Happy Thanksgiving friends!!!! I’m so thankful for all of you (my wonderful, hilarious, romance-savy book-friends that I love to cry with)! I’m thankful for my always entertaining books and the wonderful authors that have put their wonderful stories out there. I’m also super-thankful for my very patient and always supportive husband, sharing me with all of the exciting “book boyfriends”. He’s awesome!
And I’m thankful to have this awesome final installment of CourtneyΒ Cole’s serialization novella called Until We Burn, which is all about her upcoming main man Dominic Kinkaide from Before We Fall: The Beautifully Broken Series: Book 3Β (releasing December 3rd 2013).
There are 8 serial parts and today’s installment is the final one in this serialization (so if you haven’t read the previous installments yet, I’ve posted the links below)! And then… the next book comes out!!
(P.S. Also, see the book trailers right after ;))
Read to read that last installment?
By Courtney Cole
Chapter Eight
Shooting for the promos with Amy is uncomfortable, to say the least. Β She shoots daggers at me from across the room with her eyes and when we have to kiss for a picture, she bites my lip.
But I donβt react. Β I wonβt give her the satisfaction.
Instead, when she is sitting in a lounger by the wall, I engage in phone sex with an old friend, Kira, from back home. Β Amy glares at me for a moment, then stalks away to her trailer. Β I grin into the phone.
βYes, Iβll be home soon, Kira. Β No, I canβt fly you here. Β I wonβt be here long enough. Β Iβm coming to Chicago soon. Β Maybe Iβll even be home next weekend.β
Kira laughs her familiar laugh. Β Iβve known her for so long, sheβs known me since we were kids. In fact, she was Emmaβs best friend. Β She knows what Emma did to me. Β And sheβs been here to comfort me for years.
βI heard Sin almost got hauled off to jail last night,β she mentions. Β βFiona called me this morning complaining about it.β
I grin, trying to picture how worked up my little sister Fiona probably was. Β Since sheβd taken the job as Sinβs manager, heβs definitely put her through her paces.
βYeah. Β Heβs got to get better about guessing girlsβ ages. Β Or he has to start taking an interest. Β So far, he doesnβt give a flying fuck.β
Kira laughs. Β βWell, Iβm glad he didnβt get into trouble. Β Itβs a good thing the laws there are so much more relaxed about that stuff.β
βYeah,β I agree. Β βItβs the only thing that kept him out of jail. Β Has it hit the news there yet?β
βItβs on some gossip sites,β Kira answers. βBut I wouldnβt worry about it too much. Β Itβll blow over.β
βI agree,β I tell her. Β βSinβs having a party next weekend at his house. Β Are you coming?β
βI am if you are,β she purrs. Β βIβve missed you.β
I grin. Β βIβll be there.β
We hang up and I head outside, through the halls that lead to the doors. Β The sunlight pours in through the glass, and I can see the crowds of women flocking outdoors, just waiting to get a glimpse of Amy or me.
The second I emerge, the women begin screaming and pressing toward me. Β Security moves me fluidly through the crush of women and within a minute, Iβm deposited into a waiting car.
As the darkness envelopes me, I close my eyes. Β As we drive away, I can still hear the women calling out my name. Β Asking for pictures, asking for autographs, asking for kisses and hugs.
They donβt know me.
They donβt know what Iβve done, or what Iβm capable of.
They donβt know any of it.
I close my eyes.
********
βYouβve got to be home on Monday,β Tally tells me firmly. Β βShooting begins. Β I donβt give a ratβs ass what happened with Amy. Β Youβll be on set and youβll be cordial to her. Β So have fun with your brother, clear your head and get ready to work.β
I sigh into the phone. Β βYou worry too much,β I tell him. Β Β βIβll be fine. Β Amy wonβt be a problem. Shooting will go off without a hitch.β
βIt better,β he growls, then hangs up. Β I roll my eyes and toss my phone down. Β Tally tries to sound like an ass, but his bark is worse than his bite. Β At least, it is with my brothers and me.
