BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Bright and Beautiful
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. Part Two
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. Part Three
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. Epilogue
  68. Author’s Note
  69. Acknowledgments
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jillian Medoff
  72. About the Publisher

“Yeah. Looks like it’s really happening.”

“I’m glad, Cass. It was a smart idea. I mean, what else were you gonna do? Live with Mom and Dad forever?” He glances at me sideways. “Or maybe you had a different plan?”

“Like what? Killing Eleanor in her sleep and stealing her fortune? I don’t have that kind of strength. Nor do I need her money, thank God.”

Nate holds up his glass. “Well, here’s to your great escape. May it last longer than mine.” He finishes his drink in one swallow. “Another Absolut and tonic, Tessie. Actually”—he checks my glass—“two more, please.”

The drinks arrive and we clink again. Then Nate says, “DeFiore is giving up.”

“Maybe not. Maybe he’s trying to do what’s best for Billy.”

“Shoving a plea down his throat is not what’s best. You have to convince DeFiore to stay the course. Promise me you’ll talk to him.”

“And say what?”

“Do your fucking job, you sloppy fuck; don’t pussy out.”

“I can’t imagine that will go over well, Nate.”

“Aw, Cass. Don’t be modest. DeFiore is your biggest fan. You know you have the magic touch with middle-aged men.”

“Has it occurred to you that DeFiore may be right? We don’t know what really happened with Diana. I tried talking to Billy . . .” I trail off because Nate’s jaw has tightened.

“Leave him alone.” He bites off the words.

“But if we can get him to tell us—”

“Did you not hear me?” Nate’s voice is acid. “Billy does not want to talk to you. If you keep trying, you’ll be sorry.”

Tess sets down our drinks.

“Thanks, Tessie. You’re the best.” Nate pushes a glass my way. “Two limes for the girl with the big mouth who needs to shut the fuck up.”

I try to defuse his anger. Don’t be mad at me. Please, Nate. “Tess has awesome arms.”

“You should see her ass.” It’s not just you. I’m mad at everyone. He gives me a goofy grin. “Shots? Hey Tessie, two shots of Jager, please.”

I screw up my nose. “Repulsive.” They’re so repulsive.

“You’re repulsive,” Nate says. We watch Tess as she pours two green shots and slides them over. Nate holds one up. “L’chaim.” He downs the liquor and smacks his glass on the bar. “Awesome.”