LATCH by LK Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

thinking about Latch, and it hits me hard. Latch is the last thing that I want to think about tonight.
    I hand him back the cigarette just as the girls pull up in a limo and start to holler and whistle at me. I chuckle at them. “That’s my ride,” I tell Mike, laughing at Chloe as she is hanging out the sunroof with her blonde hair all a jumbled mess. “Here,” I hand him some of the cash that I took from Darrell and say, “Here’s to help buy some furniture for your new place.” There has to easily be a grand there, but I don’t give a shit.
    He smiles and says, “Wow, thank you! Have a good night, Abby, and be safe.”
    “I will,” I tell him and hop into the limo with the girls. Being with them all again is like a small reunion. It’s been so long – too long. “It’s so good to see you girls,” I say as we all hug and giggle. Sasha pops a bottle of champagne, and the cork hits the ceiling like a rocket.
    She pours us each a glass and I take my time drinking it, knowing I’m already pretty tipsy. The cigarette didn’t help either. “So how’s Darrell doing?” Chloe asks.
    Taking in a deep breath, I can’t lie to these girls. As much as I don’t want to get into it tonight, I have to.
    “We’re going through a rough patch.”
    “Did he cheat on you again?”
    There is no going back now, so I slam my champagne. Pointing at my chest, I shake my head and respond, “No…I did.” The girls’ jaws all about hit the floor with my confession.
    “Why?”
    “Because he’s checked out on our marriage. When he’s in New York, he stays in a hotel most of the time, he’s never home, and I got fed up. I’m tired of him not giving me any attention and he’s still cheating on me. Those fucking celebrity gossip shows always post pictures and shit.”
    “Why are you still with him?” Mandi asks me.
    “Trust me, I ask myself the same question all the time.”
    “Who’d you cheat on him with?” Chloe asks.
    “Just some guy.”
    “Abby, we know you, you’re a little too particular to be with just some random guy.”
    The driver stops the car and I look out to see that we have arrived at My Club 20. I’m not about to go into details and tell these girls that Latch is a male escort. “It was a one-time thing, can we not talk about it anymore tonight?” I end the conversation as the rear door to the car opens and we step out into the refreshing New York City night, music from the club filling the air.
    The girls all get out of the car and I ask them, “You ladies ready?”
    “Hell yeah!” Walking up to the bouncer at the door, I tell him my name and as soon as he hears it, he unclicks the rope, letting us all shuffle in. Walking through the door, my mind is a mess as I am so buzzed and can’t shake the thoughts of Latch. Why does everything in my life have to be so fucked up? Heading for the bar, I order us a round of Long Island iced teas. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I swear that I see Latch at the end of the bar, but as the guy turns toward me, it’s not him. As much as I wish he was here with me tonight, he’s not. I can want it more than anything, but it’s not going to change a damn thing. Latch and I are like oil and water. Darrell catching us might actually be a good thing, considering that there is no way Latch and I can have a future together. I paid him for sex as a way to convince myself that it wasn’t quite the same as cheating, and that was it. As we wait for our drinks, a hostess comes over to me and asks, “Mrs. McEllrath, would you like a VIP table?”
    “Yeah, that’d be great,” I tell her.
    “Follow me,” she says as the bartender sets our drinks down, I leave a hundred on the bar and we all take one making our way across the club. Mandi and Chloe follow Sasha and I, excited, already dancing and having a good time. We both laugh at them. Then all at once, my world stops. Out on the dance floor, letting some woman dry hump him is Latch. My stomach tightens