Page 9 of Breakaway (Nashville Knights Hockey #3)

Chapter Nine

CHLOE

“ N ot bad if I do say so myself,” I say out loud to no one.

Inspecting the newly soldered ring, I’m happy with how it turned out. Considering I’ve messed up the first three, and nearly burned myself again, the fact that it’s a ring?

Yeah, I’m pretty proud of it.

When I decided to go all in on this jewelry-making business, I knew it would be hard. I loved getting to create things like this back in high school, but I didn’t think about the learning curve.

At least this one resembles a circle. I guess the tenth time is the charm. Now to figure out how to get the gemstone on it.

Having been in my own studio apartment for two months now, I’ve finally found the best setup for jewelry making. There wasn’t enough room for a kitchen table between the half wall that separated my bedroom space and the kitchen. The living room barely fits my small love seat and coffee table .

A pop-up card table isn’t ideal for starting my own business, but it’s what I’m working with.

Before I can sort everything out for the next part of the tutorial—thank God for others on the Internet that know how to do it—a knock echoes around my small studio.

Swinging open the front door, my friend Erica rushes into my apartment, dropping her bag on the loveseat.

She greets me with a massive hug. “You’re alive!”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because all I got from you after the wedding was ‘I need to lie low’ and that was it?”

Erica swings her gorgeous, long black hair over her shoulder, piercing me with a knowing look.

“Hey.” I point a finger at her. “I texted you my new address.”

“Only because I bugged you about where you were living.”

I close the door behind her as she plops down onto the couch.

“Well, surprise. Here it is.”

She looks around the small space. “You know, you could have stayed with me.”

I shake my head. “You and Dax keep saying that.”

“I have more than enough room.”

“I know.” I nod. “But I want a fresh start on my own.”

Erica is one of my closest girlfriends here in Nashville. Nothing like my relationship with Dax, but I love her. She’s a trust-fund baby—her words—and has a townhouse right in the heart of the city. It’s something I wish I could have, but I don’t.

I get a small studio apartment until I can make something of myself.

“You sure? It’s within walking distance to a lot of great places. ”

Walking into the kitchen, I grab two bottles of water from the fridge, passing one over to her as I take a seat next to her.

“I’m good. Since I’m not working right now, I don’t need to be in the city.”

“Any luck finding a job?” she asks.

“Not yet.”

“Really? I could try at the boutique.”

I shake my head. “Already called. Too many employees right now.”

“Ugh. I’m sorry, babe.”

“Considering I can’t get a job at my friend’s place of work, I’m not holding out much hope. But I sold the engagement ring from Duncan, and that will help me get by for now."

Erica whistles. “Damn. I didn’t realize he shelled out so much for it.”

I smile at her before gulping down my water. “Yup. Should’ve known when it took up half my finger.”

“At least you can figure out what you want to do until then.”

“I don’t need to figure it out. I already have a plan. Want to see?” I leap up, heading toward the small table.

“Of course you have a plan.” She smiles at me. “What is it?”

“I’m finally going to start my jewelry-making business.”

“You are?”

“It’s slow going,” I tell her, “but I’ll get there.”

“Is that why you haven’t been texting me then?”

“Hey.” I elbow her in the side. “I’ve been busy trying to get the rest of my life started.”

“And you know, running out on your wedding.”

“Best decision ever,” I say. “That and giving up on men. ”

“You are?” Erica takes one of the half-finished rings and inspects it. “This is really good.”

“I’m getting there,” I tell her, picking up one of the trays of silver solder so she can sit down. “But yes, I’m giving up on men. How can I ever trust any of them not to cheat on me?”

“Sweetheart, Duncan isn’t all men.”

“Might as well be,” I huff.

“Not all men,” she reiterates. “There’s plenty of good options out there for you. Like Dax.”

“Dax? He’s my best friend.”

She scoffs. “I know that. But have you ever, you know, thought about more with him?”

I drop the tray of silver solder and it scatters across the table and floor. “I just got out of a relationship, Erica. Why would I be thinking about another one?”

Dropping to her knees, she helps me pick up the pieces. “Duncan was terrible. We all knew it, but you were so taken with him, it was hard to get through to you. Dax isn’t like that.”

“I know that.”

“Something to consider.”

I drop back onto my ass, crossing my legs in front of me. “Why are you even bringing this up?”

“Honey, Duncan is a douchebag. The worst kind of man because he tells you what you want to hear to get his way. You deserve someone so much better. Someone like Dax.”

“Someone like Dax or Dax ?”

Erica throws her hands up. “It doesn’t have to be Dax, but since you’ve sworn off all men…”

“I regret telling you where I live.”

“No, you don’t.” She blows a kiss at me. “You have to have someone tell you the hard things. ”

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out.

“Speaking of men.” I roll my eyes and show her my phone

Duncan

Baby, I miss you

This has gone on long enough

Can we talk?

Please?

I love you

“Have you talked to him?” Erica hands me back my phone.

“No. I don’t know if I could do it without screaming at him.”

“You need to do it, babe. You need closure.”

“I hate that you’re right.”

“I’m always right.” She winks at me.

“But what if he pulls me back in? Says just the right things to convince me to give him another chance.”

Erica shakes her head. “Hell, no. I can go with you if you want, but that won’t be happening. You’re reclaiming yourself and he gets no part of that.”

“I mean, that’s kind of why I’m doing this whole list thing. Because of him.”

“Wait, what list? Why don’t I know about this list?”

“My anti-boring list. Things that I wanted to do but Duncan never approved of them.”

“What kind of things?” Erica asks .

“New things,” I say. “Zip-lining. Pole dancing. Opening my own jewelry business. Going to a sex club.”

Erica’s jaw drops. Clearly me telling everyone I want to go to a sex club elicits the same response. “A sex club, babe? Fill me in.”

I drop my head into my hands. “Ugh. Duncan always shot down anything I wanted to do and then he has the gall to call me boring. So I want to do all the things that I never got to do with him.”

“And a sex club was on that list?”

“What’s wrong with wanting to go to a sex club?” I peek at her between my fingers.

“Nothing. It’s just not something I thought you would want to do.”

“Well, I do. Because I am not the boring, Goody Two-shoes that Duncan thinks I am.”

She throws her hands up in defense. “I didn’t say you were. But if you want to go, I know a place.”

Now I’m shocked. “Wait, really?”

She nods. “Yeah. Devon wanted to spice things up a few months ago so we tried it out. We had a good time.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?”

“Not something that I bring up in normal conversation.” Erica eyes me. “But if you want to go, I’ll take you.”

“Yes. I do.”

A sly grin slides across her face. “Then you meet with Duncan and hash it out with him and I’ll take you to the sex club after.”

“You’re getting off easy.”

Erica grins at me. “Wait until we hit the club.”