Chapter 2

Travis was the polar opposite of Kyle. Kyle was the meet-your-parents, open-the-door-for-a-lady type of man. Travis was the type of guy that every father in their right mind feared their daughter would bring home. He was a dangerous cocktail.

Travis had it all, the looks, the job, the life—all of it. He owned one of the hottest clubs on the Vegas strip. Toxic was known for the outstanding show of mixologists making elaborate drinks. Travis was a certified mixologist—the most sought after in the country. Every once in a while he would take a job somewhere, helping a new club start up. He would train the bartenders to make drinks and do it with a unique flourish. It was truly amazing to watch Travis work. He loved his job. There was no mistaking that.

Along with his outstanding career, he had the total package in the looks department as well. His eyes were a bright electric blue. So blue in fact that if she didn’t know any better she would think he wore colored contacts. They were framed with impossibly thick and dark lashes. His hair was golden and always messy. He looked like a classic California surfer boy.

Like Kyle, Travis spent an impressive amount of time in the gym. At one point they’d tried to get her to join, but she’d plopped her butt down on Travis’s couch with a pint of ice cream and looked at them as if they’d lost their mind. There hadn’t been any more talk of her joining a gym. He was stacked, but he liked to show his muscles off: not only his muscles but the intricate black and white ink work he had decorating both arms with from shoulder to wrist.

Travis rode a Harley and wore a lot of black. He had bad boy written all over him, but it was actually the complete opposite—for the most part. He was sweet, funny, and kind. If he liked you, there wasn’t a thing in the world he wouldn’t do for you. However, if someone ever found themself on the wrong side of his boundaries, there was no way to cross back over. Just beneath the surface he had a volatile temper if pushed too far.

She was the balancing force between them. They were light and dark, and she was in the center of them. She wondered if it were unhealthy, their relationship. She really had no answer to that, because no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t picture her life without them in it in some way. In fact, the thought of not having them around made her a little queasy.

Lily pulled on a white t-shirt and a pair of paint-stained overalls. Since they were going to be working with oil and acrylic paints again in class, she felt it only necessary to wear her paint-covered clothes. She gathered her long chestnut hair and piled it high on top of her head. It was messy, but at the same it was stylish. She then tied a bright blue scarf around the top of her head.

Irritated that she was running late, she quickly dabbed on some makeup and made herself look presentable. She checked her reflection and smiled, loving the bo-ho chic thing she had going on. On her way out the door she slung her messenger bag, which was crammed full of supplies, over her shoulder and made her way to work.

Her phone rang as she was making her way to her car. She looked at the screen, and her good mood evaporated. For a moment she thought about ignoring the call but knew it would be pointless. With a groan she pushed the green button as she slid into the car.

“Hey,” she said flatly.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, Winston, it’s eight thirty on a Tuesday morning. What do you think I am doing?”

“Damn. Don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”

“You’d better be careful who you’re calling a bitch,” she snapped angrily.

“Or what, you’ll sick your bodyguards on me?” he asked. He snorted derisively, causing her blood to reach boiling point.

“Did you have a fucking reason for calling me? Or are you just being your usual dick self? Because honestly, Winston, I’m not in the mood to put up with your petty jealousy or childish bullshit. So get to the point. I have to get to work.”

“I think we should see other people.”

Lily rolled her eyes. Was he freaking kidding? “You just decide this, did you? Or did you decided it when you were buried between the legs of the maid of honor at your sister’s wedding last week?”

“H-how did . . . that’s not what happened,” he sputtered.

“Whatever, you were a lousy lay anyhow. Piss off.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond before hanging up and adding his number to the long list of blocked callers. With a wary sigh she looked at the list. They were pretty much all the same. None of them could handle the fact that her best friends were guys.

Maybe you’re not meant to be with anyone.

“I’m not alone,” she muttered as she pulled into her parking spot on the faculty parking lot. She looked at the picture she had taped to her dash of the three of them. It was just after college graduation. They’d taken off to Panama City. Their smiling faces gleamed back at the camera; as usual she was smushed between them as all three of them were squeezed in close to fit in the shot.

Her heart thumped wildly at the thought of getting to see both of them tonight. It had been months since the three of them were together. She felt like a piece of herself was missing.

As she climbed out of her car, she thought about Kyle and his recent divorce. Was it bad that she was happy he wasn’t married anymore? She truly had no idea why, but the thought of Kyle being married had always bothered her.

With a shrug she climbed from her car and made her way into the high school. The bell was ringing by the time she reached her first class. Her students were already seated and anxiously waiting. She felt her chest swell with pride. She loved her juniors and seniors. They were all so eager to learn. She looked around at the students as they chattered amongst themselves. There was a couple huddled close together at their table, their heads bent together as they whispered and giggled.

This was her dream job. Teaching students the love of art was her passion. Sadness tugged at her, something she hadn’t been expecting. If she had her dream, then why in the hell did she feel like something was missing?

Shaking off the crappy feeling as the second bell began to ring, she turned a sunny smile to her class. “Hey guys. So, we’re going to pick up where we left off yesterday talking about the effects of Monet’s Garden and the feelings it brings. Then you’re going to start on your fall projects.”

There were a few groans, but the majority of them were excited.

And, just like that, everything vanished as she slipped into her routine.