Free Romance: Playing With Fire - Contemporary Romance (Chasing Happiness Series, Romance, Contemporary Romance Book 1) by Nancy Adams Page B

I’m not interested if we have to go out. I’ve been out all night, I’d like to just chill today, babe. Maybe catch the game,” he offered a thin grin.
    “Not interested?” Tina took the words like a gunshot wound to the heart. He didn’t see the impact he had on her, turning back to the paper as he finished the last bit of cereal in his bowl. He drank the milk afterwards and smacked his lips with a satisfying “ahhh”.
    “I’m gonna take a shower and be down, alright? Something easy tonight is fine for me,” he sat the bowl down atop the kitchen island and turned, slipping his belt out from his belt loops with one hand while he took his shirt off in one fluid motion with the other.
    Tina remained in the kitchen, taking deep breaths to hold back the tears bursting against her self-control. She refused to cry.

Girls Night Out
    Chapter Three
    “O-M-G, what a jerk!” Hannah exclaimed. She reached out quickly to take Tina’s hand. “I am so sorry. But look at the bright side, you got a no-chip mani-pedi and facial for free! It’s like a birthday present when it’s not even your birthday,” the girls laughed with Hannah, agreeing with her earnestly.
    “He really is a jerk,” Sue muttered underneath her breath. They sat at a round table, empty glasses and plates before them.
    “Well, let’s not make her feel more terrible about it than she already does,” Beth cut in, her loud voice carrying over the smooth voices in the background. “Let’s just give a toast.” The women perked up before scrambling to find their shot glasses among the table cluttered with their after dinner debris. Once they each had their glasses, they lifted them high and faced Beth.
    “To Tina, the best woman her husband will ever know,” she paused and made eye contact with her friend. Her face was wet from tears released earlier, but at that moment, she wore a genuine smile. “Let him regret the day he clocked out of their relationship.”
    “Hear hear!” Hannah spat, eager to clink her glass before finishing off her shot. The others joined in with various banter, laughter, and giggling.
    Tina held her glass high, letting her friends rack their glasses into hers, some twice. She brought it down, staring into the amber liquid. He did clock out, didn’t he? Lifting the glass to her lips, she tossed the liquid into her mouth. She squinted as the fire scorched her throat.
    “Group hug!”
    Tina wasn’t sure which one called it out, but before she could look up, her three friends had her surrounded, smoothing her head in their shoulders, hair, and breasts. They rubbed and patted her back, wooing her and confronting her. She couldn’t help but laugh before playfully pushing them away.
    “Okay, okay. I’m not here to throw a pity party, but to have fun,” she pushed her hair back, flicking her dirty blonde locks over her shoulders effortlessly.
    Beth smiled at her, a twinkle in her eye. “You’re so beautiful, Tina. You deserve so much better.” Sue and Hannah nodded in agreement.
    Her small posse of friends were an impossible bunch. They were tall and beautiful, just like her. Not twigs, but real women with hips, curves, and breasts. They each had their own career they pursued. As far as their luck with men, both Hannah and Sue were involved in serious, committed relationships with men that made hers look like sleaze ball.
    She knew they were great women, but then again, wasn’t she? Didn’t she deserve a man like the catch both of them received?
    Beth was a wildly flirtatious woman, and was proud of it—too sane to get tamed was her motto; and for her, it worked.
    Not quite the Sex and the City type, she was still as daring and open about love and sex as Samantha Jones, unafraid of her sexuality or her loud mouth. “Get us another round,” Beth called out, quickly gaining the support of Sue and Hannah.
    Tina didn’t bother putting up a fight. She lifted her hands to quiet down the women. They weren’t at a bar, a