Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(32)

assumption that I love her brother, and spit my anxiety into the sink.

We walk casually back to the table where I place my hand on Regan’s.

“Sorry, Regan. What I meant to say is I don’t really play anything. I know one song on the guitar and a few chords. Josh is going

to help me learn.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Bo’s eyebrows twitch when I mention Josh.

You might be my friend, dude, but I can’t let you teach me how to play the guitar. I still have boundaries.

“That’s great. Hey, you guys should come down next week to see us play. I know it’s a haul, but we’ve got something good

brewing.” Regan is all smiles as he brags us up.

For the rest of the evening, I’m able to smile and nod in the right places, maintaining appropriate eye contact, even with Bo. I

don’t know why it’s so hard for me to wrap my mind and soul around being his friend. It seems truly absurd, on one hand. But, on

the other, maybe being friends is what we should have been all along, before “I love you” and “a thousand lifetimes” and

everything else pushed us into a box that we couldn’t fit in. Something doesn’t sit right with my insides about being his friend,

even though it’s the smart choice. I want Rachel in my life, period, and they’re a packaged deal. I need to learn to play nice.

And fair.

We all head out to the parking lot to say our goodbyes. I tell Rae I’ll see her on Wednesday, smile and wave at Bo, and head to my

car as Regan gives Rae his phone number.

“November?” I knew he was following me as soon as I walked away from Rae’s car.

“Yeah?” I unlock my door, open it, and step behind it, begging the steel to barricade my hormones and emotions.

Bo tucks his hands into his pockets, leaning against the car behind him. “I’m sorry if I made things awkward tonight. This is

your town, your bar...I don’t want you to feel out of place because of me.”

“It wasn’t you. I didn’t mean for you to feel that way. I just didn’t realize how strange it would seem to try to slide back

into a regular routine.” I laugh. “Though, I guess we weren’t really “routine” from the get go, were we?”

He laughs and crosses his arms in front of him. “No, we weren’t. So, we’re good?”

I nod. “We’re good. I’ll see you Wednesday. Oh, by the way, Regan seems like a good guy, so don’t freak that he gave Rae his

number, OK?”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind. Night, Em.” He walks casually back to his car, gets in, and drives away.

Em. Well, that’s what your friends call you...

My car seems to drive itself home, and within a few minutes, I’m in my own bed for the first time in several days. I toss and turn

over the last forty-eight hours. Last night with Adrian was incredible on a number of levels. I find myself excited for the next

time I can see him, while my phone dings twice with text messages.

Adrian: Hope tonight went well. Call me in the AM. xo

Rae: I had a great time tonight. Thank you for trying. Regan’s hot, so thanks for that. Xo

What a f*cking mess...





Chapter Thirteen



The splitting headache that accompanies sunrise has nothing to do with liquor. Last night was a disaster. Rae knows I’m having a

hard time handling being Bo’s friend. I don’t think she’ll say anything to him, but it’s still disconcerting. The only bright

light from last night came in the form of the phone call from Monica, telling me that she and Josh got engaged. I smile at the

thought of their life together, and the headache slips slowly away. My phone rings, and my smile widens as Adrian’s name graces

the screen.

“Hey you, it’s early.” I yawn.

“Morning, Gorgeous. It felt weird not waking up next to you this morning. How’d last night go?”

I sigh loudly. “God, it was a mess. Rae was there, andwe had a nice time. But, Bo wants to be friends.”

“Yeah, you told me that before. What’s the problem?”

“Ha! Adrian, come on. You and I didn’t speak for five years and you’re asking me what the problem is with being friends with Bo?

He was perfectly nice and polite, but it felt so wrong. And, it feels even more wrong talking about it withyou. What has my love

life become?” I bury my face into my pillow and suppress a giggle.

“Ah ha! I’m in your love life now, am I?” Adrian teases.

“Yeah,” I sigh again, “you absolutely are. Anyway, guess what? Monica and Josh got engaged last night.”

“Awesome, good for them.”

“I know. I can’t wait to help her plan. I’m going to throw them an engagement party at the end of the summer—a clam bake, I

think.”

“Sounds great.” Adrian’s tone turns seductive, “When can I see your beautiful face again?”

“I can’t really get away much since my time is basically spent between here and Concord. I can come to your place on Friday

again; only, I’ll have to address this situation with Monica. Hopefully, my schedule opens up more when the new DROP center opens