“Just good?” Getting him to talk is almost harder than getting my students to answer a question in class. “From what I hear, the bar you work at is doing really well. I like to think you have something to do with that.”
I shift my feet the tiniest bit. Trying to make any sort of movement that might get him to stop avoiding me. To acknowledge I’m here. Little does he know he’s the only reason I came. Finally, his hands still around his beer bottle and his dark brown eyes lift to mine.
3
Patrick
Ignoring this woman is impossible.Always has been. I was hoping she’d walk away when I didn’t engage. It seems like she’s determined to torture me, though.
It’s the last statement that pulls my attention from my beer. She’s been checking up on me. I didn’t think Jaylen cared what I did after I left. After I told her I had feelings for her and she stared at me without saying a word. I assumed she didn’t care.
"Yeah, it's doing pretty well for itself." I shrug as if the recognition Out of the Ashes is getting is no big deal. It is. Especially for the small town we live in. "I'm not sure how much I have to do with it."
"You shouldn't discredit yourself." She reaches out to touch my arm, but pulls back at the last second. The act is so normal she thought nothing of it. I don't want to admit how much I wish she would have followed through.
"I'm not." Bringing the bottle to my lips, I take a drink to give myself time to think. "People come in for the food, sure. But they also come in for the experience our bartenders give them. They know they'll get great service and drinks."
"Sounds like you have it made over there."
"It's not too bad. The heat sucks sometimes, but Asheville has the same vibe as here. Everyone knows everyone, and they are all too nosy for their own good. Especially Eric."
She takes a step closer to me. "It sounds like there is a story there."
It seems Jaylen's over the small talk, which is fine with me. But...I don't know if I want to hash all this out with her. We haven't spoken to each other in close to fifteen years. She could have easily gotten my phone number from someone if she really wanted to talk.
"Not really. Just an annoying guy who works with me and doesn't know how to mind his own business." There. That should be enough to quench her thirst for information. "Can you excuse me for a second?"
"Um, sure." She inches away from me.
I hold a finger up to my friends to let them know I'll be right back. My steps are quick as I make my way through the crowd and to the front door. Pushing it open, I breathe in the fresh air.
The sun is setting, and it's getting darker by the minute. I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone. Talking about my annoying coworker reminded me I want to check in on them.
I scroll through my contacts for Eric's number and press call. He picks up on the third ring. "I swear if you are calling from your reunion, I'll reach through the phone and strangle you."
"I guess you better figure out how to do that, then." I clear my throat and glance behind me. Thank God, she didn't follow me out. "How's it going in the kitchen?"
"The urge to not tell you anything is strong, but I know if I don't, you'll keep calling back until I do. Which means you'll miss a good chunk of your reunion and whatever you're trying to avoid."
He's not wrong. I came out here to get a break from Jaylen. From the perfume she's wearing. From the way she looks at me, as if I actually matter when I didn't all those years ago.
"So, is it on fire? Or are you holding me in suspense?"
"Everything is fine, Patrick." Eric sighs, and I have a feeling he's shaking his head. Actually, I know he is. "Viv is working out great, and honestly, I think you should call her in more so you can take some much-needed time off."
All I'm hearing is I'm replaceable. That's not going to happen. I love working at the bar. "You're one to talk. I think you're there more than I am."
"This isn't about me," he scoffs, "besides, I'll be spreading the responsibility now that I'm with Joan."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"I'm going to end the conversation here. I know you're eating up time, and that's weird considering I get on your nerves" he pauses for a second before continuing, "now, go enjoy yourself. You deserve it."
Before I respond, the call ends. He definitely gets on my nerves. Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I turn toward the door.
I can do this. Being around Jaylen shouldn't be this hard. It's been over a decade for crying out loud. If she can move past our fallout, so can I. It'd be easier if she didn't look so fucking beautiful in the red dress she decided to wear. It hugs her curves in all the right places.
Liam pushes the door open before I even take a step. "Hey, man, you good?"
