Only in Time (A Mystique Antiques Novella) by Kelli McCracken Read Free Book Online

when she left this room, the more the room shifted.
    The cool metal of the door met her back as she leaned into it. At least it brought some relief to her overheated body. She’d feel even better if she could kick off her heels and plant her feet on solid ground.
    One quick scan of the floor proved that need would have to wait until she made it home. Where she should head as soon as possible.
    Maybe if she left now, she wouldn’t have to risk running into Jonah. He was still on stage, performing. Had started another song when she arrived at the bathroom door. The chance of escaping unnoticed gave her a small dose of hope.
    She needed to find Cassie.
    Digging her cell from her back pocket, she tapped the screen, pulling up the last text from her friend. Four words into the text, music filtered into the bathroom. Followed by the creak of a hinge.
    “Ally? You in here?”
    “Yeah.” The words sounded shakier than Ally wanted. Keeping her back against the door, the lock shimmied against her arm.
    “Hey,” Cassie’s voice cooed to her from the other side of the stall. “Are you okay?”
    “Having the time of my life,” Ally snorted. Wasn’t it every girl’s dream to run into the guy who stole her heart? Not only running into him, but giving him the sexiest dance she’d ever given anyone in her life.
    “I saw what happened. Actually, Mike noticed something was going on first. By the time I tuned in, you’d stopped dancing.” Cassie jiggled the knob again, waiting for Ally to open the door.  When she finally did, brown eyes stared back at her. “Ally, I’m so sorry. I had no idea Jonah would be here. I didn’t know he was still around these parts. I heard he’d left for L.A.”
    Ally waved away her apology as she moved toward the sink. “It’s okay, Cass. I know you wouldn’t do this to me on purpose. I’m sorry I’m ruining our night.”
    “You’re not ruining my night. I’ve had a blast, but if it has to end, then so be it. There will be plenty more.”
    Twisting the sink handles, Ally cupped some water in her hand, splashing the cool liquid onto her face. It helped extinguish the fire in her cheeks. But the flame inside her heart raged on.
    Cassie joined her, patting her back as both looked at their reflections. “Listen. Take a few minutes to compose yourself. I’ll go pay for our drinks and call a cab. Neither of us should drive. Mike’s Manhattans are extra potent. Meet me at the bar in five minutes and we’ll get out of here.”
    “Sounds good,” Ally nodded, turning the faucet off. “But at least let me pay for the drinks.”
    Coppery hair brushed against creamy shoulders with each shake of Cassie’s head. “No way. It’s my treat. Welcome home, Ally.”
    Yeah. Welcome back to where it all began. All the heartache she’d carried with her for the last six years. Moving back here was a mistake. She should have known there would be a chance she’d run into Jonah. This was his home, whether he lived here or not. But if he really lived in L.A., why in the hell had he shown up in town at the same time she moved back?
    Slumping her shoulders, she trailed her hand against the edge of the counter, wishing she could crawl under a rock. Anger pulsed within her heart. She shouldn’t allow him to affect her like this. After all these years of telling herself she’d moved on. What a lie. Seeing him again brought back every single second of their time together. How much she adored him as a friend for many years. How those feeling changed after he’d played for her one night. The same night that the tug toward Jonah began.
    Releasing a sigh, she focused on Cassie, tucking the thoughts away. “I shouldn’t be this upset.”
    “Yeah, you should. I know what Jonah meant to you, Ally. You should have told him the truth before you left.”
    “I tried.” She ground out. “He didn’t want to hear it. Not when he had plans to leave.”
    Cassie turned to face her, gripping her shoulders as she gave