Blame it on the TequilaBlame it on the Alcohol Series Fiona Cole Copyright © 2021 by Fiona Cole All rights reserved. Cover Designer: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs Photographer: Regina Wamba Cover Models: Jared Sternaman, Hannah Peltier Interior Design: Indie Girl Promotions Editing: Kelly Allenby, Readers Together Proofreading: Janice Owen, JO’s Book Addiction Proofreading No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Contents Playlist Prologue 1. Nova 2. Nova 3. Parker 4. Nova 5. Nova 6. Parker 7. Nova 8. Nova 9. Parker 10. Nova 11. Parker 12. Nova 13. Parker 14. Nova 15. Parker 16. Parker 17. Nova 18. Nova 19. Nova 20. Parker 21. Parker 22. Nova 23. Parker 24. Parker 25. Nova 26. Nova 27. Parker 28. Nova 29. Nova 30. Nova 31. Parker Epilogue Acknowledgments About Fiona Also by Fiona Cole Playlist There’s a lot Open Hands - Ingrid Michaelson (feat. Trent Dabbs) Is That Alright? - Lady Gaga Grace - Rag’n’Bone Man Your Name Hurts - Hailee Steinfeld Glitter In the Air - P!nk Right Now - One Direction Take Me Home - Chord Overstreet Hello - Adele Falling like the Stars - James Arthur Happy - Leona Lewis Sorry - Mali-Koa coney island - Taylor Swift (feat The National) If Our Love is Wrong - Callum Scott New Year’s Day - Taylor Swift Take on the World - You Me At Six Rise Up - Imagine Dragons Love in the Dark - Adele evermore - Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver) Hurricane Drunk - Florence + the Machine Won’t Let You Down - Callum Scott Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga Looking Out - Brandi Carlile Is There Somewhere - Halsey Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band Bill Murray - Matt Nathanson Where’s My Love - SYML Tempo - Lizzo (feat. Missy Elliot) Cuz I Love You - Lizzo Feel Something - Landon Austin Always Be Loving You - My Brothers And I Breakups - Seaforth Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon Leaving My Love Behind - Lewis Capaldi Always - Isak Danielson First In Line - Matthew Mayfield when the party’s over - Billie Eilish Take Me to Church - Hozier Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish Lo/Hi - The Black Keys Jump Around - House of Pain Wish That You Were Here - Florence + the Machine Secret Love Song - Little Mix (feat. Jason Derulo) You Are the Reason - Callum Scott Say Something - A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera Way Away - Yellowcard I Forgive You - Kelly Clarkson Heat Above - Greta Van Fleet Pain - Nessa Barrett Two of Us - Louis Tomlinson Falling - Harry Styles To Mama Lucia. Prologue Nova PAST “I’m so sorry, Nova.” I watched Parker’s head drop to the white sheets of my hospital bed, his dirty-blond waves looking almost white in some spots from the harsh fluorescent lighting. Lifting my hand slowly, I dragged my fingers through his hair, enjoying the thick texture, remembering just days ago that I thought I’d never feel it again. “It’s okay.” He shook his head hard and lifted upright, but not pulling away. As if struggling to do so, he hesitated before meeting my eyes. His usual ocean blue eyes dulled against the dark circles and bloodshot exhaustion, but they flared with his flexing jaw. “It’s not okay. It’s not okay, Nova. Jesus. It’s—” The deep lyrical voice I loved to listen to cracked, and he looked away, dropping his chin to his chest. He was right. It wasn’t okay. None of this was okay. The part he played wasn’t okay. But right then, I needed him by my side more than I needed to blame him for what happened. So, I slid my hand up his forearm until I could link my fingers with his, careful to not bump the IV rehydrating my body. He held on tight and kissed one knuckle at a time with reverence and so much more. “Just talk to me,” I requested on an exhale. I’d barely woken up from my last nap, and already I could sleep again. “What do you want to talk about?” he asked. I started to say anything when a floppy-haired blond popped his head around the corner, his goofy smile flashing behind a handful of wildflowers. “Did you tell her?” Oren asked, maybe a little too excitedly for the situation. I darted my eyes to Parker because I had no idea what the hell he needed to tell me and found him with a shut the fuck up look on his face. I flashed back to Oren just in time to watch the smile drop. “Ohhhhh. Well, my bad.” He sat the daisies down on a chair next to him and started backing away with an awkward laugh, only to bump into the other two members of the band, Ash and Brogan. “What the fuck, dude? We want to see her,” Ash grumbled. “He hasn’t told her yet, and the look he gave said to get the fuck out,” Oren tried to whisper, but he sucked at it, so we all heard. Parker groaned and dropped his head. “We’ll be back,” Brogan called as Oren ushered them out. As soon as they left, I focused on Parker, who chewed on his bottom lip and rubbed a hand over his face. Never a good sign for him to do both. One meant stress, and both meant I needed to brace myself. In the few years since Parker Callahan came crashing into my life, I’d only seen the combination a handful of times. “Tell me what?” I asked. I was too tired to brace myself or dig it out of him. “It’s nothing right now.” Heaving a sigh, I dropped my head back on the pillow. “Distract me, Parker. Tell me.” “Are you hurting?” “No, I’m fine. I just want to not think about lying here right now. So, just tell me.” One more hand swipe across his face, over his head, and around the back of his neck. “The music executive at the show offered us to go on tour with Rufio.” “Holy
