Page 98 of Love Me Gently

Her hands were out, and she looked frazzled. “Okay, okay, so I fibbed a bit.”

“What in the ever-loving slice of weird voodoo is going on?” Heather shrieked.

Fortunately, we were close enough she didn’t have to shriek too loud, and as Cole guided me toward the bar, where Heather’s appearance turned more surprised by the second, and then happy, he barked to Ashley, “Explain. Now.”

“Well, okay, so she didn’t know Trina was in town, but I knew she’d want to see her, and I thought if I tried to convince Trina to come and Heather didn’t know, it’d be easier for her to say no, so I fibbed… but just a little…because see?”

She flung out her arm toward Heather, who had handed off the half-mixed drink, and had somehow disappeared from behind the bar, and was running straight toward me.

“Not cool,” Cole growled.

I didn’t have time to think about any of it because Heather was barreling down on me, her mouth opened into a wide, cheek-aching smile, and her arms were extended. “I don’t know what’s going on or why you’re here, because this feels like an incredible fever dream, but holyfreakingcow, Trina!”

She threw her arms around me and yanked me to her. She’d trapped my arm beneath hers in her rush to get to me, and I grunted as pain flared in my ribs as she swung me back and forth. “Holy cow,” she repeated. “Holy freaking cow. You’re here, you’re actually here, and it’s so incredibly amazing and surprising to see you.”

I could barely breathe, much less respond, so I stayed still and took Heather’s fierce hug while she kept rambling.

But man… that felt good. It felt good to be held by her and have her so overwhelmingly excited to see me.

“I can’t breathe,” I finally rasped.

Heather laughed and let me go, only to hold on to my hands. “You’re beautiful. So beautiful. I’m sorry, I just…I can’t believe you’reherehere. And with Cole.” She blinked and her gaze swung to him and then Ashley and Robbie, who’d joined us at some point. “And…like you allknewthis.”

“I know,” Ashley said and lifted her hand. “I know. And well, I didn’t tell you because I wanted to respect Trina’s privacy, and everything, but I felt bad.” She turned to me. “And I’m sorry I lied to get you here, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore, and I didn’t want to keep hiding it from Heather, so I’m sorry. But Itoldyou she’d be excited to see you. Didn’t I?”

“You did,” I replied, and tugged on my hands that were still connected to Heather’s. “And itisgood to see you. You look incredible.”

“You’re as beautiful as always,” she said, peering at me as her eyes narrowed. “But sad. And hurt.” Her gaze stalled on the scar at my temple. The stitches had been removed a week ago, and most of my bruising was either gone or yellowed so I could easily hide it, but if felt like Heather saw it all. “I’m guessing there’s a story there.”

“There is,” I confirmed, but this wasn’t the time or the place to share it.

She frowned. “Okay then. Come, come sit at the bar. I’ll kick people out if I have to. I’m obviously working, but man…” She threw her arms around me and hugged me tight. “It’ssogreat to see you. Injuries and stories, aside, I’ve missed you.”

This time, I was able to hug her back. “You too, Heather. It’s good to see you too.”

She dragged us to the bar, and like she’d promised, she kicked out a group of men and pointed them to the closest booth. “Sorry guys. This is my best friend who I haven’t seen in far too long. She gets center stage tonight.”

I didn’t quite like the idea of being the center of anything, especially not the attention she was putting on me, but the men left with barely a grumble, and then Cole was planting onto a stool while Heather scooted around back behind the bar, beneath an opened area, and then popping up on the other side.

“Let me guess,” she said, grinning at Ashley and me. “Half off double bottles?”

“You got it,” Ashley replied for me.

Thirty-Four

Cole

It was a strange feeling, to feel like I knew someone so well, and then realize there was so much more to learn about that same person. Beyond Trina’s fears and obvious insecurities, I’d learned she changed in other ways, better ways over the years, too. After the surprise of a lifetime when we walked in, something I wasn’t as quick to forgive Ashley about even if it worked out okay, Trina settled in at the bar.

She wasn’t a drinker. Not that that alone was a surprise, I’d noticed it the other nights there’d been alcohol around. She had a glass, maybe two, but they took her so long to drink, that there was no way she was even close to tipsy. Definitely not drunk. Her years of modeling had changed the way she carried herself. There was a grace in which she carried herself, like she was floating above the ground when she walked, and even when she sat, the way she tilted her head or moved her fingers was done with a smooth, yet precise manner. Every move of her body was more of a smooth glide that was mesmerizing to watch. It made everything she did, even sipping from a glass of wine or shifting on her stool, elegant and refined.

A far cry from the girl who used to trip over her snow skis on her way down the bunny slope.

Her laughter was soft as she caught up with Heather and her smile was more timid. I wasn’t sure if that was from age and growth and the world she lived in, or the fact someone had silenced and terrified her all those years. But even quieter and less frequent, it was no less beautiful.

I had taken the seat next to her, and Robbie was on my other side, while Heather got caught up with Trina, breaking only when she needed to take care of another customer at the bar or mix drinks for the servers.

“Feels like no time has passed and a lifetime all at the same time,” Robbie said next to me, swirling his water glass in his hands.

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