Free Always (New Adult Erotic Romance) (The Tryst Series #3) by Marie York

Chapter 1
    It had been a month since I woke up alone in my hotel room. A month since I’d heard Jaxon’s voice and felt his touch. He left me again, and it should’ve been enough to let him go, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t.
    So, as I steered old Bertha off the highway, and towards my new home, I hoped Jaxon would be waiting for me. My heart deflated when I pulled up to Dee and Cole’s, and didn’t see Jaxon’s Camaro. Dee ran outside as I put Bertha in park, and pangs of guilt set in for feeling anything but grateful, since they were giving me a place to live while I tried to get myself back on my feet.
    Shortly after returning home from their wedding, I was evicted. Minimum wage wasn’t enough to cover my rent, and my landlord didn’t care for a sob story, even though I gave it a shot… over and over again. It was an Academy Award winning performance, but he was an evil man with dollar signs in his eyes.
    With nowhere to go, Dee and Cole offered up their guest room to me. Dee was thrilled. She finally got me to move to Michigan. I told her it was temporary, but she was positive that, once I settled in, I’d never leave.
    “Lyla!” Dee screamed, and came running to me, her black wavy hair trailing behind her. She wrapped me in her arms, and squeezed me tight. “I’ve missed you.”
    I hugged her back. “I missed you too.”
    “You just saw each other a month ago,” Cole said, and when Dee pulled away, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. It may have only been a month, but it felt like years, and I missed both of them tremendously. Life had been lonely and miserable since I left.
    “You’re just jealous,” Dee joked.
    “I don’t get a hug when I get home,” Cole pouted.
    Dee planted her hands on her hip. “I see you every day.”
    I laughed at their banter, and gave Cole a hug. “It’s okay, Cole. I got your back.” 
    “Well, thank you, Lyla.”
    Dee narrowed her dark eyes. “Traitor. I’ll remember that.”
    “And she will,” Cole joked, as Dee turned her glare onto him. He kissed her forehead, and she ran a hand over his blond hair then all was forgiven. Cole nodded to my car. “Bertha did okay on the trip?”
    He didn’t have faith in my girl, and, to be honest, neither did I, but she was my only way here. I thought about selling her, but it wasn’t worth it. The money would’ve only gotten me a plane ticket, and then I’d be carless. I was already putting Cole and Dee out enough. I didn’t need them driving me around on top of it.
    So, I did a lot of praying on the road, and thanked my lucky stars when I saw the welcome to Michigan sign.
    “She did great,” I said, and tapped the hood. “I had no doubts.”
    Cole looked curiously at me over his thick black-rimmed glasses. “Sure you didn’t.” I smiled in return, and he laughed. Cole pointed to the backseat that was filled with the little bit of belongings I had. “What needs to come in now?”
    “Just my suitcase. I can grab it.” I popped the trunk, and tried to get my overstuffed luggage out, but it weighed more than me.
    “Before you hurt yourself,” Cole said, and took the handle out of my grip. He pulled the bag out with ease.
    “Show off!” Dee exclaimed, and Cole flexed his arm then winked at her. She smacked his ass as he walked by with my suitcase. Her face lit up when he turned back to her and smiled.
    “Married life looks good on you,” I said to Dee when Cole disappeared into the house.
    “It does, doesn’t it?”
    It really did. There was this natural ease in her demeanor, a permanent glow on her face, and she was always smiling. I envied her. She had what I always thought I would. Now, I was twenty-four years old, jobless, homeless and boyfriendless. I was pathetic.  But, at least, I had my car.
    “You okay?” Dee asked, and rested her hand on my shoulder. 
    I looked around at the perfectly manicured lawn, down the street of my new neighborhood, and took a deep breath.