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

jealous about.
    “Hey, Michelle. I’ll take my usual,” he answers while looking at me. “Another for you, ladies?” I numbly nod and Hailey answers, but I can’t stop staring into his eyes. He turns to Michelle and she nods, winks at him and then leaves. His head turns to Hailey and then back to me. “So, did you girls have a nice day?”
    My lips part but nothing comes out until Hailey kicks me under the table. “OH! Um, Yes. We went shopping and then to the gym, then here.” Oh, my God! I’m so stupid. I can’t even make a coherent sentence.
    He chuckles again and that makes me cross my legs. “I can see you’re here and I actually saw you at the gym earlier.”
    My eyebrows raise. “Oh, yes. I did see you. For a minute. Where you working out?”
    Hailey snorts in her beer and I look at her quickly. My brows lower and I give her an angry look, then back at Jase, giving him a smile. “Uh, well…. Yeah, I was but I was also doing some paperwork.” Hmmm, paperwork? He must see my confusion, so he smiles and continues. “I own the gym, Alena.” What? “I bought the rented space after college. Majored in business and with my track record and working out, I figured I’d make a go of it.” Pride swells in me.
    “It’s doing really well, too!” Hailey adds.
    “I…. I don’t know what to say, Jase.” His smile grows, and we’re interrupted yet again by Miss Bitch.
    She sets our drinks down and gives Jase a wink and then just stands there. “Uh, we’re not ready to order yet,” he says looking around at us. She’s quiet. I hear a small huff, but then she smiles at him and saunters away.
    “Well, that’s my cue,” Hailey announces. Huh? What? “You two have some catching up to do.” My mouth drops open as she takes a big gulp of her beer. I close my mouth quickly when Jase looks at me. She slides out of the booth, and I give him a small smile.
    “But you haven’t eaten yet?” She shrugs as she stands. I look at Jase, and I’m sure my face is telling him everything. “May I?” My eyes move to her and then to him. He nods and gets out, and then I hop out of the booth and jog over to her, grabbing her arm, almost forcefully. “What the hell are you doing? You can’t leave me here with him!” I half whisper.
    She turns, a big smile on her face along with a look of surprise. “What? I have things to do. Go!” She grabs my upper arms and turns me towards the booth. “Go have a good talk with your friend. Your longtime friend.” I’m so gonna hurt her later. This has been a set up the whole time.
    I hold my head up and look over my shoulder. She’s standing there waving her hands in a pushing motion. I turn back and walk back to the booth, sliding in Hailey’s absent seat. I’m afraid to look at him and don’t know what to do with my hands, so I put them in my lap and start wringing them. A noise causes me to look at the table when Michelle sets my beer down in front of me. Suddenly, I’m not thirsty or hungry.
    “Al, it’s just me. Has it been so long that I make you nervous?” My eyes look up and into his. So sad. Now I feel bad. “I’m not sure what made us drift apart but can’t we find that again? You were…. You are my best friend.” Damn. He’s right. I have so many more deep feelings for him than I ever thought imaginable, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends again. Best friends. I relax, a little, and smile, blowing out the breath I was holding.
    “You’re right, Jase. I’m sorry.” His smile is breathtaking. I bring my hands up to the table, folding them and take another breath. “So, tell me all about getting the gym. I bet that was exciting for you. I’m so proud of you.” Maybe everything will be okay. Maybe we’ll be okay. Then, why am I still scared about my feelings for him?

Chapter 4

    “And Mom helped me get everything fixed up in the house. It was a long road for me, but I’m in a better place now, Al.” We’ve been talking for over an