Rock Star's Ballad (White Mist Series Book 3) by A. P. Jensen Page B

didn’t seem heartbroken then and he doesn’t now. I call bullshit.” When Regan didn’t speak, Demi decided it was now or never. If Johnny was going to be a factor in their friendship, she should find out now and move on if necessary. “Johnny and I have nothing to talk about. Neither of us has tried to contact the other since that day.”
    “My high school sweetheart proposed to me when I was nineteen. I said no because I wasn’t ready,” Regan began in a quiet voice. “It caused a huge rift between our families and I left with my car and a trunk full of stuff. After six months of shit jobs and sleeping in my car, I came home with my tail between my legs. On the same day I came home, I saw him get married to someone else.”
    “Oh my God.”
    Regan nodded. “Yup. I saw that and didn’t come back for ten years until I caught Daniel cheating on me. I broke off our engagement, quit my job and drove to White Mist. I came home expecting Brooks to be married with kids, but he was divorced. Within a day of me being home, he was trying to pick up where we left off. I was freaked,” Regan said with a reminiscent smile. “My dad left when I was a kid and I was scared I’d do the same thing, but I’m still here and now I have Chase.”
    “That woman he was married to? Does she still live in town?” Regan asked.  
    “Oh, yeah,” Regan said with grim humor. “My sister-in-law, Kerry, is married to Allison’s brother. Allison is sweet and sometimes, I still want to punch her in the face just on principal, but she makes these really great glass pieces that sell really well at my mom’s shop.”
    Demi couldn’t imagine saying a single, civil thing to Johnny’s first wife. “This sounds like a soap opera.”
    “Sometimes it is.” Regan glanced at her and then away. “What Johnny did, I don’t want to know how much that hurt. I know ‘hurt’ isn’t even the right word. When I saw Brooks get married, I shut down and that was six months after we broke up, not two weeks. If I caught Brooks with Allison naked around him, I probably would have killed them both. I can’t blame you for not wanting anything to do with Johnny.”
    “I don’t know why he did what he did last night and I don’t care. It’s been over for thirteen years. I know he’s your best friend, which might make this weird. If we can’t work together, I totally get it—”
    Regan shot her a killing glance. “Johnny has nothing to do with business. But, shit, he has a lot to answer for.”
    “You can’t tell anyone what I just told you!” Demi didn’t care if she sounded like she was in sixth grade.  
    “Of course not,” Regan snapped. “Johnny needs to answer to you, and honey, don’t make it easy for him. That scene he caused with wife number one must have killed you.”
    Demi didn’t want to talk about the years of depression that followed. Work and family were the only things that kept her going. It was pure self-preservation that made her hide within the family fold, dedicating herself to their every whim. Barry was the first man she’d given herself to since Johnny and that had been a colossal mistake as well. Her luck with men sucked and she was so done. “I just want to start over.”
    “I can help with that.”  
    Regan parked in front of a cute cafe in the middle of White Mist.  
    “Need a hit,” Regan said and yawned. “Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
    Regan held Chase’s hand as they walked into a cafe that Demi instantly decided she would visit often. It was dimly lit with booths and tables tucked strategically for conversations, privacy and people watching. They moved up to the counter where one of the workers promptly took Chase from Regan.  
    “Who’s the best looking boy in White Mist?” the woman exclaimed. “Its Chase Hawking, that’s who!”
    “Sam, I’m about to pass out here,” Regan said dryly. “And I don’t want Chase to have a complex.”
    “He looks just like his daddy, you