Cabin Fire: A New Adult and College Romance (The Billionaire Romance Redemption Series Book 4) by Bella Love-Wins Read Free Book Online Page A

streetlights flashed by him as he drove up the ramp to the highway. He drove quickly, but not fast enough to get into any trouble. He just needed to breathe again, to feel his pulse race, now that he was closer to letting go of Abby.
    He exited Highway 280 and turned north on the pacific highway to enjoy the ocean view. Or try to, anyway. There wasn’t much enjoyment to be had. Everything around him seemed muted and dull, as though the life had been drained from him and his surroundings. That was his new and less-than-shiny perspective. Thousands of street lights sparkled in his periphery as he drove, until he saw something out of the corner of his eye. When he did, he braked so hard, the tires screeched before coming to a jarring stop.
    He looked to the left, toward the ocean. There were two joggers running up the boardwalk, moving in synchronicity, and with such grace; such togetherness. He wasn’t sure why they caught his attention, or why he had stopped to watch them. Perhaps because it was the middle of the night. Surely they were out training for something. He took a moment to catch his breath. God, he missed Abby terribly.
    Remembering he had a meeting with Professor Sansbury in the morning, he started the car, turned it around, intent on going back to the hotel. Somehow, he ended up in the parking lot at Abby’s place. If he had been looking to feel his heart race, it sure happened there. He could barely breathe, his hands shook, and his throat tightened.
    He struggled to come up with what he could ever say to make up for how he had treated her. He didn’t dare go up to her door; not at this hour, and certainly not after cutting ties the way he had done. He sat in the car and looked toward her unit. All the lights were off. At least he didn’t cause her any loss of sleep. Sighing, he started the car and left.
    Back in his room, he stood at the door and looked around. He tried to busy his mind, and not have it invaded by Abby. There was more space than he or his dad, or any of their guests would ever need. He looked at the baby grand piano in the corner of the living room. Neither he nor his dad played. He wondered why his father had the hotel keep it as part of the décor. He had no idea why he only just noticed it.
    He walked to the fully stocked bar in the far corner of the room. He placed a glass on the counter and looked through the bar fridge. Whiskey could help. Except he hated drinking alone. He put the bottle back in the fridge without pouring a drop, and went back to his bedroom. He undressed to his boxers again and got into bed.
    ***
    The sun blazed through the windows as Andrew woke up the next morning. He looked over at the clock. He had barely slept. He picked himself up and got in the shower. His meeting with Sansbury was scheduled for ten that morning, and his guest lecture was right after that. After getting dressed, he went down to the main floor of the hotel. He walked through the common areas, past the couples and businessmen sitting at the smaller hotel restaurant near the lobby.
    He was early. Looking around, he found a seat near the quieter back window and waited. After a server took his coffee order, a young couple walked in from the patio outside, and approached him.
    “Good morning, sir. Sorry to bother you, but would you mind taking a photo of my wife and me? We just got married.” the man said.
    “Oh honey, that’s the first time you’ve called me your wife,” the woman purred before Andrew could answer. “It sounds so sweet.”
    She reached up and kissed the man, and Andrew looked around, hoping a hostess or server—anyone—would come by and do the honors. No one came.
    When they pulled from their kiss, the man seemed to remember why he was standing in front of Andrew’s table, and continued. “Sorry about that. So, can you take our photo out on the patio?”
    “Certainly,” Andrew answered, and stood up to follow them outside.
    The man passed Andrew his camera, and the