Page 175 of The Broken Note

Dutch frowning.

Dutch growling into my ear, ‘You’re mine, Cadey’.

Pain strikes me hard.

I react on instinct and send the empty mug flying.

Hunter barely manages to catch it before it hits the ground.

“What the hell?”

“Something’s wrong with this beer.” I bristle. Lifting another one of the mugs in front of me, I stare at the frothy liquid from underneath. “I shouldn’t be able to feel. Why do I stillfeel?”

“Cadence, it’s your first time and you’re overdoing it. You need to stop now.”

I plant my hands on the table and shove myself up. The world tilts and I windmill my arms to keep it from spinning so much.

“Be careful.” Hunter hauls on me.

“Get me something stronger,” I beg him. “From there to there.” Pointing to the liquor on the top shelf, I giggle. “That should do it.”

“It won’t.”

“How do you know?” I counter.

“Even if you get black-out drunk tonight, you’re going to wake up tomorrow feeling the same gaping hole in your chest.” His eyes are on the table. His tone is contemplative. As if he’s gone through it before. “Nothing except time can heal a wound like that.”

“Wound?” I laugh raucously. The tables close to us peer at me like I’m crazy.

Maybe I am. Maybe this insanity was handed down to me from my mother. A dark curse that spans generations.

“I don’t have a wound. I’m great. Everything is…” I sway and almost bash my head on the low-hanging lights. “Ow.”

Hunter shakes his head. “I’m taking you back to the hotel.”

“No.” I push him off. “I want another drink.”

He stares down at me like he’d want nothing more than to throw me into the nearest river.

I point a finger at his reddening face and giggle. “You’re angry.”

His jaw works.

“Don’t be angry, Hunter.” I grab his hand and wrap his fingers around the mug. “Drink with me. See?” I smash our mugs together. “Cheers!”

The beer runs down the side of my face and stains my T-shirt as I gulp it down. The brew tastes horrible. Why do people overindulge at parties when beer isn’t even that sweet?

Hunter goes still. I glance aside and notice him staring hard at my face.

“What?”

“I’d rather you talk about him,” Hunter says quietly. “I’d rather you tell me that you loved him and you miss him. This hurts worse. Watching you in pain, in agony—you’re killing me, Cadence.”

His softly spoken words slash my heart in two. I hate seeing the pity in his eyes.

Forcing a laugh, I reach for his drink. “I’ll finish this if you won’t.”

Hunter plants a big hand on top of the beer to keep me from lifting it.