Louisiana Sky (Love in Belle Pont #2) by Ashleigh Zavarelli Page B

as awkward between us as they used to be, and I was grateful for that.
    “Sounds real nice, AB. I wouldn’t miss it.”
     
    ***
    Roxy
    At six o’clock I walked into Murphy’s, determined to see for myself what was goin’ on with Amy. I was sure I’d find Kyle there, bein’ a real dipshit as per usual, but when I looked around the bar I didn’t see him.
    Amy was there in a hot minute though, and she had a panicked look on her face.
    “Rox, what are you doin’ here?” she squeaked. “We’re sposed’ to meet at my place, remember?”
    “I remember.” I shrugged. “Just thought I could use a pre-drinks, drink.”
    “Well… I really don’t think that’s a good idea…”
    She trailed off when somethin’ across the bar caught my eye, and all of the blood drained from my face. The blonde that seemed to haunt all of my nightmares was there with an apron on, her head thrown back in laughter.
    That laugh. It was like a playlist to one of my worst memories. Every time I thought of that day, seeing the image play through my mind, that laugh was what filled the background noise. Playing over and over in my head. Not only had Bethany Francis slept with my husband Corey while we were married, but she’d slept with Bentley too.
    “Oh hell no,” I ground out. “You have got to be shittin’ me. Did Tino actually hire that…”
    Amy had me by the arm and dragging me out the front door before I could cause a scene.
    “Yes,” she said once we were outside. “He hired that damn bimbo, against my every protest, Rox. I’m so sorry, I tried to warn him. I told him she’d be wreckin’ marriages left, right, and center… but he’d hear nothin’ of it.”
    “Well… shit.”
    It was all I could manage.  I’d finally just gotten comfortable gracing Murphy’s on a regular basis, and now I was gonna’ be faced with that every time I walked in there.
    “I’m gonna’ need a stiff drink.” I sauntered off down the sidewalk towards the liquor store.
    “I’ll catch up to you,” Amy called after me. “Just let me tell Tino real quick.”
     
    We didn’t make it to the Bodega that night. I’d made it as far as the park once I bought a fifth of Vodka and a bottle of Cranberry juice.
    Amy was sittin’ beside me on the picnic bench. We’d long since ran out of Cranberry juice, and were now down to drinkin’ pure vodka.
    “Blech.” I took another swig, passing the bottle back to Amy. “That tastes awful.”
    She busted up laughin’, and then I did too, though neither one of us knew why. Just a couple of drunks, sittin’ in the park, laughin’ our asses off. I laughed so damn hard I nearly fell off the picnic bench, and then before I could even understand what was happening, my laughter had turned into tears.
    “Rox, are you alright?” Amy asked, the smile falling from her face.
    “Oh I’m just fine.” I waved it off. “Just havin’ a little breakdown is all. I am entitled to them, bein’ that I’m Roxy Hart, you know. The idiot homecoming queen who had nothin’ but her looks and never did anything with her life.”
    “Roxy,” Amy admonished, pulling me in for a hug. “You know that ain’t true. You just let everyone think you’re an idiot because that’s what they wanna’ believe. You own your own business for God’s sake.”
    “But I am stupid” I said, pulling back to swipe at my tears. “Because I let myself fall for Bentley Daniels and his shit. After Corey, after everything… I let myself get destroyed again. And now I can’t escape it. I see him everywhere I go, and that’s one thing. But to see Bethany Francis now too? Well that’s a whole different story.”
    Amy cleared her throat in that way of hers that meant she wanted to say somethin’ but wasn’t sure she should.
    “You know it ain’t my place to say anything Roxy…”
    “Just spit it out.” I gave her a sad smile. “You know I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
    “Well, I know Bentley screwed up and all. And