“Does this mean we get to have sex?” she asked.
“Not yet.” He wanted to f**k her more than anything. First, he needed to make sure Amber held no doubts. Heather finding out about them was a good sign.
“Do you want me to tell her?” he asked.
“Do you think she’ll take it better coming from you?” she asked.
“You talk to her,” Elijah said. He’d give Heather the truth but tell her to give Amber some time to admit it. His sister was a little matchmaker in the making.
He left her at her apartment door and dialed his sister’s number on the way out of the apartment.
“Elijah, I’ve got good news. I’m pregnant.”
Heather’s news took him by surprise, halting all of his thoughts. “Wow, congratulations.”
She talked and talked until he heard Julian complain about some attention.
“Sorry. I’m excited. I’ve got a human inside me, and I’m amazed.”
He laughed. “It’s all good.”
“What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
“Amber wants to tell you the truth about us.” He’d been talking with his sister for some time. They were slowly coming together, and Heather had started calling him by his given name rather than the insults she sent his way.
“Okay. I’ll be gentle with her. It’s about time she opened up to me. I’ve hated all this lying.”
He talked with Heather for several minutes before finally ringing off. Staring up at the moon, he wondered if this would finally be the year when he got his heart’s desire.
Chapter Ten
Telling Heather about her relationship with Elijah wasn’t as hard as she thought it was going to be. Her friend was understanding and comforted her even though Amber didn’t think she deserved the comfort. For a long time she’d been deceitful to her best friend. She felt better that everything was out in the open.
“I can’t believe you’re dating my brother. It’s so weird. I mean, he’s my brother, Amber.”
“I know. I’m really sorry for keeping it from you.” Amber reached over to grab her friend’s hand. They were in a cute Mexican restaurant and had ordered some tacos for lunch.
“Don’t worry. The way I’ve been freaking out over my brother I’m not surprised you’ve kept it to yourself.”
Happiness filled Amber from Heather’s lack of reaction. She’d always expected Heather to get angry or something bad to happen.
“I do love him.”
“I can see it in your eyes. Every time his name is mentioned you brighten up. I imagine that’s how I look when Julian enters a room. I love him so much, and I know you, Amber. You’ll love my brother with so much passion. He’s a lucky guy. I hope he realizes how damn lucky he is.”
“I’ll make sure he knows it.”
Her cell phone chimed again. Elijah was always texting her. Rolling her eyes, she quickly read the text.
Elijah: This weekend, get it off. I want you to myself for the weekend. I’ve got lots planned.
“What’s he saying?” Heather asked.
“I’ve got a hot weekend planned. He’s your brother, and I don’t want to give you the juicy details.”
Heather groaned, covering her ears. “I do not need to hear all the sordid details. You can keep those to yourself.”
They finished lunch together, and Amber made her way to the address of the bar that Ashley had given her. She wanted to see her friend to let Ashley know everything was okay.
The bar was quiet when she entered. She spotted Ashley at the bar, cleaning glasses.
“Hey, honey.”
Her friend jerked at the sound of her voice. Amber waved toward her.
“Amber, what are you doing here?”
She came from behind the bar and pulled Amber into a hug.
“I came to see my best friend. How are you doing?” Amber asked.
“I’m doing good.” Ashley took her to the bar and went back to work.
“I told Heather the truth about me and Elijah,” said Amber.
“That’s good.”
For several minutes Amber watched her friend. She’d never seen Ashley look nervous or scared, but she looked it now.
“Honey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Nothing is going on. The bar is always slow during the day. I change my shifts every week. This week I’m working the day shift, and next week I’m doing the night shift.” Ashley was rambling, which was something she never did.
“Ashley, when you’re done with the glasses you’re needed in the back.”
The glass her friend had been holding shattered as it hit the floor.
Amber looked toward the voice and recognized the guy instantly. “Jonathan Cook?”
His gaze hit her. “Amber Phelps?”
“Yeah, what are you doing here?” Amber asked. She glanced at her friend to see Ashley had gone pale.
“I own this place.”
“Yeah, could you go, Jonathan? I’ve got this.”
He looked undecided, but he left without a word.
“The captain of the football team is your boss? Why didn’t you say anything?” Amber asked, turning her attention back to her friend.
“He’s a f**king jackass, and I’m looking for a different place to work. If nothing comes through soon I’m going to take Wade up on his offer.” Ashley threw the towel down on the counter. “I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with the way I handle him. The past is in the past. You shouldn’t worry about me at all.”
“He broke your heart.”
Ashley snorted. “He smashed my heart to smithereens and laughed while he did it, Amber. I’m never going to forgive him for what he did to me, but I moved on.” She shrugged. “I’m living the high life, honey.”
“You’re f**king everything that walks and never opening up to another man. You’re not living a high life, Ashley. You’re just getting by.”
They stared at each other for several minutes. “I love you, Amber. You’re my best friend, but please, stay out of this.”
“I worry about you.”
“Don’t. The last thing you need to do is worry about me. I’m good.”
Amber watched Ashley walk in the same direction of Jonathan. Her friend was dying inside and had been since high school. Why hadn’t she seen it before? She’d been so caught up in her own drama she’d not even considered what her friend was going through.