A devilish grin splits the bearded one’s face before they head over to proposition Taryn. As for the other two brothers? I promise to have a server bring over their drinks once I am done with them, since I’ve been sufficiently distracted and I’m sure they want a drink sometime this evening. The twins thank me before taking their seat next to the only remaining dude in their group I haven’t met yet. The tatted behemoth, who looks like he’s about to bust out of his too-tight t-shirt, and with his blond locks tied up in a man bun, must be Shane.
Seeing that guy reminds me of another, albeit non-blond, inked up wall of muscle. One which nobody here seems to have any idea regarding the whereabouts of, since none of the locals here have had eyes on him lately either. After I mix these drinks, I should probably shoot off a text to O’Reilly what protocol is on missing persons.
“What areyoudoing behind the bar?” a gruff voice from behind me asks, startling me.
I spin to find the man who has single-handedly dominated all of my lonely, lust-filled fantasies since he jerked us both off in the shower weeks ago.
Gordy.
And, as I let my gaze rake over him in disbelief that he’s not just a figment of my imagination, he looks… so fuckin’ good. He’s grown his beard out completely now—groomed to give him this whole sexy, biker-lumberjack vibe. He’s distinctly lacking in the bags he wore under his eyes when I last saw him, and—speaking of eyes—his amber orbs seem to practically glow with liveliness that I’veneverseen before.
It’s astonishing, this transformation. It’s astonishing and it’s…infuriating.
Maybe it’s the nonchalant way he just greeted me, as if he hadn’t had a single chalant to fucking give, or the self-assured way he just—I don’t know—waltzed back into town after ghosting everyone for the last two months, but I instantly launch into the defensive.
“Working, unlikeyou. The fuck are you doing here?” I balk incredulously.
He looks around, then meets my inquisitive gaze again. “Last time I checked, I owned this place.”
“When was the last time you checked?” I growl. “Because, for the last two months, you’ve left your son to run this place… all on his own.”
He folds his arms over his chest, popping his tongue in his cheek, clearly mulling over an answer. Well, it better be something goddamned good, because annoyance is mounting in me over the way he just—left. That fuckin’ hurt, and it’s clear by the way Taryn spoke earlier, it hurt him too.
“I’ve been working on other things. Stuff I had to domyself,” he states simply. No further explanation. No nothing.
Well, shit. Look at him moving on. He really meant what he said that night. He doesn’t want me. He thought I was too weak or immature to make my own decisions about where I wantedusto go from that night. He wants to do everything by himself. Alone. Well,fuckhim…
“What the hell, man? That’s all you have to say for yourself after you fuckin’ghostedeveryone for two goddamn months?! You neversaida wordto Taryn before you disappeared, dude. You’re damn lucky Taryn’s been able to manage this place without you.”
Gordy surveys the pub. “Looks to me like he’s done a decent job keeping the place afloat. The place is packed tonight. Local celebrities are here, for crying out loud.” He gestures at the table the Harnden twins and crew have been occupying.
“Yeah, well he shouldn’t have had to do it alone. And you shouldn’t have felt like you had to do whatever it was you were doing alone. Jesus Christ, Gordy, how many times do I have to spell it out for you that I am here! Right fuckin’ here!”
His jaw ticks, his fists balling at his side. “I know that, Gannett,” he growls. “But there are some things I can’t fuckin’ do with you. This happened to be one of those things.”
Another wave of annoyance crashes into me, forcing me to take a few steps backwards. My ass crashes into the bar, and I spin on my heels. Fuckhim. Fuckthis. It’shisbar, so he can stay and help Taryn out tonight.
“You’re never going to let me in, are you?” I snarl. “You’re always going to see me as some needy pissant and not your friend. Well, fuck you. You wanna be a stone wall? Fine. Have fun with that. I’m done standing sentry at your gates, waiting for you to let me in.”
I slap down the slip of drink orders for Gordy and go in search of Taryn to let him know that I’m taking off for the night, since his dad hasfinallyresurfaced. I don’t see T-dawg on the floor, so he must be out back. I’m in such an agitated state, that I almost bump right into the Harnden twins just as they’re stepping out of the restroom.
“Whoa, hey,” Elliot splutters, catching me before I crash into them. Then he chuckles. “I know a lover’s quarrel when I hear one. You alright, man?”
“We’re not lovers,” I grunt. “We’re not anything. We never were.”
Ta-da! Here I am!Captain Obvious!
Quinn’s eyes dart over my shoulder, then back to me. “You sure about that? The guy behind the bar looks like you just ripped his heart out and stomped on it…”
My shoulders dip. I don’t turn around to look at Gordy. I don’t need to. “Nah, that’s his resting bitch personality showing.”
Elliot snickers. “Is that like a resting bitch face, but when it’s a whole vibe instead?”
My lips tip up into a grin. This guy fuckin’ gets it, lemme tell you what. Elliot seems like a like-minded person, so that’s why I tell the man I just met tonight, “It’s why I call him Croot. Gordy’s a crouton.”
“Oh, Lord,” Quinn mutters. “Another one who likes to pet-name everyone...”
Elliot laughs, gesturing between him and myself. “Kindred spirits. I like you, Gannett. Tell you what, since I like you… you know what will make you feel a little better?”
