Love Me ~ Without Regret by Renee Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

injecting herself into our crowd, whether I want her to or not. I know I need to find a way to get over her and Clay. So, I guess, yes, they’re a couple and I need to accept that and move on. I can only be friends with him anyway.
    “I want to be the peanut to his butter and the cherry on his sundae,” Denise is telling Bailey and Aubrey as I take a seat.
    “Oh shit, you guys really do belong together, you’re both as cheesy as Kraft.  Hey, I crack myself up sometimes!”  I can’t quit laughing but when I look around no one else is, so I guess I’ll just shut up now.  “I’m going to the bar, does anyone want anything?” 
    “I want a Cape Cod,” Aubs calls out.
    “Nothing for me, thanks,” Denise says shyly.
    “I’ll go with you, Lizzie, What do you want, Cash?” Bailey gets up from her seat.
    “You naked in bed.” Cash pulls Bailey down on his lap, kissing her.  “Just get me a Bud Light, Sweet Cheeks.” He digs in his pocket and pulls out a couple of twenties.  “This round is on me, ladies.” Cash stops and looks over at me for a second. “Just let me go, Bay. I want to talk to Lizzie about something anyway.”
    “Thanks, Cash, you’re my favorite,” I tell him.  On the way to the bar, I can feel Cash on the verge of a lecture.
    “So what’s going on between you and Clay?” he asks.
    Oh, brother, the third degree, just what I need, but Cash is a close friend. I’m impressed by him because he’s good to Bailey and he treats our grandparents with the utmost respect. He is just a class act if the truth be told. “Nothing, I don’t do relationships, you know that.” I feel like I need to explain more because Clay and Cash are half-brothers, after all. They recently found each other when their father passed away. “He says he isn’t into meaningless sex.  I didn’t know any guys existed out there who didn’t like to screw around.”
    “You should give him a chance. I mean, really, he can’t be a bad guy because he’s my little bro.  Plus, I’ll personally kick his ass for you.”  Cash leans against the bar while we wait for our drinks.
    “Oh, how sweet! Not! See, that is exactly what I don’t want. I don’t want something to happen and that rips our group apart.” We get our drinks and walk back over to the table.
    Denise is gone. She must be in the restroom. So, I take my seat beside Bailey, where the best friend is supposed to sit.
    “Tell her I know what I’m talking about, Bay. This thing with her and Clay.” Cash tells Bailey.
    “You’re going to send him into Denise’s arms, Lizzie. Is that what you want? Can you sit back and watch as that happens?” Bailey leans close and lowers her voice so only I can hear her. “He needs you, Lizzie and he isn’t anything like Nathanial.  He won’t go around fucking everything behind your back while he’s telling you he loves you.”
    “Can we just have a good time tonight and not discuss my epic attempt of a failed relationship?  I’m smart enough to know when relationships don’t work for me.  I’m done with relationships, Bay. They’re fine for you.  You’ve had your dad around. He has always been there for you. He might have been traveling a lot, but he was there.  Mine didn’t stick around at all. Mom’s dad was a piece of shit, too.  The only truly good man alive is Papa.”
    “I beg your pardon,” Cash says.
    Bailey pats Cash’s shoulder to soothe his wounded ego.
    “Lizzie,” she says, “we don’t know the whole story involving your mom and dad or your grandfather.  You can’t base your life on what happened to your mom and grandmother.  If you live in fear of getting hurt, you’re going to pass up on what could very well be your soul mate.  Good relationships take a lot of work, and you were so young and naïve during your ordeal during Bad Fate Nate.  You can’t live your life now on what happened in the past.”
    “You and your fairy tale ideas of love are fine for you, Bailey,