Free Shadows in Me by Culine Ramsden Page A

no dreams, no nightmares, just sleep. I woke up feeling a hundred times better.  My talk with Brent last night was just the therapy I needed. I finally had someone who fully understood what was going on in my mind.  Not just about what happened with the shooting, but also my relationship with Hunter.  The love I had felt for him, and also the loss and guilt afterwards.  Having Brent in my life was a good thing for me, and I decided that when I saw Vincent again, I was going to tell him about Brent, and that I want to be friends with him. Vincent would just have to accept it.  If he loved me and wanted to be with me, he would have to accept all of me, and that means accepting my friends too. 
    I got to work bright and early, still feeling a little crappy, but not as bad as the day before.  Chef Nathaniel decided I couldn’t work with the food, so I attended to the vegetable garden. 
    Being a Monday, Duke’s was closed, and Brent was waiting for me outside my apartment when I got home. 
    “You took your time getting home. Come, I’ve made plans for us.”  He took my hand and was starting to pull me with him.
    I pulled my hand from his. “What, you’re just assuming I’ll go with you? I just got home, I still need to bath. You can’t just demand I go with you.  Don’t you think you should ask if I have my own plans first?”
    “Oh please Princess, you look fine just as you are. We’re just going to grab a bite, I’ll have you home before bedtime.” 
    There was no arguing with him, I closed my eyes and shook my head.  I may as well. 
    We landed up at a Burger joint on the beach front.  The food was amazing and the company even better.  We talked and talked, about everything. I even told Brent about Alexis. He laughed at me for being so jealous, and it made me feel better, but I could see in his eyes that he understood how I felt. There was something brewing in his mind. 
    This became our ritual, every Monday he would come and fetch me after work, and we would have dinner at our new place. 
    At least twice a week the girls and I would land up at Dukes. I soon learned that the owner’s daughter Cassy, was not too fond of me.  I saw the way she looked at Brent, I asked him if there was anything between the two of them, but he said they were only friends.  I couldn’t believe men could be so blind, it was obvious to me that she saw it differently. 
    It was the week before Thanks giving, I really missed my family, and I missed Vincent like crazy. I decided that I was going to go to Dukes on my own.  The girls wanted to go to a night club, but I just wasn’t in the mood for people bumping into me, and having to scream at the top of my lungs just to order a drink. 
    By the time I got to Dukes, Brent was already on stage doing his thing.  He was singing one of Nickelback’s songs, Miss You.  I loved his voice, it was so perfectly suited to that style of music.  I was lucky enough to find an open table to the left of the stage.  He saw me walk in and winked at me when I sat down. I could feel the blush spread across my body.  Hell, this man knew how to make me blush.  I was focused on him singing and didn’t see Cassy standing next to me. 
    “You ready to place your order?”  There was a hint of bitchiness in her voice. 
    I nearly jumped out of my skin, I looked up.  “Yes please, I’ll have a glass of white wine.”  She didn’t even respond, she just turned and walked away.  By the time she got back with my drink Brent was finished his set and was about to take a break. He was making his way over to me just as Cassy got to the table. I looked at him and smiled, and just as I reached up to take the glass from her, she spilled it all over my top. 
    “Sorry my mistake,” she said sarcastically.  “I’m a little clumsy tonight.”  She picked the glass up from the table and turned to walk away. 
    I looked at her, shocked.  Before she turned I swear I saw a slight grin on her