The memory of that night flooded back, bringing with it a whirlwind of emotions. “Yeah, he did,” I admitted, my stomach doing a little flip.
“That’s got to mean something, right?” Patrick pressed, leaning forward eagerly.
I shrugged, trying to keep my voice steady. “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s…complicated.”
As I spoke, I pictured West’s face, the way he’d looked at me that night. Hope and uncertainty warred within me, leaving me off-balance.
“Complicated how?” Patrick asked, his tone encouraging.
I sighed, absently wiping down the bar. “We work together, sort of. And he’s just… He’s West, you know? He’s a paramedic, so he literally saves people for a living. He’s charming and probably has his pick of anyone he wants.”
Patrick scoffed. “And you think you’re not in that league? Drew, trust me, you’re a catch. If he’s smart, he’ll see that too.”
Patrick’s words hung in the air, challenging my self-doubt. I let out a long breath.
“You really think so?” I asked, unable to keep the vulnerability out of my voice.
Patrick nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. Look, the guy bid on you at a charity auction. That’s not exactly subtle, Drew. He clearly wants to spend time with you.”
I chuckled. “When you put it like that…”
“Exactly.” Patrick grinned, raising his expertly mixed cocktail. “To taking chances?”
We clinked glasses. Maybe Patrick was right. Maybe I’d been too caught up in my insecurities to see what was right in front of me.
We worked on a few more cocktails and a couple of mocktails before we finished the lesson. Patrick’s satisfaction was palpable. “Thanks for this, Drew. I feel like a proper mixologist now.”
“Anytime, man. Seriously, if you need any more help or want another class, just give me a shout.”
“I might take you up on that. You’re a cool guy.” Patrick gathered his things, pausing at the door. “And, Drew? Go for it with West. Life’s too short for what-ifs. I mean, it’s not like I’m all that good at dating, but look at me. I’m trying, right? Maybe I’ll impress Oscar…or maybe he’ll like the drinks more than he’ll ever like me.”
With a final encouraging smile, he was gone.
I tidied up the bar, my mind racing with thoughts of West. Taking a deep breath, I headed toward the office to check on River.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically as I stepped into the quiet room. Gone was the lively banter and clinking of glasses, replaced by the soft hum of a computer and the rustle of papers.
River hunched over his desk, his usually bright eyes dulled with fatigue. Stacks of invoices and schedules surrounded him like a paper fortress.
“Hey,” I said softly, not wanting to startle him. “How’s it going in here?”
River looked up, blinking slowly as if emerging from a trance. “Hey, Drew,” he said, his voice carrying a weight I wasn’t used to hearing. “It’s going… Well, it’s going.”
I pulled up a chair. “You look like you’re about to face-plant into those invoices. When’s the last time you took a break?”
River ran a hand through his dark hair, mussing it further. “I don’t know. What time is it?”
“Time for you to spill,” I said gently. “What’s really going on?”
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. The tension in his shoulders was visible, even under his well-fitted shirt. “Adam is staying with his brother,” he admitted after a moment.
“Why? I thought everything was going well between you two.”
He sighed. “It is. He just needs some time to figure some things out for himself. It’s just hard returning to being alone after having him in my space for weeks, you know?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
