Page 17 of Wild Stars

And my definition of relaxing differs from everyone else’s.

“When was the last time you went out with all of us, like this?Seriously.It was before you and Ed broke up.”

The air thins as she says his name, and I don’t miss the looks that come over everyone’s faces.It’s like she dropped a bomb in the middle of a table, just by saying his name.

I sigh, knowing there isn’t any arguing with her at this point.After all, we broke up a year ago, officially.Contracts ripped up and all...

“Yeah, well, maybe I was trying to figure my shit out, Hailee.I was with the guy for five fucking years.Forgive me if I needed some space.”

I drain my drink and push it to the side, capturing the attention of our waitress and beckon her for another.

Celina is the first to speak.She says the words softly, imploring me with her gaze.“Five years is a long time.”

Geo bumps my shoulder.“But that’s the past.You’re doing fucking greatnow,man.Look at you.”

I glance at Geo’s dark, kind eyes, and the air that settles around us is strangely comforting.

“Your comeback is lit.”Geo waggles his eyebrows.“Five weeks in the number one spot, shit.I’ll never knock you out at this point,” he teasess smoothly.

“It’s not a comeback, Geo.It’s a glow-up.Obviously.”Hans winks.“All that yoga really paid off, huh?”Hans giggles.

I shoot him a dominant glare that makes him shut right the fuck up.“It wasn’t yoga,” I nip.

Hailee rolls her eyes.“Right, it was tantra.”She giggles.

“Yes.And I think maybe you all could learn a thing or two from the practice ofholding things in,”I say, taking a swig of my drink.

Geo raises his beer, taking a sip as he laughs.“You’ve been holding it in long enough, don’t you think?”

Celina giggles and Hans shakes his head.

“Indulgence is no longer indulgence if it is routine,” I grumble.

Which is why I only watch at Saint & Sinner, and do not engage.

A part of me worries I’ll never trulyindulgein anyone, again.

Not unless I want to suffer a broken heart and soul.

Hailee chimes in.“All I’m saying is it’s okay to have a little fun.You’re not dead, you know.You just have to remember how to live.”

Hans purrs in contentment.“That needs to be on a t-shirt somewhere.”

I can’t help but shake my head as the waitress drops off my drink and I waste no time taking a sip.

“And indulgence is fine.In moderation,” Geo declares as he sets his drink down.

I raise an eyebrow at him.Not that the man doesn’t drink orindulgein shit, but it is kind of odd to see it when he does.I guess even angels from Christian rock can fall off the wagon sometimes.

Geo’s smile doesn’t reach his kind eyes.I don’t have many people I consider friends—mostly a lot of acquaintances and assholes who want to beseenwith me rather than be with me—but I’d go out on a limb and say the straight edge Marilyn Manson looking motherfucker is the closest thing I have to a best friend besides my sister.

And he might be theonlyperson at the table who actually knows about my...lifestyle.

I don’t like talking about my relationship with Edward, if only because Ican’t reallytalk about our relationship, due to our NDA.

The one I made him sign as my submissive.

Even though he broke the terms of our contract, the clause was more than iron clad and preventsbothof us from discussing the details of our relationship publicly.

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