Page 104 of Beautiful Ruin


Font Size:  

The waitress comes to get our drink order.

“What’s next for everyone?” Elle asks, looking around the circle of us. “We brought down Harrison’s nemesis, right?”

Tyler nods. “Paid you back for saving my life.”

“You never told me what happened,” Annie prods.

Harrison and Tyler exchange a look before Tyler says, “I was driving in London. Wrong side of the road. I got messed up and drove into a fountain.”

“You’re joking. I pictured it as something crazy or sexy or dramatic,” Annie says.

“It was dramatic,” Harrison weighs in. “The man drove into a stone angel. Water was spurting from her navel.”

Tyler winces. “It wasn’t pretty.”

“You should save that kind of drama for my show,” Beck goads.

“I’m not going on your show.”

Beck shifts an arm over the back of Tyler’s seat. “It’s one of the top ten streaming shows, and we’re only in the first season.”

“People are bored and stupid if they want to watch you fuck around,” Ash drawls.

“My fucking around,” Beck says, “is charming.”

The baby fusses, and Beck motions to Tyler, who passes her over.

Within moments, Rose quiets.

“What about you?” Annie asks Harrison.

“It’ll take time for Mischa’s estate to be worked out, but as the investigation unfolds, many of his assets will be repossessed and sold off. I’ll be first in line.” His gaze meets mine.

I squeeze his hand. He’s always wanted that club, and I can’t expect that to change now.

More than that, I want him to have it.

“You could be back playing there sooner than you think,” he murmurs.

I shift in my chair. “I got a call this morning from DJ Maxx. This guy I used to work with. I never liked him, but he’s put in a word for me about a residency in Vegas.”

Everyone gasps and gushes, but Harrison goes still next to me.

“When would this residency commence?” he murmurs when the waitress brings our drinks.

“Four months.” He doesn’t answer, so I add, “I’ve been traveling forever. Maybe it’s time to put down roots. I want more than living out of a suitcase. I could buy a place. Hell, I could be a grownup. Even get my own espresso maker.” I try to joke, but he doesn’t smile.

“An espresso maker in Vegas.”

I lift a shoulder.

I can picture it. Crowds there to see me, a club to call my own. The familiarity was one of the things I loved about Debajo, but I’ve outgrown it. I want a new challenge.

But I don’t want it without him.

Harrison’s hand resting on my knee withdraws. His ocean-blue eyes I love cloud, and he rises abruptly from his seat, tossing his napkin on the table before addressing the table. “Excuse me. I’m afraid I can’t stay.”

Before I can say a word, he’s halfway to his car.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like