When Stars Collide (Second Chance Romance #2) - Sara Furlong-Burr Page 0,46

at me with eyes as big as saucers. Back in the day, when she was a cute kid, I’d wager that look had gotten her just about anything she’d wanted.

“Uh, fine,” I relented, much to Jo’s delight. “But if you hurl on a complete stranger again, I’m not going to stick around to bail you out.”

“It’s a deal.”

About six months ago, I bought a dress on a whim with the thought that I would break it out for a special occasion sometime during the summer. Summer had come and gone, and the tags remained on my cherry red sheath dress. Well, I suppose it was time to pop this cherry. I pulled the dress over my head, admiring how it hugged every curve of my body, actually making me look like I had a shape. Most of the other dresses I owned said, “Screw it,” and hung on me like a curtain from a rod.

Just wait until Peter sees me in this.

At that moment, my phone rang from where it rested on my bed. Peering at the screen, I smiled when I saw it was him.

“I was just thinking about you,” I answered.

“Oh. How so?” Peter asked.

“I’m getting ready to go out with Jo tonight, and I’m wearing this dress I think you just may be able to appreciate.”

“You’re going out with Jo right now?” he asked, more subdued than normal.

“Yeah, she’s had a day, and all but begged me to come with her, but I can talk.”

“No, no, have fun. We can talk when you get home.”

“Is everything okay? You don’t sound like you. It’s like someone poked you with a pin and you’re beginning to slowly deflate.”

“I’m okay, Mena. I just … we can talk later.”

“Look, Peter, if you don’t tell me, I’ll only worry.”

“I’m not going to be able to come to New York next week.”

“Okay. Are you worried I’m going to be angry? Because I’m not. How can I be when I had to work while you were here last month?”

“No, I know you’re pretty understanding … most of the time. We’ll talk more tonight.”

“Is Jackson okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah, he’s good. Just have fun tonight. Give Jo my regards, and we’ll talk later.”

I sat on my bed after hanging up with Peter, a sense of dread hanging over my head no matter how hard I tried to push it away. One of Peter’s best traits was that he always said what was on his mind. There were no secrets with him—no mysteries. Everything was very straightforward, very black and white. For the first time in our relationship, he’d shown me shades of gray without all the fun bondage.

“Are we leaving tonight or tomorrow morning?” Jo asked, ignoring all decorum as she threw open the door to my room. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “Jesus Christ.”

“I suppose if you’re going for a look, you can’t beat the Son of God.”

“If I hadn’t been certain that I was a lesbian before, I sure as shit know it now.”

*****

From the moment we stepped foot inside Club One-Eighty, I was reminded of why I’d given up the clubbing scene years ago: People. So. Many. People. People near and far; people at the bar. People dancing on tables; people telling fables. People sipping a drink; people puking in the sink. People everywhere.

Eat your goddamn heart out, Dr. Seuss.

As soon as Jo entered the building, her hips began gyrating to the music as though programmed to do so by the powers that be at the club.

“Isn’t this great?” she asked, dancing in the hope that everybody was watching.

“Sure, if a horde of sweaty strangers grinding their clammy bodies against yours is your thing.

“Sounds exactly like my dream from last night, actually.” Jo smiled, grabbing me by the arm. She pulled me into her, spinning me and then bringing me down for such a pronounced dip that, any lower, my hair would have come dangerously close to brushing against the floor. “Since I know this is the last place in the world you want to be right now, let me buy you a drink to make it up to you.”

“First, believe it or not, this isn’t the last place I want to be. That distinguished honor goes out to my parents’ house. Secondly, there was no way you weren’t going to buy me a drink for dragging me here with you tonight.”

Jo nodded “That’s exactly what I thought you’d say. Your first rum and Coke is on me. Any subsequent ones