Taryn “Whiskey” Best friends. That’s what we are. At least, that’s what we were. One night changed our worlds forever. One night that turned into two days—two of the best days of my life. On the third morning, he was gone. I was heartbroken, but I didn’t know how to tell him. Now, he’s engaged to be married and doesn’t know how I feel. Never thought a bottle of my namesake could cause me this much trouble. Wesley I am supposed to be getting married. The problem is, I can’t seem to stop wondering why my best friend and “best man,” Whiskey, isn’t standing right here with me. I need her to tell me I’m doing the right thing because I’m starting to have doubts. I can’t stop thinking about those two nights we shared. We laughed and made jokes about how everyone said we’d end up together. At the time, we felt it was a crazy notion. Now, I’m thinking maybe they knew something we didn’t. Maybe we dismissed the possibility far too soon. What I’m certain of is I need to know everything before I make the biggest mistake of my life.

How is a person supposed to come to terms with these facts? Fact 1: My parents aren’t upstanding citizens (kind of learned that one at an early age) Fact 2: The same two people who gave me life are the same people I, not too long ago, watched slice up two of my high school peers. (Great! Serial killers on top of idiotic thieves.) Oh, and that’s just the starter. What comes next makes those things seem like child’s play or having a cotton candy treat at a damn fair. Destiny? Fate? I’d like to give those bitches a swift kick in the teeth. Kincaid Peterson has his work cut out for him if I’m the one he wants to spend his time with.

My best recipes come out of moments of spontaneity. \- Savannah Flowers Mixing a goody-two-shoes baker with a detective who has questionable morals is a recipe for disaster. \- Holden Cross Savvy A random order for a loyal customer introduced me to the man of my dreams. It also led me to a moment of great devastation. I can’t believe both are the result of knowing the same man. I don’t know if we’ll be able to come back from this. I’m seriously screwed. Cross Lies. Confusion. Secrets. All have become second nature in my world. I live this life and think nothing of the effect it has on others. Until her. She entered and demanded more. More than any other has asked of me. More lies, a rumor, then the truth. F\*cked that up royally.

Nope. Nada. Not gonna be able to do it! That's what I thought three months ago. One month of disastrous blind dates, horrible setups, the worst day at work, and a double date where all parties involved expected me to pick up the tab had me trying "something new". I'm still reeling from the expectation that I was going to pay for three other adults' meals. Online dating had to be safer. At least, on the app, I could weed out some of the crazies beforehand. I could definitely check to see if the person could pay for their own meal. First match? Braxton Masters. My first thought is I'm being catfished or something. There's no way one of the most famous faces in football is on a dating app. First date jitters are trumped by the annoyance of someone trying to pull a fast one. I'm out to settle a score. Until the real him walks in and the woman I hired to play me throws a drink in his face. She then slaps him hard enough to have it echo around the empty restaurant. There's an unforgettable first impression. Now what do I do?

Damien Brandt is his name. Ask him again and he’ll tell you the same. Ember Really. He will. Why? Didn’t you know? Brandt Tech is the world’s foremost leader in all things technological. Since technology leads the world, he believes he does too. Never mind all the people who tirelessly work with him, for him, and are always at his side. A\\. Can’t see passed his own nose to see what he’s about to lose. Damien Damien Oliver Brandt is the name. Giving the world new tech is my game. The president and founder of Brandt Technologies is who I am. It’s who I was born to be. I’ve been groomed to be the most powerful man in the world. The man of steel should bend to my will or so I’m told. Be calculating, be controlled, be cold. I’ve been conditioned to trust no one and stand firmly on my own. Who knew I’d be standing alone? “Lonely at the top” is putting it lightly when she’s gone. I believe the grands were wrong. Being a Brandt does not make life easier.