Blurred Lines

COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2023 Marion Thomas - All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Any unauthorized distribution or use maybe be a direct infringement of the author’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. For permission contact: [email protected] This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Character design by Simple Portraits by Dylan Cover design by Alt19 Creative ISBN: 9798392419180 Contents READER EXPECTATIONS Dedication 1. Wedding Bell Blues 2. The Call 3. One Night Only 4. Long Time No See 5. Release Me 6. No Control 7. New Rules 8. What Could Have Been 9. Vegas Baby! 10. The Birthday Special 11. Dance, Dance 12. Force Majeure 13. Friends With Benefits 14. Confide in Me 15. Learning Curve 16. Blurred lines 17. High maintenance 18. Bored together 19. Open Book 20. Rehab 21. Admit It 22. Pick Up the Phone 23. Timing Is Everything 24. Tortured Soul 25. Out Of Sight 26. Fever 27. Just Give Me a Reason 28. Forgiveness 29. Complicated 30. All Bets Are Off Epilogue Want to see what happens next? Fun Facts Also By Marion De Ré Acknowledgments About the Author READER EXPECTATIONS Heat level: Fade-to-black, sensual descriptions, mentions of sex, innuendos Cursing: Mild Main trope: Friends with Benefits Triggers: Loss of a loved on in the past, absentee father Style: First person present, single POV Ending: HEA To my readers who inspired me to write Mel and Braden's story.This is for you. 1 Wedding Bell Blues “We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.” Ugh. I’m not a big fan of weddings. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for my best friend, Louise, and her soon-to-be husband, Jack. Like, really, really happy. Lou is standing next to me now, all giddy, her manicured fingers fidgeting with her designer dress while a slight flush enhances her perfect face. Jack is standing in front of her, his eyes fixed on his bride as if she’d disappear if he so much as glanced away. They both seem so intoxicated with love; it’s disgusting. That might have sounded a little harsh. After all, it’s a miracle we’re here today, considering everything they’ve been through—trust me, their story is unbelievable—but the truth is, the marriage thing is just not for me. I don’t do love. Or feelings. It’s too complicated, too messy, and totally unnecessary. Make no mistake, I enjoy the company of men, but only for short, fun snippets of time. The closest I’ve had to a boyfriend was a guy named Josh, back in New York. But just as I knew it would, the whole thing ended in frustration and resentment when I took a job across the country. From the beginning, we’d made it crystal clear we were just having fun. But somehow, his feelings evolved along the way; mine didn’t. That’s why I steer clear of romantic relationships of any kind. It’s just not worth it. Stealing glances around the small chapel, I notice that everyone bears the same expression—heart-eyes emoji, lips slightly parted, hands folded together against their chests. Honestly, I get it. To most people, weddings bring joy and hope. For me, not so much. My friend-slash-boss, singer Candice Anderson, is already tearing up next to me, and the ceremony has barely started. She’s wearing her signature high ponytail, the sleek look intensifying her glassy doe eyes. Kudos to her glam squad—her makeup remains perfectly in place. Meanwhile, I’m one of the few in the room with dry eyes. I never cry. It’s not that I’m a stone-cold girl without emotions or anything. It’s just that I cried so much when I was younger, I filled all my crying quotas for a lifetime. Sometimes, I wish I could ugly-cry at the end of a movie like Louise does, but even if I get all the feels, the tears stay locked behind my eyes. Well, it’s not all bad. First, it keeps my makeup in place—no glam squad for me—and second, it can come in handy when you don’t want your feelings on full display. They can be used against you. “Mel . . . Melissa Cooper.” Lou’s loud whisper and Candice’s nudge in the stomach snap me back to reality. “The rings.” Right. Plastering the biggest apology smile on my face, I hand her the blue velvet box. Jack looks like he’s stifling a chuckle. He’s currently leaning against the white-painted wooden arch, hands tucked in his tuxedo pockets, a grin spreading across his face. Knowing him, I’d say nothing can kill his buzz right now, not even a klutzy and forgetful maid of honor. After all, he’s marrying the love of his life. Once they exchange the rings, Lou and Jack close the ceremony with a passionate kiss amidst the roar of applause of their guests. This might be an intimate affair, but the attendance is big. Singers, models, actors—you name it. They’re all here. Oh, did I mention? My best friend is marrying Jack Rose, the world-famous pop star. But she’s not the only one who hit the jackpot (no pun intended). Louise is a best-selling novelist and a model for some of the world’s top brands. Not too shabby, right? With the exception of Lou’s family, I’m the only non-celebrity here. After taking a few pictures with everyone, it’s time for Lou to throw the bouquet. She steps to the center of the perfectly manicured lawn, smoothing out her form-fitting, lacy dress as she spins around. Dozens of girls line up, but I watch from the sidelines with Candice. She and Wat$on, a renowned rapper, got