“Save it,” Rex buts in as he lifts another shot up to his lips. Motioning towards the bartender, I overhear him ask for a couple more as my eyes train on Eva’s stare across the room.
Why is she still here? What does she want? She already made up her mind! I know that me, that this, is not what she wants. My jaw ticks as she meets my stare. Did my sister talk her into staying? Why the hell would she care if Eva stays or leaves? Because damn it, I am 100 percent sure her ass, as irresistible as it is, will only be cuddling up to leave me high and dry again the second something better comes along. My eyes meet my sister and she smiles a smug ass smile. She’s up to something, that’s for damn sure.
Rex nudges me as he hands me another shot. “Bottoms up asshole. I’m not drinking all of these by myself.”
Grabbing the glass, I shoot back the brown liquid and stand to make my way toward the bathroom just as a cold breeze hits me as the front door swings open. It’s a wind that carries with it a past I never thought I would meet again.
“Oh hell,” Rex mutters under his breath. “What dragged her in here?”
Turning, I see a woman I once knew more than anyone else in the room. A woman I had sworn to spend the rest of my life with. A woman who still haunts my thoughts and stops me from ever moving on and trusting anyone ever again.
“Becky? I thought she moved to New York or something?” Rex asks just as our eyes meet and she smiles a smile that means only one thing. Trouble.
“Charlotte,” I yell. She turns quickly from what she was doing and catches my eye. I lift the shot glass I’m holding. “Four more. Set 'em up and keep them coming.”
I wink at her and watch her smile before turning to meet Eva’s stare. A hurt expression drowns in her blue irises, but the bourbon is taking hold and without another thought, I push my way into the men’s room as I attempt to push both Eva and Becky from my mind.
Chapter Forty
Eva
I watch as the people I’m surrounded by down drink after drink and the cover band plays a variety of songs at the far end of the room. Completely sober, and slightly irritated, wrestling with the thoughts in my own mind prove minimally important compared to trying to figure out who the blonde is who just walked into the bar and quickly made her way over to Noah and Rex. And even though I see him give her the cold shoulder like he did to me, I can tell there is history there by the way she circles and waits for any opportunity to warm up to him. She’s a lioness who couldn’t care less about subtlety.
I guess I am not the only one hiding secrets.
The girls order another drink from the bar and make their way back to our table. Silently, I sip my water and glance away when my eyes happen to lock on Noah’s stare from across the room. I had every intention of leaving a few nights ago, but after I was convinced to stay by Jolene and not take offense at the way Noah reacted to my arrival, we booked a few more nights at the hotel we were staying at.
I’m not sure why I didn’t say anything to Noah when we first walked in. I’ve never been one for not speaking up, but the coldness he left me with a few nights back still hurts and I am not sure I am ready to feel the sting of his rejection again. Not able to come up with any real reason to explain my being here, I figure sitting in the corner at our table is the safest spot in the room. Hopefully, he will come over once he’s not too busy downing all that bourbon at the bar. Actually, maybe any kind of confrontation should wait. I remember the last time our paths crossed after he had taken one too many shots and I don’t need a repeat of that tonight.
“Loosen up,” Gwen says. “Have a drink. Stop focusing on what you can’t change and just let the night take its course.”
I shrug. “Not interested, I guess.”
“Staring at a picture never changed it for nobody,” Jolene says, gesturing towards the bar top and the two men consuming themselves in way too much alcohol. One shamelessly flirts with the bartender. The other is busy trying to shew away a pesky female who won’t take the hint, and obviously also won’t take no for an answer.
“Who is that?” I ask Jolene.
“That?” Jolene echoes me. “That is the past I was talking about the other night.”
I glance back towards the bar and see the blonde lean in close to Noah and whisper something in his ear. And although I see him tense, he turns towards her and I can’t help but become jealous by how close their lips are. Fully absorbed in the show in front of me, I am not even aware of the stranger who has made his way to my side until he speaks.
“Hello, Miss.” His southern drawl startles me as I turn to my left. The other firefighter who was sitting with Rex and Noah when we walked in is now hovering close and looking to start a conversation. Kind eyes and a wide grin greet me as he pulls out the chair next to mine and takes a seat.
“Hello,” I smile back.
“I couldn’t help but notice you when you walked in.” His drawl thickens as he shyly confesses his secret. “My name’s Cash. I work with Rex and Noah over at Station One.”
“Nice to meet you, Cash,” I shyly respond. “My name is Eva. I grew up with Rex, but only met Noah a while back.”
“I’ve worked with the two of them for a few months now. Although, they never mentioned they knew anyone as pretty as you.”
Cash’s admission immediately makes me blush, and I look down at my water glass.
“What brings you to Bardstown?” Cash asks as he scoots his chair in closer.
“Just a girl's trip,” I shrug. “We are just saying hi to a few old friends.”
“Well, I hope that there is room in this trip for new friends as well?” Cash asks, scooting once again a little closer. My mind races back to Trevor and my birthday a few months back. I scoot away quickly.
