Worth It (Forbidden Men 6)

like there’s something real beyond these trees. I want to be able to take you on a date. Just...once.”

I nodded, not against the idea at all, even though it’d probably be the riskiest thing we’d ever done. No way could I tell him no, so I said, “Okay, then. It’s a date.”

“Who was that?” Aspen asked as the new bartender moved away.

I sent a cursory glance his way, still surprised Pick had hired a new guy so suddenly, but then I returned my attention to the alcohol lining the back wall, because that’s why I was here: to get my drink on and fall somewhere between pleasantly numb and utterly oblivious.

As Noel told Aspen something about explaining everything to her later, I tried to decide what poison I was going to drown myself in. Tequila? Vodka? Rum? Bourbon?

Just about anything would do.

To help me forget.

I might have possibly had a mini breakdown at the salon earlier. Aspen and I had gone in, fully prepared to get nearly every inch of my hair chopped off, but at the last moment, when the lady had brought the scissors out, I’d freaked.

I’d burst into tears, claiming I couldn’t do it.

Aspen had patted my back as she’d ushered me outside with all my hair still intact, telling me it was about time I cried.

So I cried harder because I couldn’t tell her I wasn’t crying over Cam. Then I cried some more because I probably should’ve been crying over Cam.

I should’ve been mourning the loss of the confidence he’d stripped from me when he’d betrayed me and felt the need to turn to another woman. And I did feel stupid and exposed and oh-so insecure after learning I wasn’t even enough to keep someone like Cameron Finkle interested.

And yet that wasn’t why I cried.

I should’ve cried because I felt awful for not loving Cam, for not being devastated that it was finally over between us. I should’ve cried to realize what a heartless shrew I’d become for not caring the way I should.

But that’s not why I cried either.

I bawled like a baby because I hadn’t been able to cut my hair, because I couldn’t stop honoring a man I’d never see again.

I bawled because I couldn’t stop loving him like I so desperately wished I could.

I bawled because I missed him.

At the end of it all, Aspen announced we were going to ladies’ night at Forbidden to unwind, aka, get me completely plastered. We’d actually started drinking at her house, but I suspected she didn’t want Noel’s younger brothers to see me turn into a sloppy, weepy drunk...or maybe she just wanted to spend time with her man while he worked.

In either case, I’d already reached a nice blurry-hazed buzz. The loud chaos around me was a nice distraction too. There were plenty of other things to think about besides—

I yelped out a startled scream when someone came up from behind me and grabbed my shoulders before slapping a quick kiss to my cheek.

“Hey, Felicity.” Asher saddled onto the barstool next to me. “I heard you finally got rid of Cam. So...I call dibs.”

“I think not, douchebag.” Ten appeared on the other side of Aspen. “She’s hooking up with Caroline and me.” He winked my way. “Isn’t that right, Three?”

I wrinkled my nose. “That is so wrong. And stop calling me Three. I will never...in hell...respond to that name.”

Ten grinned and pointed at me. “Except you just did.” He slashed at the air and added a triumphant, “Boom.”

I rolled my eyes. “I still can’t believe you asked me to be your number three.”

“I can.” Asher scooped up a handful of beer nuts from the bowl in front of me and popped them into his mouth. “He’s a douche like that.”

“Wait, he did what?” Aspen spun to gape at Ten.

He glanced around for Noel. When he was assured his wife’s brother was busy, he held up a finger in my direction. “For your information, I don’t share my woman with just anyone, thank you very much. You are the only person I have ever asked to be our number three. I mean, I was momentarily tempted to ask Amisha, Caroline’s new friend from the filmography department, because she’s so fucking hot, but I figured she’d probably take the offer to heart, so...I chose you. That should make you feel lucky.”

“Wow, you know, I do. I am so lucky you hit on me...right in front of your wife.”