Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(49)

Clinking glasses, we all took a quick shot. It burned going down, but afterwards it was warming and calming, just enough to help me get through tonight’s chaos. As Rita and Troy moved off to help start the next round for people, Jenny sighed and laid her head on my arm. “I’m going to miss Evan…and the guys. Pete’s just won’t be the same.” I nodded, resting my head against her. “I know…nothing will be the same really.”





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Kate sighed and we both looked over to her. “Yeah, I have some really good memories of those boys.” Giggling, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “A couple summers ago they kidnapped me for my birthday.” She grinned at Jenny. “Evan made me wear that stupid birthday hat, remember?”

Jenny grinned back at Kate and shook her head. “Yeah, that was fun.” Wistfully, she looked over at the guys. “I remember when they did a show in Eastern Washington. A group of us decided to road trip it over the pass with them. We all got stuck halfway through when Griffin’s Van broke down. We had to camp at a rest stop.” Jenny started laughing, Kate and I joining her. “Matt never booked another show over the mountains after that.”

Jenny wiped her eyes as the memories of that trip washed over her. I sighed, wishing I had been here for those happy times. Kate reached over and tapped Jenny’s shoulder. “Remember the water slides fiasco?” Jenny nodded. “Yeah, Griffin still isn’t allowed to go back there.” They both started belly laughing, and I frowned, wondering what the creaton had possibly done. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Jenny said,

“And remember the rooftop party? The heights freaked Matt out and he spent the whole night in the exact center of the roof.” Wiping her eyes, Jenny laughed out, “Kellan had to sling him over his shoulder to get him to leave.”

I laughed with them, imagining that, then I sighed. I’d missed so many memories. Giggling nonstop, Kate added, “Remember when you walked in on me and Kellan that one New Year’s Eve?” I instantly stopped laughing and swung my head around to Kate. She instantly stopped laughing too, remembering who I was. “You and Kellan?” I looked her up and down with narrowed eyes, like it had just happened. “What?”

My tone was a little bitter and Jenny put a hand on my shoulder. Kate blanched and shook her head. “We didn’t have sex…it didn’t get that 137



far.” She pointed over to Jenny. “She…” Biting her lip, Kate shrugged, looking very apologetic.

My eyes narrowing even more, I put my hands on my hips. “Why didn’t you ever mention this before?”

Kate cringed a little bit. “What was I supposed to say? Hey, I nearly had sex with the guy you’re seeing? That’s not cool.” She shrugged again. “Besides, it was a while ago, and we were really, really drunk. I don’t think he even…” Looking around self consciously, she shrugged again. “I should get back to work.”

Feeling my cheeks heat, I didn’t say anything and she quickly turned and fled. God! He’d done Rita, he’d asked Jenny out, and now I come to find out that he’d seriously made out with Kate. Did Kellan not have a history with anyone at Pete’s!

Seeing me fuming, Jenny stepped in front of me, putting both hands on my shoulders. “He’s different now, Kiera.” Looking over to where Kate had disappeared, Jenny shook her head. “And don’t hate her for caving into him.” Looking back at me, she raised an eyebrow pointedly.

“You know how persuasive he can be.”

I flushed for another reason and slumped a little against the bar. “I know…I just wish everyone in the entire world didn’t have some sort of sexual history with the man I’m in love with.” Laughing softly, Jenny ducked down to meet my eye. “It’s a lot, Kiera, I know, but I’m sure it’s not everybody.” Shaking her head, she smiled cheerily. “I don’t have a history with him. I’ve never even kissed him.” She instantly frowned and pulled away, her eyes suddenly deep in thought. “Hmmm…”

My mouth dropped as she shook her head, her frown lines getting deeper. I smacked her shoulder. “You have kissed him, haven’t you?” Looking back at me with a small grimace, she shrugged. “There was this one time after he drove me home from a shift.” My mouth dropped wider and I made a very unladylike noise. She twisted her lips and shook her head. “Sorry, I forgot. It wasn’t too long after I started 138



working here. He was looking sad and lonely and he offered to drive me, so I caved and said yes. Then we were talking in my drive and he leaned over and kissed me.” She shook out her beautiful, blonde head of hair. “I pushed him back and told him I didn’t want to.” Rolling her eyes, she added, “I think that’s what started him hounding me for a date, until I finally put my foot down.”

She shrugged as she stared at me, like it was no big deal. Closing my eyes, I shook my head and stormed off to the back room. I needed to go some place where another woman that Kellan had been intimately involved with was not. And right now, that meant I had to be alone.





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8


Chapter


The First Farewell


Having the noise and the chaos of the bar shut off from me calmed me down some. It really wasn’t my friends’ fault. I shouldn’t be angry or upset with them. Kellan either. He’d been looking for something. Unknowingly, he’d been looking for a genuine, loving connection with someone.