Free The Main Event by Sarah Bale

 
    Copyright © 2016 by Sarah Bale
     
    All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
     
    This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
     
    Book edited by Jodi Thompson  
    Cover design by Book Genesis /  bookgenesis.wordpress.com
    Cover image by Viorel Sima / shutterstock.com
     
    First Printing: July 2016
     
     
     
     
     
    Dedication:
    To Terrica- Who would have ever guessed our lives would change that random night. You have been such a blessing to me!
     
    To Jodi- Thank you for everything. This wouldn’t be possible without you #TeamDenver
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    January 15
    I saw Denver sitting on the opposite side of the room and walked to him.
      I could tell right away that he’d been drinking for a while.
      “You really here or am I dreaming?” Alcohol made his accent thick and his words slur.
      I sat. “I’m here. Denver--”
      “You should leave, Jamie. I’ve got no love left in me tonight.”
      “Denver--”
      “No, it’s fine. You made your choice. I don’t agree with it, but it’s your choice to make and I’d never settle for being number two.”
      His words stung, as I’m sure he intended. And maybe I deserved it. He reached for his glass, but I took it from him and finished the contents. The vodka burned my throat and I grimaced. Standing, I held out my hand.
      “What?”
      “Come on Denver. You need to go to bed.”
      He huffed, but stood. I was aware that people watched as we left, but I didn’t care. Denver leaned heavily against me and I was having a hard time guiding us to the elevators.
      “Here, let me help.”
      I glanced over my shoulder and my stomach fluttered. Of course, it was fucking Mesquite.
      He went to the other side and maneuvered Denver, bearing most of his weight.
      “Thanks, asshole,” Denver muttered.
      I held back a laugh and pushed the button for the elevator. We waited in silence because, really, what could the three of us talk about? The thought made me cringe.
      “Are you in the same room?”
      I shook my head. “No. But we can go to my room.”
      His eyes lit up, but I chose not to acknowledge it.
      “My room is bigger.”
      I waited for Denver to protest and realized he’d passed out.
      Not in the mood to argue I said, “Fine.”
      We went to the top floor, of course, and Mesquite told me the room number.
      “The key is in my pocket.”
      I refrained from rolling my eyes and reached into his front pocket. Hello .
      He coughed. “Um. That’s not a key. And it’s the other pocket.”
      Kill me now . I reached into his other pocket and pulled the key out. Mesquite’s lips twitched, as he tried not to laugh. I unlocked the door and held it open. He was right. His room was much bigger than mine. He got Denver on the bed and tossed a blanket over him.
      I hoped Denver would awaken, but he didn’t. Mesquite nodded his head toward the door and I found myself walking from the room. We got into the elevator and stood on opposite sides as if we were afraid to get too close to each other. The electricity that always surrounded us still seemed to buzz, but I ignored it.
      “Jamie, why won’t you look at me?”
      His question took me by surprise and I met his gaze.
      “What do you mean?”
      “You’ve barely looked at me.”
      “We were busy.”
      “No. Don’t lie to me.”
      I sighed. “Fine. I don’t know why I won’t look at