Read Online Memory of You (A Misty Cove Love Story) by Dori Lavelle - Free Book Online
Authors: Dori Lavelle
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didn’t have to dance while rubbing against sweaty bodies.
Someone blew a cloud of smoke into my face and I coughed on reflex, almost spilling my cocktail. The culprit had large round glasses, an open shirt, and crooked teeth. He blew me a kiss and I ignored him and raised my glass to squeeze through more people.
Finally we walked through a glass door. The atmosphere was instantly lighter, and the smell of cigarettes not that strong. The music was also not as loud, allowing for conversation.
“Hi James,” Erin said to the bartender, a barrel-chested man with a goatee, and tattoos covering his biceps.
I looked around, remembering the last time we were here, the night of my bachelorette party. Erin had reserved the whole VIP lounge for the event, and we’d had so much fun. I had been so happy. I never thought that a week later I would be crying instead of laughing on my honeymoon.
“Not too good, Erin,” James said pointing at our cocktails. “Looks like you’re cheating on me again.”
The cocktails served in the VIP lounge were too fancy, with names we could hardly pronounce, so Erin and I always snuck off to the other side to get the cocktails we were used to.
“You know why, James,” Erin said. “I like the cheap stuff.”
We all laughed. Erin knew that if she asked for something that wasn’t on the menu, she would get it, but she didn’t see why she should inconvenience James or the other bartenders when she could get what she wanted at another bar in the same club.
“Jade.” Someone touched my shoulder and I whirled around to see Luke, Bryce’s best friend. “How are you? I haven’t seen you since you came back to town.”
Luke was at least six feet three and handsome in a rugged kind of way, with his signature crew cut and dark eyes. He hadn’t changed much in five years. While we were dressed up for clubbing, Luke wore a plain white shirt and shorts.
“Would you have wanted to see me? I’m not exactly Misty’s favorite person.”
“No, you’re not.” He laughed, his cheeks dipping into faint dimples. “But people make mistakes and deserve forgiveness.”
I tipped my head to one side and raised an eyebrow.
“Bryce told me why you left.” He shrugged. “You made a mistake. No need in holding a grudge. Life’s too short.”
“Some mistakes are too costly,” I said.
He nodded. “Yeah. I never stopped thinking that you and Bryce were made for each other.” He leaned into me and I sniffed a hint of beer on his breath. “I don’t for a minute think he loves his fiancée as much as he loved you. She pretty much forced him into proposing.”
“I wonder what Bryce would think if he heard you say something like that.”
“He won’t be surprised. I told him the same thing I just told you, and that I think this time he’ll be the one making a mistake. He was pissed, of course. But only because I think he knows I’m right. But hey, I’m the best man. I have to respect his decision.”
I nodded and bit my lip. Instead of making me feel better, Luke’s words hurt my heart because I knew that no matter what Bryce felt about me, he would still marry someone else. “Thanks for your honesty. It’s so nice to see you again, Luke.”
“Same here.” Luke kissed me on the cheek. “See you around.”
I watched Luke approach a group of men at the far end of the bar, my heart feeling like lead. I knew then that the information he had given me would haunt me for the rest of the night.
Bryce was walking into a mistake, like I had. And there was nothing I could do about it. I wanted him to be happy, I really did. If he married for love, my heart would still break, but after all the pain, I would at least be comforted by the thought that he would be happy.
Chapter Fifteen
Erin and I strolled arm in arm past stalls of mouth-watering baked goods. The Pastry Sale was an event most people in Misty Cove looked forward to every year. All the proceeds were
Someone blew a cloud of smoke into my face and I coughed on reflex, almost spilling my cocktail. The culprit had large round glasses, an open shirt, and crooked teeth. He blew me a kiss and I ignored him and raised my glass to squeeze through more people.
Finally we walked through a glass door. The atmosphere was instantly lighter, and the smell of cigarettes not that strong. The music was also not as loud, allowing for conversation.
“Hi James,” Erin said to the bartender, a barrel-chested man with a goatee, and tattoos covering his biceps.
I looked around, remembering the last time we were here, the night of my bachelorette party. Erin had reserved the whole VIP lounge for the event, and we’d had so much fun. I had been so happy. I never thought that a week later I would be crying instead of laughing on my honeymoon.
“Not too good, Erin,” James said pointing at our cocktails. “Looks like you’re cheating on me again.”
The cocktails served in the VIP lounge were too fancy, with names we could hardly pronounce, so Erin and I always snuck off to the other side to get the cocktails we were used to.
“You know why, James,” Erin said. “I like the cheap stuff.”
We all laughed. Erin knew that if she asked for something that wasn’t on the menu, she would get it, but she didn’t see why she should inconvenience James or the other bartenders when she could get what she wanted at another bar in the same club.
“Jade.” Someone touched my shoulder and I whirled around to see Luke, Bryce’s best friend. “How are you? I haven’t seen you since you came back to town.”
Luke was at least six feet three and handsome in a rugged kind of way, with his signature crew cut and dark eyes. He hadn’t changed much in five years. While we were dressed up for clubbing, Luke wore a plain white shirt and shorts.
“Would you have wanted to see me? I’m not exactly Misty’s favorite person.”
“No, you’re not.” He laughed, his cheeks dipping into faint dimples. “But people make mistakes and deserve forgiveness.”
I tipped my head to one side and raised an eyebrow.
“Bryce told me why you left.” He shrugged. “You made a mistake. No need in holding a grudge. Life’s too short.”
“Some mistakes are too costly,” I said.
He nodded. “Yeah. I never stopped thinking that you and Bryce were made for each other.” He leaned into me and I sniffed a hint of beer on his breath. “I don’t for a minute think he loves his fiancée as much as he loved you. She pretty much forced him into proposing.”
“I wonder what Bryce would think if he heard you say something like that.”
“He won’t be surprised. I told him the same thing I just told you, and that I think this time he’ll be the one making a mistake. He was pissed, of course. But only because I think he knows I’m right. But hey, I’m the best man. I have to respect his decision.”
I nodded and bit my lip. Instead of making me feel better, Luke’s words hurt my heart because I knew that no matter what Bryce felt about me, he would still marry someone else. “Thanks for your honesty. It’s so nice to see you again, Luke.”
“Same here.” Luke kissed me on the cheek. “See you around.”
I watched Luke approach a group of men at the far end of the bar, my heart feeling like lead. I knew then that the information he had given me would haunt me for the rest of the night.
Bryce was walking into a mistake, like I had. And there was nothing I could do about it. I wanted him to be happy, I really did. If he married for love, my heart would still break, but after all the pain, I would at least be comforted by the thought that he would be happy.
Chapter Fifteen
Erin and I strolled arm in arm past stalls of mouth-watering baked goods. The Pastry Sale was an event most people in Misty Cove looked forward to every year. All the proceeds were
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