Free Blissful volume 2 (New Adult Romance) by Clarissa Wild

you.”
    “All right, all right,” she says, waving me away. “Sit down. I’ll get ya your drink.”
    Wonderful. I’m starting to have second thoughts already.
    I sit down somewhere near the wind ow, far away from Jack’s sister so that I can check the streets and see if Nicole has arrived. Normally I’d be anxious to meet her after we had such a big fight, but this angry lady has made me wish for Nicole to come sooner.
    “You know, drinking during the day ain’t so bad,” she says, placing my drink in front of me. “I do it all the time. So does my brother, but you probably already know that.”
    “What? How do you know that?” I say, gaping.
    “I’ve seen you. Walking together down the street, eating some ice cream, giving little Madeline a hand. Almost seems like a renewed family to me.”
    A flush appears on my cheeks. Shit. I knew people would talk and see us. I feel watched.
    She giggles and sighs. “Oh, sweet and tender love … glad I got none of that.” She smiles awkwardly at me. “Well, I could ask you what brings you to this town, apart from my brother that is, but that would be rude, so … enjoy your drink.”
    She stomps away again and leaves me with goose bumps all over my body. What is up with this woman?
    When I see Nicole’s car drive into the parking lot , I freeze, and my heart stops. She gets out and briefly glances at the place I’m sitting at. I know she’s seen me. I swallow away the lump in my throat when she walks through the door and breaks the silence inside this scary place.
    “Hey, Amy,” she says, and she takes off her coat, hangs it on the stand, and sits down on the chair across from me.
    “Hey,” I say, waving awkwardly. I have no idea what to say or how to act. I haven’t spoken to her in such a long time. We used to see each other almost every day or at least talk to each other. It’s been radio silence ever since The Kiss. This feels like a millennium ago.
    “How’ve yo u been?” she asks, pursing her pink lips.
    “Better. ”
    Jack’s sister comes to take Nicole’s order. Her eyes are like those of an eagle, focused on Nicole as if she’s all there is and I’ve just disappeared.
    “Hello there, what can I do ya for?” She’s leaning on the table, getting right in between us. The nerve.
    “Uh … a coffee would be good, thank you.” Nicole’s cheeks get rosy, probably from her sudden intrusion in our conversation.
    “Coming right up, sweetheart,” Jack’s sister says , and she winks at Nicole before going back to the bar again. I wince at the sight. Strange woman.
    There’s an awkward silence between Nicole and I.
    Jack’s sister comes back with her coffee. She’s constantly smiling at Nicole, which I haven’t seen her do before. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she puts down the coffee and scurries away again.
    “Listen, Amy …”
    “Don’t. You don’t have to say anything. It wasn’t your fault Ronnie kissed you. He practically attacked you. I saw it. I understand.”
    She smiles at me and blinks away the few tears in her eyes. “I was in shock when he threw himself on me. I didn’t know what to do for a moment. And then I saw you and now everything’s all messed up.”
    “I know.”
    “I’m sorry,” she says. She grabs my hand for a few seconds, and I know that she truly means it.
    “Don’t be. It wasn’t your doing. Although, I must say that I did feel angry at first.”
    She takes a sip from her coffee. “I was confused, too. I mean, you know about my struggle with my … sexuality,” she whispers. “That kiss was like a revelation to me. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
    “How so?”
    “Well … I discovered that I truly hate kissing guys like him.”
    We both burst out into laughter , and immediately the air feels a lot clearer.
    She puts down her coffe e. “I’m glad you texted me. I was so upset not having you to talk to all the time. I got so used to it over these years I could barely do