I finish packing and then head to Providence to have lunch before I board my plane for home. Β I make my way inconspicuously through the restaurant and find my favorite table.
I by-pass the hostess, but she sees me as she shows someone else their table.
She pauses at mine.
βHave you spoken with Tally about me yet?β she asks, her hand on my shoulder.
I shake my head. Β βNot yet. Β Iβm sorry. Β I havenβt had a chance. But I will soon. And Iβll give him your number.β
And maybe I will. Β Tally can do what he wants with it. Β Melanie nods in satisfaction.
βThank you. Β And if you need anything else from me, let me know.β Β Her tone is suggestive. Β I smile.
βThanks. Β I will. Β Is Alex here today?β
Melanie nods as she starts to walk away. Β βYeah. Β Sheβll be with you shortly.β
As I wait, I decide to hit the menβs room. Β As I pass down the long hall that leads to it, an office door is slightly ajar. Β I glance inside as I pass and am startled to see Alex sitting on the desk, her legs wrapped tightly around the managerβs waist.
I freeze in place, staring.
Alex has her arms wrapped around his neck and her tongue buried in his throat. Β My heart feels heavy as I remember what sheβd said to me before.
Sorry, dude. Β Youβre hot and all, but Iβm one of the few out there who believes that marriage is sacred.
Not that sacred, apparently.
She must feel someone staring, because she opens her eyes and sees me. Β She yanks away from the manager, her eyes wide. Β I donβt wait. Β I go to the restroom, wash my hands and then head back to my table.
Alex is there within seconds.
βDominic, it wasnβt what you saw.β
βReally?β I raise an eyebrow. Β βIβm pretty sure it was exactly what it looked like.β
She starts to protest, to offer lame explanations about how she needs the money here and the manager was going to cut her hours, but I hold up a hand.
βItβs not my business,β I tell her coldly. Β βAnd actually, Iβve lost my appetite today.β
Without another word, I get up and leave, ignoring her protests from behind me.
As I drive away, I have to examine why Iβm so annoyed. Β Because honestly, Iβm pissed. And it shouldnβt be my business.
What it boils down to, though, is that I thought Alex was a decent person. One of the only decent people Iβve met in LA. Β And the fact that sheβs like everyone else is depressing.
Everyone wants to use everybody else. Β They want something, they need something. They are willing to do anything to get what they want. Β Theyβll break marriage vows, cross lines of decency, stretch bounds of propriety.
Where does it end? Β And is there anyone out in the world who is a decent person? Β A person who is good on the inside?
Iβm beginning to think that thereβs not. Β In fact, Iβm convinced of it.
I sigh as I drive to the airport and board my plane.
Soon, Iβll be home, just for the weekend. I can relax, soak in the wild atmosphere of Sinβs party and disappear into the shadows.
I can forget that people are greedy, black-hearted users.
I can forget it all.
As the plane takes off, I close my eyes. Β The weariness of the world has gotten to me. Β The ugly side of life, the guilt that I carry.
Sometimes, itβs all just too much to bear so I cope in the only way I know how.
Itβs the only thing I can do.
βMr. Kinkaide, is there anything else I can do for you?β I open my eyes at the polite voice and find a voluptuous blonde flight attendant bent in front of me, her chest straining at the buttons of her uniform.
I meet her gaze and smile my most charming grin, the one Iβm known for.
βWell, there is one thing.β
I trail my fingers along the inside of her thigh and she smiles.
The End
Oh yes!!! Bring on more Dominic!
SERIES READING ORDER:
- If You Stay (Beautifully Broken)
- If You Leave: The Beautifully Broken Series: Book 2
- Until We Burn <— FREE SERIAL series (see full series links below)
- Before We Fall: The Beautifully Broken Series: Book 3Β – expected release date – December 3rd 2013
Happy Thanksgiving Maryse. I’m thankful for you!
Happy Thanksgiving Maryse!! xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving Marise!
*hugs* to you!!!