Like a Memory(28)

Larissa leaned forward, as close as she could get, resting her arms on the bar. “Does it really? It works for you? Or does it work for him?”

She thought I was protecting Nate. That’s why she was pissed.

“Octavia is spoiled and thinks she’s entitled. She’s been a good boss, but if she thought I was a threat, she’d get rid of me in an instant. I need the job and the income and without any experience she gave me the chance I needed. I don’t want to lose that. Even if I have to hide a secret.”

“Bliss, you’re making a mistake. He still has a thing for you. It’s in his eyes. I’m never wrong about that. But he’s not man enough to admit it. Don’t forget that. Don’t ever settle. You deserve a fairytale more than anyone I know. What you went through was tremendous. Devastating, and you have to have the best.”

Because I was sick? What I went through was “tremendous” and I “have to have the best?” These were words, part of the collection, I was used to hearing. But there was one always left unspoken. The “big word” never added to their comments. It hung silently in the balance. They all assumed because of it I should have the best. After CANCER it was supposed to be easy? No, nothing was. I still had to live this life and it was still going to be hard. Just like it was for everyone else.

“Thanks,” was all I could say. If I said what I really felt about that I’d sound like a brat and have to stand there, arguing back and forth. So, I walked away with a smile on my face I didn’t feel, but had already perfected, a long time ago when I was sick. My “false grin” was one of the best. I should win an Academy Award.

“Bliss!” Saffron’s voice carried above the crowd and I cringed. She was already drinking and drunk. I could hear it in her slur. Where did she find all these people who would give her alcohol?

“And she’s here. I’ve already texted Holland. There she comes,” Crimson said, pointing to the door where Holland was walking in. She was dressed normally. Like she had been at home comfortably reading. Which I was sure she had been.

“But James is here! I came to see James!” Saffron giggled, her boobs almost falling from her top, which by the way was the size of a napkin.

Holland paused. The hurt in her eyes was quickly masked. She definitely had a thing for James.

“I’ll take her outside,” James said. He put his arm around her bare waist as Saffron beamed up at him, leaning into his body, loving the man like a puppy. “You’re here,” she cooed. “Jamesy is here with me.”

“Yeah, but you already knew that,” was his response.

“I was hoping he’d stay at the table and leave this alone. Why are guys so dumb?” Crimson replied disgusted

I didn’t know the answer to this question. But I was wondering the same myself. Surely James knew what he was doing? How could he miss the look in Holland’s eyes whenever she looked at him? Saffron was identical to her, but Holland didn’t dress like Saffron and she was quieter, more withdrawn.

Was that what men wanted? The drawers of attention like Saffron? Damaged goods with expiration dates? I focused on the group at the table. Nate’s arms were around Octavia’s waist. They were talking and laughing, Jimmy being entertaining, because when he wanted he could be that. Nate seemed happy. Content.

My heart cracked a little more and weakened. I’d asked for this by inviting them. It was time I accepted it and learned to live with it.



Nate Finlay

IT HAD BEEN quiet last night on the way back to Octavia’s house. When we walked inside she went to her room and closed the door. No words. Nothing.

There was no question as to what was wrong. I knew. It would take a complete idiot not to know what was up her ass. Hell, I knew this was going to be an issue while I was doing it. But f*ck me if I hadn’t been able to stop myself.

Bliss was hard not to watch. I tried. God, I so f*cking tried. I did everything I could to keep from looking at her last night. But I was a man and Bliss . . . well Bliss was Bliss. She was hard to ignore. For me she was damn near impossible to ignore.

Finally, I had just given in and watched her. Let my eyes follow her every move. Knowing all along Octavia would notice and a fight would follow. Not because she was a jealous person. She wasn’t. She didn’t have time to focus on anyone other than herself. Very little room for jealousy.

No, Octavia was pissed because my looking at Bliss had been a slap in the face to her. Others saw it. Knew she wasn’t my center of attention and that she couldn’t deal with. I was fairly certain she was just going to take this out on me. Not Bliss.

However, I wasn’t about to test that theory. When I woke up to find Octavia’s bedroom already empty I hurried my ass up and got to her store. Bliss wouldn’t be there for another hour so I had time to fix this shit if she in fact was going to let Bliss go because of me.

Walking into the office that Octavia had me set up for her in the back I could smell the expensive French perfume she loved to wear. It was appealing. One of the first things that got my attention when we met. I liked things to smell good and Octavia always smelled amazing. Money could do that for you.

She shot an annoyed glare my way before going back to whatever she was doing on her computer. “You’re a bastard,” she said with a hiss in her voice.

“I’m sorry.”