It’s a glorious sight.
“Sorry, old habit. Not used to walking out with someone here.”
I shake my head, not sure if the reassurance is for him or me. “No. It’s fine. You’re fine.” I roll my eyes.
His brows furrow as he steps my way, the scent of his soap swirling in the space around us. “Are you all right?” He scans my face in worry.
“I’m fine.”
“So you’ve said.”
My gaze drifts down to each swirl of ink on his chest and arms and then every ripple of muscle. My breath hitches by accident and Liem takes a step back like I’ve frightened him. He turns grabbing a plain T-shirt from the drawer and a pair of jeans.
“I’ll be right out.” He disappears behind the bathroom, and I sink into myself huffing out a breath.
My god.
On the way to the Fallen Star, we grab a ride with one of the guys while Liem hides behind the wall he put up. Somewhere between the clubhouse and here, things got awkward. We makeit ten steps forward then five back. I don’t know how to keep up with him. Sometimes he’s so broken and a million miles away. I hate to see him that way. But in all honesty, I get it. We hadn’t had much interaction since the cliff, so I get it.
We enter Jules’s bar and Tequila dances to the song in place as the guys disperse to the back where the pool tables are.
Throttle kisses Tequila’s cheek. “You gonna be all right, my rose?”
“We’ll be fine. And take Hush with you,” Tequila sneaks that in, Liem not hearing, or at least I don’t think.
“How’s your pool skills, brother? Want in?” Throttle claps a hand to Liem’s shoulder, and he spares me a glance. It’s a silent question, asking if I’m okay.
But why wouldn’t I be?
Our connecting stares are broken as Tequila pulls me through the crowd over to the bar and our faces light up as Lucy pops up from behind it.
“Luce! You’re our favorite bartender but why are you always working and never on this side of the bar?” Tequila pouts, smacking the countertop in a dramatic show.
“Gotta pay those bills somehow, T.” Lucy smirks, juggling tall beer glasses around.
“Don’t I know it,” Tequila scoffs.
“Oh, please! Your knight in shining armor swept you up off your feet and took you away to his castle.”
“Hey. I still work for my rent.”
Lucy laughs, her deep dimples showing themselves. “Oh, honey, I bet you do.”
Tequila’s mouth falls open and then she bursts into laughter. I can’t help it, I do too.
“Just get me a long island iced tea, pleaseee,” Tequila stresses. “And…” She looks toward me.
“I’ll have the iced tea without the good stuff.”
Tonight is an alcohol-free night.
“You got it. Coming right up.” Lucy taps the bar with her knuckles before preparing our drinks.
My eyes venture to the guys in the back and my pulse leaps when they lock with Liem who’s already watching me, his arms crossed, ankle over top of the other. His body language screams unapproachable. But he does something to me every time. It’s like my skin gets set on fire. And it’s not the bad memory kind, it’s the heated sexual, I want to climb him kind of feeling.
“Here ya go, babes. One long island iced tea and one without the good stuff.” She winks at me.
“Thanks, Lucy,” we both say together.
