Parker pictured herself cupping his cheek in her hand and smoothing away the sadness. As quickly as the image appeared, her chest constricted with guilt when his words broke through her errant thoughts.
“He took you out to dinner on your birthday every year, even if he had to do it with you kicking and screaming,” Garrett said with a smile to soften the blow he was sure his words brought. “It’s my duty as your friend and his to carry on that tradition, especially this year.”
Especially this year, especially this year... The words repeated on a loop in her head.
It still didn’t seem real; the first birthday in eight years spent without him. He’d been gone for six months, and she still woke up every day expecting to hear him walk through the door, laugh outrageously loud at something stupid, or get snippy with her when she asked him where he’d been all night.
She wasn’t going to let those dark thoughts mess with her psyche. Not right now. And definitely not tonight. She’d spent too much time already lately wondering “what if” and thinking about all of the things she could have done differently. Her guilt that most of those feelings revolved around the man standing next to her than on the one she’d given her heart to took up too much residence in her mind and her heart as it was.
Garrett was hurting too. He’d spent the past six months being her rock and making sure she remembered to eat, shower, work, and anything else she forgot to do when the memories and sadness threatened to overwhelm her. He needed her to be strong for once, and she was determined to do just that. Even if it meant she had to celebrate her birthday.
“Fine. But I draw the line at strangers crowding around the table singing, ‘Happy Birthday’ like a bunch of jackasses.”
“Deal.” Garrett laughed.
They turned and made their way across the beach and up the stairs to her condo, talking about birthdays past.
Table of Contents
Also by Tara Sivec
Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers #1)
Futures and Frosting (Chocolate Lovers #2)
Troubles and Treats
A Silly Journey through a Sticky Situation
by
Tara Sivec
Acknowledgements
Contents
Chapter 1 – You Ruined My Pens!
Chapter 2 – Negative, Ghost Rider
Chapter 3 – Baste in the Glory
Chapter 4 – Downwind Lapping Dog
Chapter 5 – Could it be…SATAN?!
Chapter 6 – Liquid Courage
Chapter 7 – Fake it Till You Make it
Chapter 8 – The Great Swami
Chapter 9 – Great Head
Chapter 10 –Mace, Tasers, and Giant Testicles
Chapter 12 – Baby Bullets
Chapter 13 – Hiney Duck Hiss
Chapter 14 - Racers, Take Your Mark
Chapter 15 – Dr. Duke of Earl
Chapter 16 – VAGINA!
Chapter 17 - Jackson
Chapter 18 – Vanilla Sex
Chapter 19 – Brazilians and FUPAs
Chapter 20 – Who’s on Goal, What’s on Basket?
Chapter 21 – Spoop
Chapter 22 – I Wanna Strawberry Laid!
Chapter 23 – Zombie Apocalypse
Chapter 24 – I Love Your Mom’s Clam
Chapter 25 – Drop and Give Me Fifty
Chapter 27 – Irish Car Bombs
Chapter 28 – Peeping Ghost
Chapter 29 – Vagina Skittles
Epilogue
Read on for a sneak peek of
by
Tara Sivec
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords January 3, 2013
Prologue
Chapter One