Free Sunkissed by Traci Hohenstein Page A

crying.
    “Don’t you know?” Nicolette asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice. “Riker told me that he ran into you at the children’s theatre. I figured he would’ve told you we were having dinner tonight.”
    “Now that you mention it, he might have said something about a dinner.” Trista stumbled on her words. “Sorry, I’m a little out of it. I guess I did have too much wine. So how was it?”
    Nicolette sighed, sitting on the edge of the bathtub. “Take a good look at me. What do you think?”
    “I’m not sure,” Trista said cautiously. Riker promised not to reveal anything about their trysts. Had he kept his promise? She proceeded with caution. “Did he hurt you?”
    Nicolette shook her head. “He said we were over and it was never going to work out between us. I don’t know what went wrong. What did I do?”
    “Is that all he said?”
    “He just kept saying that he wasn’t ready for a commitment and that I deserved much better. You know the typical breakup excuses, but usually it’s me giving them out,” Nicolette sobbed. “Not the other way around. The first time I truly give my heart away…look what happens!”
    “I’m sorry, Nic.” Trista gave her sister a hug. “I know this doesn’t help right now, but it will get better. Just take it one day at a time.” She plucked a tissue from the bathroom counter and handed it to Nicolette along with the bottle of wine.
    Nicolette blew her nose loudly before taking a huge swig of the wine, drinking what was left. “You know what I think?”
    Trista held her breath.
    “I think he’s seeing someone else. What other reason would he have for breaking up with me? There has to be someone.” Nicolette tapped her long, coral-colored nails on the bathroom tile.
    “Maybe he is telling the truth. Sometimes things just don’t work out. He’s obviously not the one for you if he can’t see the wonderful qualities you have.”
    “Come on, Trista. Let’s face it. There are a ton of beautiful women in Blue Mountain Beach. Hell, half of them frequent the Liar’s Club just to flirt with Riker. There has to be someone else.” Nicolette fiddled with her tissue. “How could I not see this coming? I know who it is…” She glared at her.
    Trista sucked in a deep breath. Shit. Shit. Shit. She knows. “Listen, Nicolette. I can explain—”
    “Constance Smith!” Nicolette interrupted.
    Trista blew out a breath. “What? Who is that?”
    “She’s a man-eating whore who has been in the bar every time I go in there.”
    Trista grabbed her robe from the hook and put it on. She tried to remember where she had heard that name before. “Isn’t Constance Smith a forty-something divorcee with three kids? Her ex is that plastic surgeon who is on every billboard between here and Panama City Beach, right?”
    “Yeah, she’s a cougar, all right. And I heard that she just broke up with her twenty-year-old boyfriend.”
    “I don’t see Riker falling for Constance or anyone like her.” Trista took the empty wine bottle from her sister’s hands. “I know what will make you feel better. Why don’t we have a girl’s getaway? My treat.”
    “Really? Where?” Nicolette balanced herself against the bathroom counter to pull off her shoes.
    “My friend Quinn is coming in town next week. She mentioned going to the Bahamas. We’ll have fun, and you’ll soon forget about Riker.”
    Nicolette walked out of the bathroom, following Trista into her bedroom. “I’ll think about it. Until then, I’ll be in my room, hibernating under the covers.”
    Trista closed the bedroom door after Nicolette left. She sat on the edge of her bed and noticed her cell phone blinking. She entered her password and saw that she had several missed calls and one text message from Riker.
    “CALL ME MISS FANCY PANTS.”
    She erased the message without another thought.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    “What time does our plane leave again?” Nicolette asked her sister for the third