Sunrise Fires by Heather LaBarge Read Free Book Online Page B

girls’ night out.”
    “The decision is seven days away…”
    “Ha. So funny how you see it. The offer was made a month and three weeks ago, so I see it as…the decision is seven weeks overdue!” She laughed, scoffing my procrastination.
    “I don’t know if I can.”
    “If you can make the decision? Seems Dullberth has done that for you, and good thing because I don’t know if you could either. But as far as going out tonight, I’m sure you can. Text Ryan and tell him you are with the coolest chick in Vegas. He’ll get it and definitely let you go.”
    “He’ll say that I’m the coolest chick in Vegas and ask who else is going.” I stuck my tongue out.
    “I bet he will,” she mused. “I just bet he will. Why are all the good ones taken?”
    “If I go to Germany… maybe he won’t be…”
    “Shut up that idiot talk,” she turned and headed out of my office. “Be ready to go at seven, I’m driving.”
     
    *   *   *
     
    “I like Jackie. How come you don’t go out with her more?”
    “I dunno, Ryan,” I pecked him on the lips, “because I can’t tear myself away from you, I suppose.” I turned back to the bathroom mirror and dotted some cover-up on the dark circles under my eyes.
    “Germany will likely change that.”
    “Now? Right now, baby? You have to start that conversation when Jackie will be here any minute?”
    He sat on the counter, watching me swirl my mascara wand in its cylinder. “Start? Funny you should use that word since I’ve been trying to have this conversation with you for more than a month now.”
    I drew the mascara brush away from my eye and looked directly at him. “I love you, baby. I really do. And the decision about Germany feels really scary to me.”
    “So you’ve said a thousand times. But why? Why can’t you allow yourself to be successful? Why are you so stuck in your present that you can’t see your future?”
    “You know, this might be easier if you were possessive and begged me to stay.” I said it in an accusatory tone, and part of me meant it. I resented him for not making this easier for me.
    His eyes narrowed, and he looked at me for a long time. I continued putting on my makeup and acting as if what I’d said hadn’t been incendiary at all. “Is that really what you want?” he finally said, his face incredulous. “Is that who you expect me to be?”
    I didn’t have time for this conversation right now, and even if I did, I wasn’t ready for it. I changed my demeanor, switching to a playfully flirtatious voice as I replied, “I don’t expect you to be anything, love.” I pressed my lipsticked lips into a piece of tissue and stepped over to him. “Except the beautiful man that you are.” I stood between his parted legs, pressing my pelvis against the counter and leaning into him. “And, of course, the phenomenal lover part is nice, too.” I winked at him and kissed his cheek, leaving a big red lipstick impression. As I leaned back, I admired my work, smiling.
    He grabbed my ass. “You look good tonight. Am I going to lose you to some irresistible stranger in the bar?” He raised a hand and delicately moved my bangs away from my eyes with one finger.
    “Not a chance.”
    “Maybe he’ll try really hard. I know if I saw you across the bar, I would.”
    I smiled. “You already tried as hard as you needed to get me, and now, you’re stuck with me.” I nestled into his chest.
    “Well, good, because you’re stuck with me, too.”
    My heart thumped in my ears at the thought. “Even if I go to Germany?”
    “What?!” He pulled back and tried to look me in the eyes.
    I looked down at his crotch, “Nothing.” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
    “Oh, my God, that’s it. This whole time…” He smacked his forehead. “Holy fuck!”
    “This whole time, what?!”
    “Jen, you’ve got to be kidding me. You keep deflecting Germany and refusing to talk about it because you think we’re done. Is that it? You think