Page 12 of All the Drama from New York

Liam picked up a dishcloth and began to dry the bowl.

“I can’t give you any advice on your love life, mine’s not much better. I might not have gotten rejected on national tv butfinding out that my fiancée had been sleeping with one of my best friends came as a serious kick to the head.”

Ryan winced at the memory of the night his brother had discovered the shocking betrayal.

Liam was an all-in type of guy when it came to romance, and the end of his engagement, as well as a long standing friendship had been a painful chapter in all their lives.

But Liam was moving on with his life. He was building a real career, and Ryan dreaded the day his brother came home and told him he was moving out. When that day came, Ryan’s only real option would be to move back home with his parents.

He pushed the thought of being in his thirties and living in the guestroom above the family garage as far away as he could.

I have to get this proposal at work off the ground. I can’t stay in a dead-end job any longer.

Pulling the plug out of the sink he stood for a moment watching as the water swirled around and around, then down the drain. Reaching for theScrub Mummyhe methodically cleaned the basin. When he was finished Ryan held the smiling pink face up in front of him and gave a wry grin. “At least someone in this house is happy.”

“Inanimate objects don’t count,” replied Liam.

No they didn’t, nor could they make life altering plans. Grinding beans for minimum wages was slowly but surely killing him. It was a good job, but one without a viable future.

“I have to find a way to make some real money. After that I can either go back and finish college or do something else. I’m not sure what. But I have a good logical brain. I pick things up easily, and that has to count for something.”

Liam gave him a look which said he’d already heard this particular speech one too many times.

Ryan finished cleaning the sink, then rinsed out the sponge. After tucking it into the dish rack, he stepped back.

He wasn’t completely useless. He had two years of an unfinished business degree under his belt. And in the years before being cast onBachelors on the Beachhe’d worked in a number of high end hotels in central New York City. Being a barista had once been his side hustle, somehow it had become his main gig.

I just need someone who is willing to take a chance on me.

“I’m going to talk to my boss tomorrow. He’s made enough promises in the past about giving me a shot, and it’s about time he made good on them.”

“And what if he doesn’t?”

If Simon said no to his business proposal, he didn’t know what he would do. Pinning his hopes on someone else coming through for him and then having them torn down brought back too many memories of that night on the beach.

Of standing watching as someone else sailed away with the love and the life he’d been so certain was his for the taking.

“He’ll say yes.”

God please let Simon say yes. I can’t live another day in this dump of an apartment knowing I don’t have an escape plan.

CHAPTER SIX

Camille startled from sleep in the dead of night. Somewhere in the darkness a loud bell echoed. It took a second or two for her brain to stir from the deep dream she’d been enjoying. Another long moment for it to register that the ringing noise was her cellphone.

Still half asleep she blindly reached for the night stand. Her fingers danced back and forth over the smooth glass top but touched nothing.

“Merde!” she grumbled. In an effort to get a better night’s sleep she’d moved her phone away from her bed. Her improved sleep patterns now came at the cost of having to get out of bed whenever someone called her late at night.

She threw back the covers and padded across the soft carpet, the light from her cell phone guiding the way. As she picked it up, she checked the name which shone brightly on the screen.

Hope.

What on earth was Hope doing calling her at…wiping the sleep from her eyes, Camille peered harder at the screen. “It’s two seventeen in the morning.”

She hit the receive button and put the phone to her ear.

“Hi Hope, are you ok?” Camille croaked sleepily down the phone.

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