa to stand in front of her. I stumbled into her, pushing her off balance. My arm caught around her waist to steady her.
She looked up at me from under thick, ebony lashes. Something flashed in her eyes I couldn’t read; her pupils were dilated, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, and her lips were parted slightly and a slight flush to her cheeks. Andie’s eyes darted to my lips, lingering there and I involuntarily licked them, she swallowed and licked her own lips.
Clearing her throat, she stepped back and fussed with the belt of her coat. “Shall we get going?” Her voice had turned high pitched and sounded rushed.
“Okay then, but only for you.” I pulled on a grey coat from the hanger by the door.
A quick look in the mirror reflected my short, dark hair as I always styled it; most of it brushed forward with the fringespiked up. My blue eyes looked dull and tired after being up most of the night with my son, Charlie.
We got in the car Andie had called for us, and headed towards AJ’s, the nightclub she owned. She had invited my parents, Kate and Nolan, and me over to her New Year’s Eve party. I barely looked at the inside of the club when we went in as we were ushered to a booth in the corner of the lower floor.
A dark grey fabric covered the U-shaped booth, and grey table sat in the centre. Champagne and our drink orders were brought out to us, and we could only see the edge of the dancefloor from where we sat. The booths were designed for privacy.
Andie sat on the booth’s edge as there were a few VIPs who wanted to wish her a Happy New Year. I watched as she greeted everyone, happy and smiling, having a short conversation and a selfie until they were moved on and another one would take their place.
My mother and father had been up dancing, and they both looked so happy.
“It’s nearly midnight, folks. Please make your way out the back doors for the fireworks,” the DJ announced. Everyone turned to make their way to the back of the club.
“Hey, you coming?” Andie asked me, getting up and waiting for the crowd to move forward. My mother and dad had already disappeared.
"Nah, fireworks aren’t really my thing.” I waved at her.
“I’ll stay with you.” She slid around the booth until she reached my side. My heart jumped when her thigh touched mine. “I’m not a lover of fireworks either, but the patrons love them.” She smiled at me, her green eyes twinkled in the lights.
“Have you had a good evening?” She took a sip of Champagne.
“It’s been okay.” I nodded, taking a pull of my beer.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend much time with you. There’s always someone who wants to talk to me.” Andie tilted her head and offered me a guilty smile.
“That’s okay. You need to network now you’re back home.” I held up my bottle to her.
