Free Free Me (Caged Hearts Book 1) by Heather West Page B

am!” Anna enthused excitedly. “I’m here to pull you out of your post break up slump and remind you what a fabulous, beautiful woman you are!”
     
    Kait glanced hesitantly in the direction of her front door.
     
    “Either you open this door or I’m kicking it in! When your landlord gives you grief for damaged property, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
     
    Kait hurried to her feet and went to let her friend in.
     

Chapter 24
     
    Two hours later, and Kait was wearing her favourite leather skirt and a sheer white blouse and clutching a large glass of wine.
     
    “See, isn’t this better than moping around your apartment?” Anna asked from beside her, raising her voice to be heard over the steady throb of the music.
     
    “Yeah,” Kait nodded in agreement. “It is.”
     
    Within the sea of dancing bodies, it was easy to get lost. Easy to forget about the gaping hole in her heart which Jasper had left.
     
    The music became faster, and Kait allowed herself to relax to the beat. She swayed as she stood beside her friend and even attracted some admiring glances from nearby men. She was starting to slowly feel better again. She was glad that her friend had managed to peel her away from her sofa and the half eaten tub of ice cream. If Anna hadn’t showed up, she’d still be crying in front of the television.
     
    “So many guys are checking you out,” Anna edged closer to her friend so that she could whisper the comment in to her ear. “You could totally find a rebound guy in here.”
     
    Kait smiled, but the comment stung her more than she thought it would. She didn’t need a rebound guy. She needed Jasper. How was she supposed to contemplate getting over him when a part of her was still falling for him?
     
    “I need another drink,” Kait declared before promptly finishing off the remainder of her wine.
     
    “That’s the spirit!” Anna giggled as she followed her friend to the bar.
     

Chapter 25
     
    After finishing her fourth glass of wine, Kait was starting to feel decidedly drunk. She and Anna were sat at a booth in the club away from the loud music of the dance floor. Here they could at least hear themselves think.
     
    “So are you having a good night?” Anna asked, her eyes glassy thanks to all the white wine in her system.
     
    “Yeah,” Kait nodded. “I always have a good night with you.”
     
    It was true. Anna was like the medication every heartbroken person needed. She had a vibrancy which was contagious no matter how dark you were feeling. She’d managed to lure Kait out of her shell. Together they had danced and flirted with men on the dance floor. Inch by inch, Kait felt her confidence growing again. But then the alcohol which had made her so bold and confident started to have an adverse effect. She was sinking back in to despair. The hold Jasper had over her was strengthening once again.
     
    Checking her phone, Kait saw that it was ten in the evening. Jasper’s big fight would have long since concluded. She desperately wanted to see if he’d won. Her interest in the outcome annoyed her. She cared too much when he’d been so quick to dismiss her and cast her aside.
     
    “You don’t look like you’re having a good night,” Anna noted with concern.
     
    “I am, really. It’s just…” Kait lowered her gaze, and her shoulders sagged.
     
    “You’re thinking about him? About the guy you were seeing?”
     
    “Yeah,” Kait admitted softly.
     
    “So what happened between you two? Or do you not want to talk about it?”
     
    “It’s okay, I can talk about it,” Kait straightened and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Perhaps talking about would ease some of the pain which pressed down heavily on her chest making her sometimes struggle to breathe.
     
    “So, the guy I was seeing was like a professional fighter.”
     
    Anna’s eyes widened with surprise.
     
    “That’s why he so easily came to my aid in the parking lot when I was attacked. He’s a