Hate Sober (Love Me Duet 2)

“It’s just… I mean I’m over him, I’m with someone who makes me happy. Wow! It’s all I can say.”

“Yep, pretty much.”

“So, Gunner?”

“Yep, Gunner.” I sigh while sitting next to her on my sofa. “Just when I thought I was doing better.” I laugh.

“You were. You were doing great.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “You should send him the forms. And I don’t know… maybe take a holiday. Get away for a bit. Might do you some good.”

“Maybe.”

“No maybe about it. You must.”

“I’ll soon be a divorcée.” I let the word roll off my tongue. It doesn’t sound right, but it’s my new reality.

“Yes, you will be, and it will be okay. One day soon, you’ll meet someone and you’ll forget all about Gunner.”

“Gunner’s hard to forget.” I almost whisper the words, but she hears me anyway.

She throws her arm around my shoulder. “Of course he is. He is your first love.”

She’s right, he is.

He was so many of my firsts, and now I simply must try and make new seconds.

“Maybe I should go to Paris? I’ve always wanted to go to the city of love.” I smile.

“Yes. But don’t come back married.” I chuckle at her words and shake my head.

“Nope, this girl is not getting married for a very long time. If I ever do, again.”

“You love marriage. Don’t hate it now because of this, Ev.”

She’s right, I do.

The idea of spending my life with that one person is all I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s my idea of the perfect life.

“So, Paris.” I smile.

“Paris it is,” she agrees.

16

Everly

You know when you’re being watched. The feeling runs shivers all over your body, and you can feel, just feel, when someone’s staring at you. I feel that right now as I have my back turned to the restaurant and I’m talking to one of my employees.

Dismissing her, I turn around and search for what’s there. I know something, or someone, is there. It tingles all over my skin that I have someone staring at me.

And I’m right. A face I barely recognize, but who is hard to forget, sits in one of my seats with a man across from him as he looks at me. He doesn’t look away, not caring at all that he’s been caught, just offers me a small smile as he continues his conversation with the man in front of him.

I walk away and when I come back out at least thirty minutes later I find him outside my office door, waiting with his phone in his hand.

“Can I help you?”

He looks up, tucks his cell in his pocket, and smiles at me. A shiver I do not like runs through me.

“You remember me?” he asks, and I nod my head. “Good. How is my wonderful cousin doing? Treating you right, I hope?”

My eyebrows pinch together at his words.

“We aren’t together,” I inform him, and his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“That’s news.”

I shrug. “Can I help you…”

“Roberto.” He offers me his name when I struggle to remember.

“Roberto,” I finish.

“I didn’t know you worked here, Everly.” He looks around, then comes back to stare at me.

“I own the café.”

Surprise takes over his face. “You must be proud. I’ve heard only great things.”

I nod.

“Can I interest you in a coffee, perhaps? Or we could go elsewhere?” He eyes me, waiting for a response. I don’t want to go anywhere with him. The vibes I get from him make me uncomfortable.

“No, thank you. I have to work.”

“Maybe another time then,” he offers instead.

No. Way.

“I’m sorry, Roberto, but no can do. Now, if you will excuse me.” I turn to leave, but his voice stops me.

“I see what he saw in you.”

When I turn back, he’s watching my body with a smirk on his face.

“What did he see?” I ask out of curiosity.

He looks up at me. “Fire. He saw fire.” Then he turns to walk out, throwing over his shoulder. “I’ll be seeing you, Everly Thorne.”

His words don’t sit well with me.

I shake off his visit and try to put it behind me.

A courier comes, he takes the papers.

Many emotions go through me, not all good.

I’m soon to be a divorced woman, from the man who I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with.

I loved Gunner Reid.

I love Gunner Reid.

That will never change.

No matter how hard I try.

I lock myself in my office for the whole day. It’s better than feeling what I’m feeling.

Pain.

Sorrow.

Hurt.

The week goes fast. I’m thankful because this week hasn’t been easy. Telling yourself to turn off your love for someone is next to impossible.

How can I do that? I can’t.

Why can’t I? I wish I could.

This is what I wanted, after all.

Sunday rolls around and when I walk up to my parents’ house for our lunch, I hear talking inside. Opening the door, I spot my mother who offers me a small smile that’s forced.