Free Red Lines by T.A. Foster Page B

Haven licked her lips. The second shot went down smoother than the first.
    “If my man was getting ready to be seen by the entire world doing all of that stuff with Emmy Harper, I would probably have a heart attack, but you seem really chill about it. You two must be on solid ground.”
    “We are.” They had talked about the role. They had talked about Emmy. But the way Carly made it sound, Haven wasn’t sure they had talked about it enough. What exactly would Evan be doing on the set? Surely, they had clothes on for those scenes. Actors weren’t really naked for those scenes, were they?
    “Good. Because he’s going to be a busy man the next three months, and I need your musical brilliance focused right here.” Carly waved her hand in the air for the waitress. “Want another?”
    Haven could already feel the vodka numbing her limbs, but it was welcome after the torture she had felt all day. She nodded. “Yeah, I’ll take another.”
    After the next round of shots, Carly jumped from the booth. “Come on. Let’s dance. I love this band.”
    Haven skipped behind her, letting the crowd close in around them while they swayed their hands in the air, and wiggled their hips to the music.
    She felt a hand glide around her waist, and for a second, forgot she wasn’t out with Evan. She whipped around to see a brown-haired college boy raking her over. She sidestepped his next dance move and pulled Carly with her farther into the mob.
    “Isn’t this awesome?” Carly yelled over the music.
    “Yes.” Haven nodded and got lost in the music again. She let her body take over as the beat consumed the club.
    Two hours later, arm in arm, the duo walked out the front door. As soon as the flashes started going off, Haven realized she had forgotten to text Bud that she was leaving.
    “Shit.”
    “What’s wrong?” Carly asked, smiling and waving at the photographers outside the club. She seemed at ease in front of the reporters. Haven tried to quell the panic that was bubbling and stood behind her friend.
    “I forgot to text Bud.” She searched for her phone, and when she retrieved it, she saw there were five missed calls from Evan. “Double shit.”
    Carly’s driver ushered them into her car before another picture could be snapped. “Just wait it out in here with me until Bud can drive over,” Carly offered. “He’s used to all of this mess with Evan. He’s the best.”
    “You know Bud?” Haven questioned. Carly kept dropping overly familiar hints about Evan’s life. How close were they?
    “Of course I do. Evan never goes anywhere here without him. Go ahead call him. He’ll know what to do.”
    “Ok.” But Haven already felt a sour pit in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if it was too many lemon drops, screwing up the protocol for her first night out, or if because more than anything she wished she was back at the ranch talking to Evan.
    Bud pulled up next to Carly’s limo within minutes. The two drivers exchanged ideas on how to transfer Haven from Carly’s limo to Bud’s car. They simultaneously opened the back doors, creating a shield, and with Haven hunched low, shuttled her into the empty car.
    “See you in the morning,” Carly called.
    Both doors were shut and the cars took off.
    Haven gripped the phone in her hand with the quietness around her. She waited for the city lights to be behind them. It seemed more private that way. She was about to call Evan when she felt the lurch in her stomach.
    “Bud, can you pull over?” she eked just in time.
    The car stopped. She threw open the door and hovered near a bush, hoping Bud couldn’t see the embarrassing mess she was making.
    “You ok?” he asked, not stepping too closely.
    When she thought her stomach was empty, she walked back to the open door. “I’m fine. I just want to go home.”
    “Sure thing.”
    Mortified that she had just thrown up on the side of a Texas highway in front of Evan’s head of security, she slumped down in the seat and closed