Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(51)

door behind him. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Monica’s wide-eyed stare through the window. I can’t break his gaze as he

runs a hand through his hair. His eyes are more grey than blue today, taking on the emotion of the room.

“Guess not. Unless, of course, you’re coming to Monica and Josh’s engagement party tomorrow night.”

Why in God’s name did I just say that?

“Am I invited?”

“You’re friends with Josh, aren’t you? Come, it’ll be fun.”

You just can’t stop yourself.

“I’ll come.” He shrugs.

“Please don’t bring Ainsley,” I spit out before I can stop myself. Get. A. Grip.

Bo laughs as he tucks his hands into his pockets. “Don’t worry about Ainsley, Ember.” His eyes gleam as he says my name.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

“OK, then. See you tomorrow, I guess.” I breeze past him and race to my car.

When I get to my apartment a couple hours later, I tear open my guitar case and play and write until my raw fingertips meet the

sunrise.





Chapter Twenty-Two



Waking on my couch late Saturday morning, I find my comp notebook splayed open on my chest, and my guitar on the coffee table. I

sit and stretch my neck side to side before examining my fingers. I’m sure I’ll have a blister or two before sundown. Placing the

notebook on the table, I look at what I wrote last night.

I don’t know where we’re going, but can it be

somewhere good, baby, mmmhmm

The space between your heartbeat and mine

is filled with indecision, fear, and time

I just can’t see past my own mistakes...

A knock on the door stops me from reading further. I toss the notebook on the table and open the door to find Adrian—looking

rather tense.

“I called you all night, what the hell?” He brushes past me.

“Shit, I’m sorry, Adrian,” I hurry to my coffee table, “I was playing last night and didn’t want to be interrupted. I forgot

to turn my phone back on when I was—”

“What the hell is this?” Adrian is aggravated as he picks up my notebook.

“My comp notebook—you’ve seen it before ...” I reach for it, pulse picking up pace, but he pulls it away.

“You also said you were going to get a new one.” He throws it down and puts his hands on his hips.

I stare for a few seconds, confused from my lack of sleep, conflicted feelings, and Adrian’s aggressive stance. I mentally flip

through the last few conversations we’ve had and nothing suggests why he’d come in so threatening this morning.

“What’s going on, Adrian?” I place my guitar in the case and slide it under the couch.

“I hardly heard from you all week, Ember. Then I can’t get ahold of you last night, and I come in here this morning and you’ve

got Cavanaugh’s present—” he stops himself and walks toward the door.

Now I’m pissed.

“Pardon me? Are you suggesting I’ve been cheating on you?” My actual voice is softer than the one in my head.

“What am I supposed to think?”

“What you’re supposed to think,” I walk toward him with clenched fists, “is that I’m honest, and I would never do something

like that. Yesterday was the center’s opening. We were busy as hell all week. Last night I was exhausted and stressed—you know

what? I’m not going to explain myself to you. You’re being ridiculous.” Throwing my arms in the air, I walk into the kitchen to

make coffee.

How dare he insinuate that my lack of attention had to do with Bo? I was busy with work, and avoiding Bo, and getting ready for

Monica and Josh’s engagement party, and avoiding Bo.

“Ember, I’m sorry. I just got nervous when I couldn’t reach you. And this friggin guitar ...” Adrian looks down and puts his

hands in his pockets.

“This friggin guitar what?” I turn and rest my back against the counter.

“That’s all you’ve been doing the last few weeks...you get up in the middle of the night and write or play.” He leans his

shoulder and head against the wall.

“I sing at Finnegan’s every other week, Adrian. Last week Josh had me play a little with him. I’ve been practicing ...” I look

to the floor.

Truthfully, my increase in playing was an effort to help me work through my apparent “Bo” issues. Dealing with the kiss I’ve

kept secret from Adrian, seeing Ainsley prance around under my nose, my flourishing relationship with Bo’s sister—it’s all

become too much. I’ve been playing and writing as an outlet. The only problem is it’s made things worse—a full-blown four-alarm

fire is raging in my soul. I care so much for Adrian, but I can’t reconcile how much of that is reminiscence of our past together

and how much is attributed to our present. I don’t know, honestly, if my future holds Adrian. The present has been too fun to

think of much else.

“You all right, Blue?” Adrian takes my hand and kisses my knuckles.