Killian
I’m so fucking tired. The last few weeks have taken years off my life, but Tessa was the bright spot, slowly giving me hope that it wasn’t going to be all doom and gloom.
Well, that’s gone.
All of it’s gone.
I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do. I can keep fighting to save this place or just let it go and…move back to Boston, away from all of this shit.
Even though I love Ember Falls.
It’s where I want to be, why I keep coming back, and what I brought Anchor Light here to save.
Only, it seems now I’ve lost something else.
“Hit me again, Max,” I say, as the bartender starts to walk away.
“You’ve had a lot, Killian. Are you sure you want another one?”
“Are you my babysitter or bartender?” I ask.
I don’t need anyone else fucking telling me what to do.
He nods once. “All right then.”
I rest my head on my hand, staring out at the people enjoying their lives. How nice for them. I wonder what that’s like.
All I have is a failing business and a woman I can’t have.
Not that I could have her before I found out she’s my daughter’s best friend, but now I really can’t.
Like, no chance.
Zero.
Not even a kiss.
Max returns with another glass of whiskey, and I take it like a shot. Why not? Maybe it’ll hit faster and I can pretend my life isn’t a big pile of shit.
“Pretty sure you’re supposed to sip that,” a feminine voice says from beside me. Only it’s not the voice of the woman I want to talk to—it’s Hazel’s.
I put the glass down, looking at her from the side. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
She sits beside me. “You just had a great night. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Wallowing.”
“Clearly. And you’re not doing it all that well.”
Good to know I can’t even drink right. At least when I fuck up, I do it spectacularly.
“What do you want, Hazel?” I ask, a little rudely, but I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to give a shit.
She lifts her hand, and Max comes over. “Can I get a glass of Pinot and a water for our friend here?”
“I didn’t ask for water.”
Hazel grins. “And yet you’re going to get one.”
