I sigh. A little wistful and more envious than I’d like.
It must come out louder than I planned too, because Jerry nudges me with his shoulder. It gives me the push I need to stave off the pity party I was headed towards—thank you, alcohol—and find a smile to match Sean’s.
“Well,” I say, when Sean still hasn’t moved. “Why are you still here?”
“Right.” He snaps out of it. “I’ll say Happy New Year now because I plan on being busy at midnight.”
He pulls me into a hug before I can glare at him for being all smug and in love. “I’ll be back in a few days,” he says quietly. “But you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
I hug him tight. “Thank you.”
After he’s hugged Jerry and Hailey and said goodbye to a still-sleepy Lucky, Sean finally heads out to drive just over an hour down the road to Edwinstowe. Hopefully less at this time of night, because I doubt many other people are crazy enough to be out on the roads.
“I hope he gets there before midnight.” I’m not sure why that matters; it’s not like Vic won’t be equally pleased to see him after the clock strikes twelve. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, who knows? But I just really want them to be together to see the new year in.
“He will.” Jerry sounds so confident, sosure, that I choose to take his word as fact.
That could also be the alcohol talking.
Whatever, until I hear otherwise, Sean will get there in time and they’ll see in the new year with a bang.
I snort, because that’s probably true in so many ways.
Jerry gives me a funny look, but I wave him away because, as happy as I am for Sean, I’ve spent enough of the night dwelling on his love life. And since I don’t want to think about mine either, I decide there and then to not think about anything other than having a good time.
This isn’t my home and these aren’t my friends, but they’ve welcomed me with warmth and open arms, and I’m surrounded by so much festive cheer it’s not hard to push everything else to the back of my mind.
“Another drink?” Jerry raises his almost empty pint glass, then smiles ruefully. “Although I think I might have a water next and then have one last pint to see in the new year.”
“Water. Yes.” If I’m starting to sound like a caveman, maybe I need it more than I thought.
Jerry laughs and turns to order our drinks from?—
“Hailey?” When did she appear behind the bar? “Aren’t you too drunk to be serving?”
She points to the large glass of water next to her, then takes a huge drink. “I’m not serving. I’m just taking a break. I have plans for later.” Herplansare written all over her face, and when Jerry orders two pints of water for us, her eyebrows shoot up. I can almost see her mind working, adding two and two and coming up withfive, and she is so, so wrong, it’s almost funny.
“Have a good night, boys.” She winks as she says it, then saunters off like she hasn’t just left a big ball of awkward behind her.
I might have a good buzz going, but it’s not enough to stop the blush creeping into my cheeks. I have been extra touchy-feely with Jerry, haven’t I?Does it look like I’m flirting? Oh god, does Jerry think I’m flirting with him? Have I inadvertently led him on? Is that why he was more than happy for Sean to go? Or even worse, have I made him uncomfortable, seeing as I used to date his best friend?None of those scenarios are appealing, andhorror fills me as I go over the night so far in my head. Suddenly I want to slide under the bar and hide. I’m thirty-three years old. Shouldn’t I be better at this by now?
“Here you go.” Jerry turns to pass me my water and freezes at whatever expression is currently on my face. Considering my mind is in chaos at the moment, it could be anything. He sets the glass back down. “Are you all right?”
“Yep.” It comes out more like a squeak and my blush deepens. How mortifying.
His brow furrows as he studies me. Then he stands so abruptly, I almost fall back off my stool, but he grabs me with firm hands and gives my shoulders a squeeze, before letting go and once again reaching for my water. “Take this,” he says softly, and I lean forward to hear him better. “There’s a quieter room round the side.” He gestures behind him. “It’s got a dartboard. We can play a few rounds and talk if you want?”
I hesitate. On the one hand, it’s the perfect opportunity to explain myself if I’ve given him the wrong impression. On the other, I really, really don’t want to have this conversation.
“Or...” he hedges, and the light in his eyes dims. “I can find someone else to pester if you’ve had enough of me for a bit.”
He takes a step back and my hand moves without permission, grabbing his arm. “No.” I swallow thickly, aware that I need to say something more than that. And that I should probably let go of him, but I can’t get my fingers to work. “You’re not pestering me.”
“No?” He raises an eyebrow. “I feel like there’s abutcoming.”
I wince because he’s not wrong, but all he does is smile back at me, soft and reassuring.
“Come on,” he says, gesturing behind him again. “Come play a round of darts with me, and we can address whatever it is that’s suddenly spooked you.” He holds his hand out to me, and I take it without a second thought because it feels natural to do it.
