Read Online Forget by N.A. Alcorn - Free Book Online

know. And I know a lot of pretty girls.” She pauses, eyeing me with a pointed look. “I’m not sure if you remember, but I’m a model. I’m surrounded by pretty boys and girls all day long. And you, my beautiful best friend, you’re one of the pretties.” She tugs on one of my blonde locks. “This sexy, hippie-bohemian look you rock, it suits you. And you should sport these messy waves more often.”
    I glance down, taking in my normal style. I always go with free and flowing, and I guess in Lindsay’s words, bohemian. My makeup is almost always minimal—only mascara and lip gloss. Although, sometimes, I’ll walk on the wild side and throw on a little red lipstick just to change things up.
    Tonight, I’m wearing high-waisted denim shorts with my favorite white, eyelet top. I paired the outfit with my brown, slouchy knee-high boots because they are the most comfortable things that have graced my feet.
    I wave her off. “I always dress like this.”
    “Yeah, but it’s been a while since your face has been void of that stressed out look. I feel like the second you moved back to L.A., you just kind of lost yourself.”
    I scrutinize her words, preparing for her to bring up Jamie.
    She holds up her hands, waving the white flag. “Look, I’m not saying a word. I just want you to know that I’m happy to see you happy.”
    Her words hit me like a freight train. Guilt starts creeping up my spine over the idea that I’m sitting here smiling and laughing when I just lost one of the most important people in my life.
    “Don’t do that,” she demands, tapping my nose with her index finger. “Don’t start feeling guilty. You deserve happiness more than anyone else. Millie sent you on this trip because she wanted you to be happy.”
    “Okay, okay. I’m happy.”
    She crinkles her nose, not buying it.
    “I’m so fucking hap-hap-happy that I can hardly see straight! See how motherfucking happy I am!” I shout dramatically.
    Lindsay raises an eyebrow at me. “Yeah, you keep acting like that and I’ll throw in my horrible French accent. We’ll have a one-way ticket to straightjackets and a padded room in no time.”
    I can’t remember the last time Lindsay and I laughed like this. Her cheek is resting on her crossed arms, and her shoulders shake with laughter. My head is thrown back, and I’m sure the sound of my giggles rise well above the chattering around the bar and thumping music coming from the basement level.
    I spot Jesse walking towards us, a smile consuming his face. “I had a feeling I’d hear you two before I actually saw you,” he says.
    We both wipe the tears from our eyes, laughter still occasionally spilling from our lips.
    “It’s a constant stream of inside jokes with you ladies, isn’t it?” he questions in good humor.
    “Pretty much,” Lindsay responds. Her smile is infectious. She bats her long lashes and slides a loose piece of straight brunette hair out of her face, flashing her famous midnight blue eyes in his direction.
    He grins at her, leaning forward and whispering something into her ear.
    She nods in response, ignoring the questioning look I’m tossing toward her.
    “Shall we make our way downstairs?” he asks.
    We follow his lead, pushing past the crowd until we reach a dark, narrow staircase leading to the bottom floor. The music vibrates against the walls the closer we get to the stage. The house band finishes up a cover of Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones. By the time we reach the dark basement, the final Hmm, hmm, hmm is being sung.I thought they sounded pretty good when we were upstairs, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find out they’re even better once we’re at stage level.
    Parisian twenty-somethings cavort around the dark space, singing and heating up the dance floor near the stage. I turn to find a similar sight playing out near the bar in the back. The entire scene is pretty fantastic.
    As my eyes focus on the stage, I notice the lead singer.
    Oh. My.