The Loss (Heartache series #1) by Vicki Green Read Free Book Online

gives her a sneer.
    “Fine,” Michelle barks then turns and walks away, her hips swaying in a magnifying way with her tight t-shirt and short shorts.
    I let out a big sigh and look back at Hailey. “I guess she hasn’t changed, huh? Still hates me.”
    Hailey laughs and then snaps her lips shut. “Sorry. Jealousy is a bitch and so is karma. You know after Jase took her out once, got what he wanted and then wouldn’t give her a second look afterwards, she’s always been jealous of you. Seriously, she and the cheerleading squad all hate you, always have. None of them have changed and I’m sure you’ll see that at the reunion. But anyway….” Miss Bitch picks that moment to interrupt us by setting our beers down and starts to walk away. “Oh, and Michelle?” Hailey says sweetly. Michelle stops, only turning her head our way. “We want to be left alone. A.L.O.N.E. We’ll let you know when we’re ready to order food.” I try to hold my snicker in as Michelle huffs, rolls her eyes, and walks away. “Okay, now. Spill it all, woman! Don’t leave anything out. You know I’ll never tell another soul as long as I live.” She does the sign of the cross over her heart, and that makes me spew out the beer I just drank. “Nice!” She grabs a napkin and starts wiping off the liquid that hit her.
    We both laugh for a bit until she stops and gives me her best smirk. I sigh and take a quick drink, swallowing it down along with the lump in my throat. “Well, which part do you want to know first?”
    She taps her chin like she’s thinking really hard but I know better. “Oh, I dunno. How about we start with Mr. Bill.” I laugh again but then get somber quickly.
    I look down, wiping the condensation away from my glass. “Well, I met him in the middle of my second year of college. I had gotten really depressed, wasn’t sleeping….” I look up and into her sad eyes. “I was missing home, all of you and….”
    “Jase.” She spews.
    I only nod and take a big drink of my beer. “He ended up, eventually, spending a lot of time with me. Helping me to try to move on and supported my graphic design. By that summer, he and I started dating. I got so busy with school and him that I just kind of lost contact with everyone. That’s all.” I wait to see if she’s buying it, but I know better all too well.
    She just sits there and looks at me. I shift in my seat in anxiousness. “Uh, huh. Well, I was only around you guys for that one weekend but….” She leans in and sadness forms in her eyes. “Alena, you belong with Jase. You know it, I know it, he knows it…. Hell, the whole town knows it. I know you’re afraid of it ruining your friendship but you know what? Your friendship has changed over the years. You both have changed. Have you ever thought he might be worried about the same thing?”
    My heart begins to beat faster at the thought. Could he? I take another drink, shaking my head. “I don’t think he feels that way about me, Hail. It’s silly to even think about it.”
    “About what?” A rough and low voice sounds not far from the table.
    I strengthen my grip on my glass as I almost drop it when I hear his voice. My eyes move over slowly to see tennis shoes, jeans covering strong muscular thighs, a slim waist and broad chest then up to his jaw and then to his brown eyes. I swallow hard when I see his sexy grin.
    “Mind if I join you, ladies?” I sit there just blinking at him, unable to speak. He chuckles, the sound of his low voice traveling down through my body as he begins to sit down next to me. I quickly move over, taking my beer with me and look straight at Hailey. She’s sitting there with a huge smile on her face, looking at me then Jase, back and forth.
    “Jase Briggs! How are you, honey?” Michelle shrill screams in my ears.
    I look up and see her smiling sickingly sweet at him, and he smiles back. Something weird happens inside me, and I don’t like it. Jealousy? I have nothing to be