I sat back down and motioned for a refill. I resolved to look forward, not back, since it was a bitch to shake the regret. Regret for not calling Uncle Billy and telling him what was going on, for getting in so deep with Gio, for hurting my best friend. The only way I could make up for it was to leave her alone. She went to college in the city. I could have easily met up with her, and I knew she’d still want to see me, despite everything. But seeing me would set her back. I loved her enough to keep my distance.
“Hey, Pete. Could you change the station already?” The waitress whined from behind me.
“Aren’t you getting off in a half hour anyway?” His mustache covered lips frowned as he strode away.
She groaned and slid onto the stool next to me. “Tell him that world news is boring as hell and if he put the hockey game on, maybe this place would wake up a little bit.”
It took a minute to register that she was speaking to me. I lifted my eyes from my half empty mug and met her pleading chocolate brown ones.
“I’m not really paying any attention, and I would bet no one else is either.”
“Exactly.” She put her hand on my forearm. “Because it’s boring. Who wants to watch the news?”
“The news is important, Sara.” The bartender called to her as he swiped a towel over the otherwise empty bar. “Maybe you’ll learn something.”
“Right, because life isn’t depressing enough.” She shook her head. “I’m Sara; sorry for getting you in the middle of that.”
I grinned and offered my hand. “Josh. No worries. Sorry you lost.”
She shook my hand and offered a shrug. “It’s okay. He’s probably right. I shouldn’t try to turn this place into a sports bar. I’ve never seen you around here. Just moved?”
“No, I used to live here, but now I live . . .” I trailed off, not able to answer that simple question. Where the hell did I live? I hadn’t been asked that question since I left for boot camp. The base set me up with an apartment, so I guessed there, but it didn’t feel like my home. Cleaning out my old house didn’t either. When did I become a nomad?
“I’ve never seen anyone have to think about it.” Her full lips curved into a smile, and I couldn’t help smiling back. She was adorable, and as my eyes took in the rest of her, I realized she was pretty damn sexy, too. The tight black shirt and pants hugged all the right places, even with the white apron draped over her waist.
“I used to live not too far from here. Now I live in South Carolina on an army base. I came in to do some family stuff, but I fly back in the morning.” I grabbed the refilled mug and took a long sip, unsure why I was telling this girl my life story.
“Ah, I thought I noticed the dog tags before.” She picked up the metal discs hanging around my neck and dangled it between her fingers. My deprived cock found the simple move inexplicably sexual.
Since I left for boot camp, I didn’t date very often, but I wasn’t a monk. I hooked up with girls once in a while, as long as they understood what I had to offer them—nothing. All I had to give was a nice night where we’d part ways in the morning with no exchange of information. It was easy on the base, as the nearby town had a lot of tourists who weren’t looking for anything past one encounter. I guessed that was what I was now, a visitor with no plans to stay. If Sara understood that, and we were on the same page, what was the harm? I tried to shake off the sour feeling I’d had about it as being spooked from being in my old house and driving by Brianna’s as we made our way to the nearest bar. I’d pushed her to move on and would be a hypocrite if I didn’t at least try to do the same.
“Finally,” she sighed. “Something not boring.”
The sound on the TV was still off, but Prince William’s face flashed across the screen.
“I love watching the Royal family. I took a history elective on the British monarchy last semester. I loved learning about them all: Princess Diana and Prince Charles, even Queen Victoria. It’s like a real-life fairy tale.”
“You should move to England, see if you can marry in.” I nudged her shoulder.
“And leave all this?” She waved her hand around the bar. “Culinary school three days a week and work five, not in a million.”
I laughed and nodded. “Very true.” When our gazes met, our smiles faded.
“Listen, if you want to hang out for a half hour, we could go eat—or something. Where are you flying out of?”
“LaGuardia. I have a room at a hotel right next to the airport.”
“I live five minutes from there, I’d be happy to drive you back.” She raised both her hands. “I’m not a psycho, I promise.”
“I didn’t think you were.” I brushed her chestnut hair off her shoulder and tried not to smile at her quick gasp. “I can hang around.”
Her smile widened as she stood from the barstool and stuffed her order pad into her apron pocket.
“See you in a half hour.” She turned to go, but I caught her arm.
“Look, I don’t live here anymore, and I’m just . . . passing through. If you’re okay with that—”
“You’re not the first guy only visiting here. I’m a big girl, and I don’t even need to know your last name. We can see where the night takes us. No strings. Deal?”
