Page 5 of Code Violation

Last year, he pursued her relentlessly despite her being his coach’s daughter and his publicist. Waiting has never been Will’s strong point.

Picking up her Manhattan, Drew takes a long sip and sets the glass back down. “Yeah, we’re basically getting married in February.”

I chuckle and step away to serve customers, rejoining Drew a few minutes later as she pulls out her laptop to start working.

“You know, I think you’re the only person I’ve ever met who comes to a bar on a Friday night just so she can get her rocks off over updating spreadsheets.”

She lifts a shoulder and begins typing. “I’m replying to emails and still waiting to hear your final two wishes.”

I groan, not wanting to play this pointless game. It’s not like any of them will ever come true, whether or not I say them out loud.

“Do we have to?”

“Wish number two, please,” Drew presses, straightening the collar on her white blouse.

Her hair is pulled into a tight, low bun today, and coupled with her sparkling blue eyes, I can totally understand why she had an NHL star falling over himself to make her his.

I think for a moment. “A lifetime supply of seafood. Specifically shrimp because I freaking love shrimp in whatever way it’s cooked.”

“All right, Bubba Gump,” Drew teases. “Tell me you’ve been to Pike Place Fish Market.”

I balk at her. “Of course. Where do you think all of the fish sticks, clams, and shrimp came from when we lived together those months before you moved out to live with a boy? The refrigerator didn’t magically make them appear.”

She pokes her tongue out at me, and I pull a face back. We’re women in our twenties, but apparently, we haven’t developed beyond kindergarten maturity levels.

“For your final wish, I want you to make it a serious one.”

My shoulders slump. Here’s the thing about me: I’m not good at having serious conversations, and I’m even worse at opening up to people. At twenty-four, I know I should be better, but I blame my parents’ divorce when I was ten—along with the distant relationship I have with them both—for most of my toxic traits.

“Are we talking career serious or general future goals?”

Drew narrows her eyes on me, and immediately, I don’t like where this is going. She might be all loved up these days, but I’m not. In fact, the thought of another relationship makes me sick to my stomach.

Truthfully, Drew only knows limited details about my relationship with Kane and absolutely nothing about the handful of times I’ve slept with him since we officially split last year. Even though she’s never met Kane, Drew hates his guts—and for good reason. Telling her that I stupidly let him back into my life, only for him to kick me out of bed and tell me the sex was shit, would probably have her fighting him in the street.

“How about your future love life? What do you wish for there?”

I try to swallow down the lump forming in my throat, but the tears pooling in my eyes are harder to hide.

Drew pushes her laptop away and catches my hand between hers. “Ves.”

The way she says my name just like Silas does whenever he’s worried makes me cry harder, and I drop my head down so nobody can see me. I’m the bar manager, and the owner only stops by on fleeting occasions. Still, I don’t want customers seeing me like this.

“Talk to me.”

A shudder of emotion racks my body when I recall the humiliation I felt late last night. What kind of man tells the woman he apparently loves that she was shit in bed, and why did I allow myself to sleep with him again when all he does is make me feel like crap?

I’m worth more than he will ever be able to give me.

“I slept with Kane last night.”

I can see the anger as it contorts Drew’s pretty features.

“Don’t be mad at me,” I say in a small voice. “I’ve learned my lesson and I’m genuinely finished with him for good.”

Drew wraps her hands tighter around mine. “What made you go back?”

I scoff at my own stupidity. “Believing him when he repeatedly promised me that he was a changed man and he wanted to make us work. I should’ve listened to your warnings and stopped unblocking his number and answering the door to him.”