Read Online Without Me by Chelle Bliss - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. There was no way we could have the electricity we did and just throw it away.
    I mean, hell, I hated relationships. The last thing I wanted was to be tied down to anyone, but I wanted to see her again. I opened up Facebook again and decided to take a new approach. I visited fan pages for local establishments and scrolled through their followers. Some places had thousands of people. Instead of choosing randomly, I started at one end of the street and looked up each business in order.
    “Anthony,” Joe barked from his spot on the couch.
    I kept scrolling and didn’t bother to look at him.
    “Hey, douchebag. Are you paying attention?” he asked, and clapped his hands.
    “I’m listening, asshat. I’m busy.”
    “Your face is always buried in that goddamn phone. If you were listening, what do you think?”
    “Of what?” I asked, totally busted. I hadn’t heard a thing they had been talking about.
    Over the years, I’d become very good at shutting them out. You can’t have a large family and pay attention all the time. Fuck, I worked with them too. My ability to selectively hear shit was better than most married people’s.
    “I knew it,” Joe grumbled.
    A piece of candy hit me in the head. “You’re lucky Ma didn’t see that,” I said, flicking the candy from my phone screen to the floor.
    “She wouldn’t care. Izzy asked us a question.”
    I glanced up and looked over at my sister. She glared at me as she snuggled into James’s side. James had weaseled his way into her life. I didn’t know if that was the right term, but Izzy hadn’t always seemed to like him too much. More than likely, it was just her tough-ass exterior. She was like me—she knew any weakness could and would be exploited. We were the lone holdouts in the relationship department, but I feared I’d lost her. More than likely, I was a casualty too.
    “What’s up, Iz?” I asked, placing the phone on my leg.
    She cleared her throat before she took a deep sigh, and her face softened. “I wanted to know about having an open house next weekend. A way to thank our customers for their loyalty.”
    I shook my head, knowing I wouldn’t miss spending next weekend stalking Max in Ybor. “I can’t make it.”
    “What? Why not?” she shot back, and crossed her arms.
    “I have shit to do. In fact, I need to clear my entire schedule next weekend.” I looked out the corners of my eyes and saw everyone staring in my direction. “I have a gig out of town.”
    Why in the hell had I said that? Not only had I not been honest about meeting someone, now I had to stay out of sight for a weekend. I’d have to stay far away and pray that my family decided not to attend Festa Italiana. What was the likelihood I’d see them there anyway?
    “You do? Where?”
    Izzy knew me best. I shared everything with her. But I couldn’t tell her about Max. I’d hold on to that information like it was the secret to the universe.
    “Vegas.” It was the first city that popped in my head.
    “Can I come, bro?” Mike asked, causing me to glance at him. “I fuckin’ love that city. I could be your roadie or some shit.” He smiled, giving me a hopeful look.
    “Nope. There’s no room. We’re booked up and bunking together. Sorry, man.”
    “I can get my own room. I just want to get away and hang out with you for a while.”
    He never went anywhere with me. Not since Mia, his lovely, sexy doctor girlfriend, had entered the picture. The one time I’d lied through my teeth, he was willing to hop on a plane and have a brothers’ weekend.
    “We could have a brothers-only weekend,” Joe chimed in, clapping his hands. “The girls can get a break from us and we can blow off some steam.”
    “No!” I yelled.
    The tone of my voice made Pop turn and give me a funny look.
    “Sorry, Pop. I can’t next weekend, guys. I already have plans. Maybe we can all hit Vegas next time.” I grinned, praying that they’d drop the