The Last Exhale Read Online Free

life, twenty-eight would have to be the age we’d celebrate for me. I met Eric two weeks before my twenty-ninth birthday. The rest is a blur.
    The two married guys take their courage up a notch and ask us if we want to dance. Katrina tells Mr. Goldfinger, “Thought you’d never ask.”
    Mr. Platinum stands and waits for either a nod or a head shake from me. I toss back the rest of my drink. “What the hell,” I say and take his extended hand.
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    My cell phone rings in my purse. “It’s a great day to purchase a new home with Evans Realty. This is Sydney Holmes.”
    â€œYou sound so different when you’re in professional mode.”
    â€œRachel?”
    â€œSince the day I was born.”
    â€œWhy are you calling my work number?”
    â€œBecause you’re not answering your main phone.”
    I dig through my purse and see I have three missed calls and an unread text on my personal cell. It’s on silent mode. I tell Rachel to hold on while I check out at the register of the sporting goods store I’m in. Two new pairs of running shoes, a few packs of sports beans, sports bra and a water bottle with a Velcro snap to put on my running belt. It’s time for me to get the extra fluff off me I’ve packed on in moments of discontentment. Not that I’m an emotional-eater or anything.
    â€œSydney, you there?”
    â€œI’m here.” I put the items in the trunk. “What’s so important that has you calling like I won the Mega Millions?”
    â€œIf that were the case, I wouldn’t be trying to reach you by phone. I’d be camped out on your doorstep.”
    â€œTell me about it,” I say and start the car so I can feel the air. The rising temperature tells us spring went on vacation and skipped straight from winter to summer.
    She wastes no time digging into my business. “So, I heard you ladies had a blast the other night without me, you especially.”
    â€œI was just trying to make sure Katrina enjoyed her birthday. As much as she tries to act like she’s not, I can tell she’s lonely since the divorce.”
    â€œThat was her decision. I mean, she knew he was cheating before they got married and married him anyway.”
    â€œYeah, that’s true.” I married Eric knowing what I was getting into. I know I can’t be the only woman who’s done so. My friend is proof of that. But still, to marry a known cheater and be okay with it is a different situation. “Now that you mention it, I can’tsee her divorcing him for that reason. Do you think something else happened that we don’t know about?”
    â€œAnything’s possible, but she might not be the only person divorced if you keep dancing with random men like you’re trying to make money to pay your mortgage.”
    I sigh. “It was a dance, Rachel. Why are you making it such a big deal?”
    â€œI’m not. The guy you were dancing with is. He said you have some loose hips.”
    â€œHow would—Did Katrina tell you that?” I parted ways with my friend after a few dances and drinks. I had a family to get home to. I was on borrowed time as she said. No telling what she did or better yet, who she did once I left. As liberated as she’s been between the legs as of late, she might’ve taken both guys home to celebrate her birthday in style.
    â€œI haven’t talked to Kat.” She lets that tidbit of information settle in before adding, “The guy you were dancing with is actually the supervisor over the fugitive unit Michael and Eric are in. You did know that, right?”
    â€œHow was I supposed to know that?” The one night I get out of the house and let my hair down, the whole world finds out. Such is my luck.
    â€œYeah, I guess you wouldn’t, seeing as you never come to any of their get-togethers. We’ve played cards at his house a few times