Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Maybe Allie was right, and we needed to go somewhere with more excitement and fun. Something to get my mind off the assessing stares and Pierce’s grumpiness.
I needed to at least congratulate Simon. As far as I knew, this was his first performance with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra since joining them as a special guest. Tonight was a sort of warm-up act with only part of the orchestra. The first grand performance at Music Hall was supposed to be in a few weeks.
The bar stood near the rear of the grand rotunda, close to the stairs that led to the second-floor exhibits. There were two bartenders, but just one was busy at that moment. Most people were opting for the champagne.
I flashed a friendly smirk to the young man with dark hair and rich brown eyes that were nearly the same color as his skin. “Do you have any iced tea on hand tonight?”
He replied with a sweet smile that was suddenly more appealing than Allie’s, but I shoved aside that troublesome thought. This was probably a sign that I needed to stop dating altogether and get my damn head screwed on right rather than chasing after anyone who showed me a modicum of courtesy.
“Yes, sir. Can I get you anything else?”
“Nope. That’ll do it.” I snagged a twenty from my wallet and put it on the counter. “Keep the change.”
At the same time, the other bartender finished with the guest who’d been there when I arrived and took the order of a newcomer.
“Rum and Coke, please.”
I glanced at the man on my right out of the corner of my eye as he stepped up close to the bar, and something about his profile sent an icy chill streaking down my spine. It couldn’t be! My head snapped around completely, and I narrowed my eyes on the pale-skinned slender man beside me in a light gray suit. That fiery red hair.
“Liam?” I gasped before I could catch that single word. My brain had locked up at the possibility of Liam fucking Rose standing right next to me.
The man’s head whipped toward me, his familiar hazel eyes so fucking wide. “Rome?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” We’d grown up in a suburb outside of Providence, Rhode Island. The idea that we were both in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the same time, attending the same event, was preposterous. It was impossible!
“I work here,” he growled. Wrinkles formed between his brows and along the ridge of his petite nose. “What are you doing here?”
“Attending my friend’s performance.”
“But you don’t live here, right?” There was an edge of desperation in his voice that brought a predatory smile to my lips. He took a nervous step away, as if he were afraid that I would jump on his worthless ass.
“I’ve lived here for a few years now.” My eyes slowly scraped down his lean frame from the top of his deep-red hair to the toes of his polished loafers, curling my upper lip as I returned my gaze to his face. “However, I’m reconsidering. It seems the local population has taken a turn for the worse.”
“Trust me, you’d be doing the entire state a favor if you pulled yet another disappearing act and left the area.”
The block of ice that had formed when I’d realized I was standing next to my former best friend and the first person to ever break my heart melted in an instant as rage rushed through my entire body. The fucking asshole!
“Rome? There you are!” Allie’s sweet voice cut through the din and stopped the scathing words that had risen to lodge in the back of my throat. She hurried over and threaded her arm through mine, oblivious to the fact that I was seconds away from punching Liam in the nose for his brutal betrayal and heartless abandonment. “Oh! Are you Rome’s violinist friend?” she inquired, turning her attention to Liam.
“No, he’s not my friend,” I bit out.
A harsh scoff broke from Liam’s throat, and his face twisted up into an ugly, pained expression. “You fucking ruined my life, and you’re not even gay.”
“No, I’ve leveled up, bitch.” I flashed him a broad smile that was all clenched teeth. “I’m pan. I find all types of people sexy. Just not douche bags.”
My hand gripping Allie’s where she held my arm, I pulled her along with me, leaving behind the drink I’d ordered. Thankfully, she didn’t speak as we cut across the rotunda to disappear in a thick grouping of event guests.
“Has Pierce left?” I asked.
“Uh…yeah. He left a minute before I came to find you.” She sounded as if she were still trying to process what she’d witnessed.
I grunted. “Let me congratulate Simon, and then we’ll get out of here,” I replied. Hate and rage bubbled in my veins, and my jaw ached from where I was clenching my teeth, but I couldn’t leave without at least saying a few words to Simon. This was his first performance in Cincinnati. One of his friends needed to be there to support him. He was a grown man, though, and probably didn’t give a shit if any of us were here for him. Still, Sawyer would have appreciated it.