Some women were daddy’s girls. Some were husband’s girls.
I was Tessa’s girl. And she was mine.
That was part of what had made these last few years so damn hard.
She knew so little about what my life looked like now.
And it was my own fault.
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. It was time to start sharing my truths with my friend—even if I had to take small steps to start. “I’m leaving Peter.”
Tessa’s jaw dropped, and she stared at me in utter disbelief. “What?!”
Oh god. She’s going to cause a scene. People are already looking our way.“Please don’t make a big deal out of this, Tess.”
She scoffed and shook her head. “Um, I’d venture to say leaving the man you’ve been with for twelve yearsisa big deal, Lane.”
“Tessa.” There was warning in my tone, but I should have known better. Tessa wasn’t one to back down.
“Elena.” She matched my tone, raising a perfectly arched blonde brow.
There was only so much I was ready to share. Telling her everything? I knew how she’d look at me—with pity. She’d also demand that I never go back, that I never set foot in that house again.
But I had a plan, and if it was going to work, I needed a little more time to get everything in order. I needed Tessa to stay in the dark for a little while longer.
She’d know everything soon enough.
Guess it’s time to turn on the waterworks.
I averted my watery gaze and forced a trembled to my lower lip. “I can’t talk about it.” My voice shook deliberately. “Not yet.”
Her pretty face softened in an instant. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on my forearm, hopefully feeling the slight tremors. They weren’t entirely fake, but amping them up a notch had the desired effect. “Okay. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to...”
Mission accomplished.
“Thank you. Tonight, I just need to... forget for a little while. Can we do that?”
“Kai,” she shouted, catching the bartender’s eye.
He looked up from where he was mixing a drink.
“Four shots of tequila!”
Turned out,all four shots were for me, myself, and I.
Tessa was sober.
Me?
Not sober.
“I love you so much,” I slurred.
What was it about alcohol that made you feel like you were looking at yourself from the outside with little-to-no control over your faculties?
I couldhearthat I was slurring my speech. I couldseethat I was wobbling on my four-inch black, pointy-toed pumps. I just couldn’tdoanything about the hot mess I’d been reduced to.
Tessa took it in stride. “I love you, too, bestie. Now let’s get you back to the hotel.”
