When Forever Crumbles: Love's Harsh Reality

downtown bar where I had made my name as a mixologist before I met Jackson. I needed the fam

r end of the bar, the polishe

ll. Look w

as behind the bar, wiping down the coun

doing here?" I

t. Graphic design gigs are slow, and Le

t like an invasion. T

with lime," I said, pu

ow who you are, you know. Or who you were. Eleanor Bernard.

ated. I didn't want to know what else Jacks

ago," I said, taki

isper. "He was so lonely that night in Vegas. He told me he was tired of

I didn' t wan

in her eyes. "I was having a hard time. My dad w

ng. She was painting a picture of a deep, emotional connection, not jus

was w

couldn' t lash out. Because she was the mother of his child. She had a

olid, immovable

e flashing lights on the dan

en I s

ck

, his eyes scanning the room.

n' t land on me.

etched with concern. He didn' t even

oice soft, full of a tenderness he hadn' t shown m

asn' t here for me.

es would always find mine, a private little connec

nt little glint in their depths. It was only

then his brow furr

oing in a place like this

o owned half the city, but my world had shrunk to the four walls of our

ittle smile. "I was

the bar. The familiar tools felt solid in my hands.

tual. My way

o Karly. "I can' t. I have to dr

imsy. He had a dr

l the times he' d told me my drinks were the only

to let me make you a drink?

aid, his voice tight with impatience

th. As if I were a fragile doll to be put awa

d. I put the shaker d

shoulders. "I' m sorry, Ellie. I promise, once Leo is better, we' ll go on a trip.

ke empty words, mean

n' t

r, her eyes landing on Jackson' s hands on my shoulders. A flicker o

d his son. She had the ultimate leverage, and she resente

her voice urgent. "The hospital ca

ping from my shoulders. He loo

, his voice softening again. "Go

leaving me standing there, a relic

tears. I understood. He was tired. He was

k, a complex, smoky Old Fashioned. I set it on th

walke

never let a drink I mad

t, it