The Road to Rebirth Her Fresh Start and His Late Sorrow by Helena R. Bates

Chapter 9

Nancy's heart raced as Cyrus moved closer again, ready to resist when his phone buzzed. Grabbing it like a lifeline, she quickly put some distance between herself and Cyrus. "Your phone's ringing!"

As Cyrus noticed Nancy's rejection, his desire ebbed away, replaced by a bitter feeling he couldn't quite identify. With a stern expression, he answered the call.

"What?"

There was a brief pause before the other end burst into laughter. "Jeez, Cyrus, you sound tense. Are you and Nancy having a spat? Why don't you come out with us? We're all at the Old Oak waiting for you." It was Norton Patel's voice on the other end.

Norton was Cyrus' childhood buddy. Nancy's lips twitched into a smile, feeling a wave of relief.

"Not tonight." Cyrus glanced at Nancy intentionally. "I've upset Nancy. She won't want to go out with me. If she's not going, neither am I."

Norton got the message loud and clear.

"Come on, Nancy! We haven't had a drink with Cyrus in ages. Show your face, will you?"

"It's just a few drinks. It won't keep you from, you know, baby-making."

"Yeah, Nancy, it's just us. Plus, Baldrick Robertson's back in town. It's been ages since he and Cyrus caught up."

of agreement, Cyrus turned

Although his voice carried a note of pity, his expression hinted otherwise, clearly indicating

her expression unreadable, and said,

Cyrus wanted to go, didn't he? Usually, Cyrus would have hung

-

and the smell of alcohol. The room was all men, each flanked by young, attractive women. Only Baldrick, sitting in

you finally made it!" Norton

Cyrus was protective, standing in front of Nancy to shield

you could smoke in here? Snuff out those cigarettes. Don't you know my wife hates the smell?" "And get rid of these girls. I don't want them spoiling my wife's

shifted instantly at Cyrus' dark tone. Norton snapped his fingers,

theirs alone, and the banter

knew the mighty Cyrus of Sunhaven would be

being married to Cyrus means getting treated like royalty, sign me

he looked at Nancy. "Don't mind Norton. If he were a woman, he'd

suppressed a smirk,

to

If Cyrus

his focus to