Page 40 of An Uphill Battle

“I figured we could do a little retail therapy and grab lunch. Nothing crazy, just some girltime.”

“That sounds perfect, Myles,” I tell her, linking my arm through hers. We make our way into one of my favorite boutiques, and I’m immediately drawn to the most stunning cardinal red maxi. It has a deep vee and long, belled sleeves with a cinched waist. Seraphine notices me admiring it and tells me Ihaveto try iton.

“I want to, but I–Ican’t.”

“Sister-girl,” Myla Rose says, walking over, “red is your color.” Seraphine nodsvigorously.

“I know, but now it just reminds me of... him. The last two times things went wrong for us, I was wearing a red dress.” I duck my head, hating how pathetic I sound. “Stupid, Iknow.”

Myla Rose wraps her arms around me and squeezes tight while Seraphine tells me, “You can’t stay sadforever.”

“I know, I know. But this is stillsofresh.”

Magnolia, who has been watching us, speaks up. “I’ve found that the best way to overcome things is to face them head-on. The longer you let fear and regret control you, the harder it is to breakfree.”

Her words spark something in me, becausedammit, she’s right. I grab my size and march directly to the register. This dress is meant for me, and I don’t plan on wearing it until Drake is mine once again. Because one way or another, I’m going to make him see that we’re meant to be together. No matter how long ittakes.

After I check out and the clerk wraps and packages my purchase, we’re out the door and on our way to grab a bite to eat. We pause outside Buster’s for Myla Rose to check her phone, and across the street, I notice a group of guys jogging, and one of them has what has to be the cutest pug in existence trotting dutifully beside him at hisfeet.

I nod toward the pup, smiling, and Seraphine and Magnolia spot him instantly, both cooing over how damn cute he is. I swear, I can see his little pug underbite from clear across the street. The three of us stare after the little guy until he’s out ofsight.

“The heck are y’all lookin’ at?” Myla Rose asks, stowing her cell in herpurse.

“You totally just missed the cutest doggy ever. He was a little chunk of apug.”

“Seriously, Myles, he was preshy!” I roll my eyes at Seraphine and her newfound tendency to shortenwords.

“I’ve been tryin’ to talk Cash into a dog for Brody. Every boy needs adog.”

“Every boy grows up to be a dog.” I cough into myfist.

“Your jaded is showing,” Myla Rose fires back as she smacks me upside myhead.

“Yeah, yeah. We can’t all have the fairy tale youdo.”

“You can. All y’all can and will. Swear it. Your man is out there, and when you meet him—or, in your case, Azalea, when y’all pull your heads out your asses—you’ll know, and it will be every bit as magical as what I have with Cash.” Seraphine and I shoot her a dubious look, and poor Mags looks downright terrified. “Trust me, ladies. It’s not always easy, and you’ll both make plenty of mistakes and you’ll hit lots of bumps, but if you both put in the time and effort, you’ll make it, and it’s so-so-so worthit.”

“Enough talk about boys and love,” Seraphine declares. “Let’seat!”

Smiling, I shake my head at her, bumping her hip with mine. “Let’s!” I agree, and we pick up our pace toward the café down thestreet.

22

Drake

It’s beenover a week since everything with Azalea came to a head. She’s texted me once and called a time or two. Her message went unanswered and her calls unreturned. That girl’s an addiction, and I’ve gotta quit coldturkey.

Doesn’t mean I don’t miss her, though. Doesn’t mean she’s not on my mind damn-near twenty-four seven. Guess Cash wasn’t too far off when he said I was obsessed with Azalea, but this shit has to end. Kasey’s number has been burning a hole in my pocket, and it’s high time I get out of the house and try and figure out my life sansAzalea.

So, with a deep breath followed by two more, I tap out her digits and hitSend. It rings once, then twice. On the third, I’m about to hang up when a breathy “Hello” comes through theline.

“Hey, uh, Kasey. You might not remember me, but I sat in yoursection—”

“Brown eyes and a sweet little gap in your front teeth?” she asks, her voice swimming withlaughter.

“Guilty. So, uh, I was callin’ to ask if you might wanna go out with me thisweekend?”

“I’d love to, but maybe you oughta tell me your name first,sweetie?”

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