“So, is this serious?” Kristina asked, taking a sip from her glass.
“Serious? We’re exclusive, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Everyone who was at Leo and Kristina’s party that night knows you’re exclusive now.” Peyton chuckled and grabbed another cookie.
“What did I miss?” Kristina asked.
“You were probably in the back room doingstuffat the time,” I said, arching a brow as I chewed another mouthful of cookie.
She opened her mouth to say something then closed it right up. “Probably. But by serious, I mean, for the future and things like that.”
I took a long sip from my glass, downing it all before I set it down harder than I meant to.
“For me, yes, it’s very serious. A little too serious, if I’m being honest. I’m crazy in love with him and can’t find the guts to say so.”
“Holy shit,” Peyton breathed out, her eyes wide again. “You haven’t been in love with anyone since—”
“Never,” I scoffed, refilling my glass halfway and grabbing another cookie. “His divorce and everything that happened with his parents worked him over pretty badly. I’m trying to enjoy the moments and not worry about the future too much,” I lied since when I wasn’t crying over my new bar, that was all I thought of lately.
“Davis wants you for his future. It’s obvious. He may not say much, but he shows it a hell of a lot.” Peyton reached over to squeeze my arm. “I’m so damn happy for you right now.”
I patted her hand and smiled, afraid of any more feelings slipping out of me today.
“Right now, I’m happy for me too. Maybe someday I can even move out of your basement.”
My mind drifted to the last night in my apartment, when sprawling out on a queen-sized mattress on the floor with Jude felt like the best kind of heaven.Hewas heaven, and as I’d discovered at the beginning when I’d worked so damn hard for little pieces of him and taken whatever I could get, that still held true—and most likely always would. Old me would be ashamed of country me, as I never settled for less than all of something. I’d never wanted anything as much as I wanted Jude, however I could get him.
But I had no time for that today. Today, I had to be the badass bar owner my boyfriend told me to be and the relentless ballbuster my father said Ineededto be. Boss lady was a state of mind, and I had to find a way to get myself there.
Today, I would forget about the future because the present was all I never knew I wanted.
24
JUDE
Halman’s was usually packedon the weekends, but only the hard-core regulars came in during the week. While I hadn’t frequented the place much in the past few years, that was always a constant. I guessed the huge crowd had more to do with the pretty new owner from Brooklyn, rather than the sudden urge for a drink on a Monday night.
“Wow, it’s standing room only in here,” my father said as he swept his gaze over the bar. I couldn’t see where Claudia was through the clusters of customers around the counter, but I’d wait until I got Dad settled somewhere before I went searching for her.
“Good thing I brought my own seat,” Dad said with a chuckle when we found a small table against one of the walls. I surveyed the space and spied quite a few packed tables with extra chairs.
I watched Dad turn his walker around and pull down the padded seat. He settled in with a smug smile on his face.
“She’s got a nice crowd. I knew she’d do well here.”
“Me too,” I said, still craning my neck back and forth to see if I spotted her.
“There she is,” Dad said, tapping my arm.
She was behind the bar, chatting with three customers as if she’d known them forever. They gazed at her with rapt attention, laughing at whatever she said when she leaned in.
Two were cops I recognized, and one worked at the hardware store up the street. Claudia had an infectious laugh and could make friends with anyone anywhere, the total opposite of someone like me, who usually avoided socializing and conversation at all costs. I couldn’t be jealous of how they were staring at her because, how could you not?
Since she’d come into town, I couldn’t stop.
“Stop gawking and go say hello to your girl. Get me a beer while you’re up there.”
Dad’s nudge on my back almost made me stumble as I was too into what was happening behind the counter. I wasn’t jealous because I trusted her. I didn’t even have the urge to beat up one of the guys who looked a little too long when she turned around.
