Page 88 of By His Rule

“I know.” And I do know. No matter how hard he tries, I’m not going backward.

Look to the future, always.

Leave mistakes in the past, where they belong.

The hardness of her glare increases.

“I mean it. We’re finished. He is nothing to me.”

Pain slices through my chest as I say the words. I mean them, I do, but it still hurts. For a while there, I really thought he was the one I’d been looking for.

“You’ll find him, Lor,” Tate says, reaching out to squeeze my hand in support.

“I know,” I whisper, although I feel more doubtful than I think I ever have.

Maybe he isn’t out there.

“I do agree with one thing, though. You need to get laid, and you just need the right opportunity to fall in your lap.”

Ignoring the suspicious look in her eyes I mutter, “We’ll see. What time are our next treatments?”

“Massages in thirty minutes.”

“Perfect,” I sigh, stretching myself out on my lounger.

One benefit of my best friend being married to Kingston Callahan? Easy access to one of the best spas in the city.

“Ineeded that,” Tate sighs happily as we emerge from the spa a few hours later, and I can’t help but agree.

I have fresh nails, a newly waxed…well, everything, my muscles are loose, my face is glowing, and my troubles are far away. Okay, that last one might be wishful thinking.

“Cocktails, then we can go,” she instructs before hooking her arm through mine and dragging me toward the bar. “One porn star martini,” she says, ordering my favorite without bothering to ask. “And a virgin mojito, please.”

We find ourselves at a seat by the window and continue our previous conversation, although it’s cut short a few minutes later.

“Lorelei?” a deep voice asks a beat before a shadow falls over me.

Looking over my shoulder, I have to do a double take.

“Holy shit, Ryder,” I say, hopping to my feet so I can hug him.

But the second his familiar scent hits my nose, so does reality.

The moment he releases me, I turn toward my best friend and narrow my eyes.

She smiles innocently at me. But I know. I know exactly what she’s done.

“Tate, it’s good to see you,” Ryder says.

“You too. Long time, no see.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask as he drags a chair over.

“I’ve just come from meeting a client,” he explains, although it doesn’t actually answer my question.

“Excuse me, I’m just going to the bathroom. Babies and bladders don’t mix,” Tate says, just in case Ryder didn’t notice her belly.

“Oh, shit. I heard you were expecting. Congratulations.”

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