Page 6 of Wasted

I hugged my arms around myself, a familiar ache settling in my chest. "Cole and I's chance passed a long time ago."

"Maybe." She shrugged, her sequins catching the light. "Maybe not."

For the next twenty minutes, Kylie worked her magic, softening my features with light touches of makeup. My eyes lookedbrighter, my cheekbones more defined, and when she was done, I didn't even recognize myself.

Kylie stepped back, admiring her handiwork with a satisfied smile. "What do you think?"

My gaze met hers through the mirror. "I think I understand now why so many people follow you for makeup tips," I teased. Kylie was a social media influencer who just recently started her own makeup line. I'd always thought she got her fame from being Cole Montgomery's baby momma, but even if that was how it started, she'd definitely earned her own way.

Kylie's hand squeezed my shoulder, her touch both reassuring and questioning. "You ready for this?"

Sucking in a deep breath, I let my gaze roam over myself in the full-length mirror. I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't ready for the humiliation if he recognized me. I wasn't ready for the rejection or to see the hurt I'd caused him in his eyes, but it was now or never. "No." I shook my head. "But I will be."

"Taylor," Kylie said, grabbing my shoulders and turning me to face her. "You need to get out of your own head right now because you're coming off as a scared, timid girl, and we need a confident, sexy woman to get him out of that bar."

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. "Right." My reflection stared back at me with newfound determination. "I can do sexy and confident."

"All you have to do is lure him back to the hotel room, get him in the bed, and cuff him. Wyatt and Dallas will follow you up incognito in case you need help."

My brow furrowed as confusion and doubt crept in. "Why are we going to such lengths to get him up here? Why don't we just wait for him to come back? Or drag him out?"

Kylie's expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Paparazzi are everywhere, and we want to avoid any more bad press. He also doesn't come back to the hotel once he leaves. Weusually don't see him until showtime if he shows up. If we can get him back here and sober him up, maybe you can talk some sense into him."

"We are definitely going to need a good pair of handcuffs." Because he was going to flip when he realized it was me tomorrow morning.

Chapter Three

Taylor

It wasn't hard to figure out where Cole was in the massive two-story country bar. I just had to follow the crowd of women surrounding him.

There was no way I would be able to approach him, and I had no idea how to get his attention with so many beautiful women surrounding him. This was going to be a whole lot harder than I realized.

My gaze shifted around, and I spotted a seat on the opposite side of the bar, directly across from Cole. Sliding onto the bar stool, I pulled out my phone to text Kylie.

Taylor: There's no way I can get close to him. He's surrounded by women.

I set my phone down on the bar, and my gaze flicked up. Cole's back was to me as he flirted with the two, maybe three dozen women pining for his attention, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Every one of them hoped to be the future Mrs.Montgomery. I couldn't blame them. I'd only seen him on TV, but it was obvious that he was even hotter now than he'd been in high school. I couldn't see Cole settling with any of those girls. Then again, I didn't know who Cole was anymore.

My phone buzzed, and I picked it up.

Kylie: Just sit where he can see you. Cole likes the chase.

Well, at least that much was still true. My lips twitched at the memories of us. He'd asked me out every day since Kindergarten, but boys were gross until middle school. On the first day of sixth grade, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. I didn't know it that day, but over the next several years, I would fall madly in love with him. So in love that I would choose his happiness over mine.

My fingers flew over the phone's keyboard, the glow of the screen illuminating my face in the dimly lit bar.

Taylor: I found a place at the bar. Do I just sit and wait?

The phone buzzed in my hand, Kylie's reply flashing on the screen.

Kylie: Yes! Play hard to get and refuse a drink.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I read her advice.

Kylie: Well, you know him. He's still the same boy wrapped up in a man's body.

The tall, dark, and very handsome bartender leaned in, his deep Southern accent rolling off his tongue. "What can I get you, darlin'?"

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