Chapter Eight
Carson
My blood pressure hadto be at a dangerously high level right now. The moment Ezra walked into the tavern with that other man, it skyrocketed, and it hadn’t gone back down. I could feel the blood rushing through my ears, my heart pumping against my chest. They looked incredibly close, leaning across the booth as they spoke. Not once had my so-called best friend even looked over at me while I stood behind the bar. What was the law if I kicked that guy’s ass in my father’s restaurant? Would I get arrested because I hated the way he kept touching Ezra’s hand or laughing at the things he said?
“Carson.” Dad’s voice brought me back to reality. “Are you going to go say hello to Ezra?”
I gritted my teeth. “No.” Because I was sure if I went over there, I was going to break someone’s face. Did he feel this way when Noel showed up?
“Then maybe you could finish restocking the glasses?”
Right, I was supposed to be putting the clean glasses under the bar. I had volunteered to help at the Tavern today. To get out of the house, where I had been sitting in my own damn filth since I came home Friday afternoon after storming out of Ezra’s apartment. I thought it would be good to stay busy, keep my mind off what had happened. What I didn’t expect was for my best friend to show up with this drop-dead gorgeous man and rub it in my face.The fucking nerve.
“Son.”
I glanced up at my father as I squatted down behind the bar.
“If you keep stacking those glasses together like that, you’re going to break them. Just go say hello. It’s Ezra.”
I shook my head. “I’m good.”
“Then I’ll bring him over here.” Dad started to walk around the bar.
“What? Dad, no.” I stood up.
But it was too late. I watched in horror as my father sauntered over to the booth, leaned down to give Ezra a hug, and then pointed to where I stood. I dragged a hand down the front of my face as my best friend and I locked eyes. I noticed the bruising around his face had faded to a dull green and yellow, less swollen but still noticeable. You could still tell someone had used his face for a punching bag.
Ezra’s lips twitched like they might turn up into a smile, and I turned away before I could see it. That smile I missed; the laugh he was giving someone else. I had to get out of here before I did something really stupid.
“So, you’re the best friend I’ve heard so much about.” No way. This guy had some serious balls. “You probably think we’re together, but we’re not. Ez and I are just friends.” I could feel that hulk-anger ripping through me at the nickname I used. “I’m Seth Hill, just in case you were wondering.”
I dropped my chin to my chest, afraid to turn around. “I wasn’t.”
“Ah, so you actuallycanhear me. Wasn’t sure.”
I slowly turned around to find Seth sitting in one of the high-backed chairs at the bar. His eyes were the color of the sky, and he was even more handsome than I thought. Perfectly sculpted cheekbones, pouty lips, a septum ring. He was incredibly beautiful. Yeah, totally not my type, but maybe he was Ezra’s.
“Leave me alone.”
“That’s kind of rude, isn’t it, babe? I’m a paying customer.” He flashed a smile that revealed a pair of straight, white teeth. “Go talk to him.”
I resisted the urge to grab Seth by the front of his shirt and haul him over the counter. “Hard pass. Do you want a drink, or can I go back to what I was doing before you interrupted me?”
“Afraid of what might happen if you do? We both know you how you feel about Ezra.” Seth leaned his elbow on the counter and rested his chin in his hand as he stared at me.
I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.
Okay, no more Mister Nice Guy.
“Oh, dowe?Tell me, Seth, how do I feel about him? Because from where I stand, that’s none of your fucking business.” I gripped the corner of the bar between my fingers. “I suggest you go sit back in that booth and leave me the hell alone.”
“You think you scare me, Carson?” he asked, and I watched as he climbed back to his feet. He was about the same height as I was, a little leaner, his body was more that of a dancer, not as wide, but he might be able to take me. “Because you don’t. I’ve known Ezra for a while now. He’s done nothing but talk about how wonderful, sweet, amazing, and caring you are. The best friend he’s ever had. How he regretted running away from you that night, and how he wanted to fix things between you.”
