The Light of Day Read Online Free Page A

center aisle to grin as Nina clomps her way toward me from the other side, holding out my right arm for her, where she shoots her fist through it and begins dragging me down the aisle.
                  “It’s not death row, Torres, mind easing back on the throttle? I’ve already got one busted elbow, I don’t need you giving me another.”
                  “Listen, pretty boy, if I don’t eat soon, I’m going to rip some heads off. Knowing Mia’s mom, she’s probably already got a night of photos and toasts and God knows what else planned, events which will keep me from eating my dinner without being scorned with a look, so before she can do that, I’m going to get some grub.”
                  The minute we enter the atrium with its high ceilings and sun washed tile floors, I spot Murph’s future mother-in-law fussing with her daughter’s hair, her mouth moving a mile a minute as she talks to them both.  Murph looks amused, Mia patiently resigned.  Stopping, I shed Torres.
                  “Better go fast, because it doesn’t look like we’re moving very far from this spot for the time being.”
                  “Oh, Christ, what can she possibly want to do now? Isn’t that why this is called a rehearsal dinner, because people get to sit around and drink and eat after rehearsing?”
                  “Your guess is as good as mine.  This is my first wedding.”
                  Nina scoffs and I see her eyes scanning the crowd, probably looking for an exit or a way to safely escape and get to the food that we can smell already being set up.  My eyes are scanning, too, but I’m looking for that pale pink dress and chocolate brown hair.  I tune back in when I hear a name tumble from Nina’s lips.
                  “What did you say?”
              She stops and looks at me, a scowl on her face.  “Some partner you are.  I said, this is my second wedding as an attendant, but I don’t feel like Cora’s counts because it was in Vegas and some guy dressed in a loin cloth pretending to be cupid performed the ceremony.”
                  I feel like I’ve taken a blow to the head.  “Blue’s married?”
                  “Was.  It’s over now.”  Nina must focus on me because she scowls and gives me a thump on the shoulder that jolts me out of my shock.  “Jesus, Handsome Jake, you okay? Maybe you need to eat.”
                  I actually think I want to hurl, but instead I shake my head.  “No, but I could definitely use a drink.”
                  I turn and head in the direction I think the bar might be, ignoring the chirpy voice of the wedding coordinator whose been running us all through the gauntlet for the past hour.  It’s fucking walking and standing, lady, get a grip.
                  I hear my name called, but I ignore that too, striding through the archway that leads into a room filled with linen tablecloths and white china.  It’s clear this is our room, so I stop and look around, spotting the bar set up between the open doors that lead to the veranda which overlooks the golf course.
                  “Handsome Jake, wait a second.”
                  “You probably need to let me be for a second, Torres. I’m not feeling very friendly right at the moment.”
                  “Well, suck it up, this shit isn’t about you,” she snaps.  I want to tell her to back off, but I can’t because underneath whatever the fuck I’m feeling, I’m struck with how right she is.  I blow out a frustrated breath and pause on my way to the bar, turning to stare at her as she leans on the back of one of the chairs and removes her heels, shoes that were no doubt picked out for her as she doesn’t appear to be the fancy, high heeled, strappy sandal wearing kind of