“We’re good.” Astrid clutches the strap of her bag as she looks around the busy bar. “We should look for a table.”
“They’re hard to come by tonight,” Travis says. “You’re welcome to join us. It would be great to catch up after all these years.”
The women share a silent look.
“Let me get you both a drink while you decide.”
Renee looks at Astrid, and some silent communication passes between them before she swings her gaze to me. “That would be great, thanks, Callan. We’ll both have a glass of white wine.”
“Any particular type? Believe it or not, they have a selection by the glass now.”
“Very impressive for Ryemont,” Renee says.
“I’m not fussy,” Astrid says. “Whatever the bartender suggests is fine by me.”
“Gotcha. Coming right up.” I head to the bar and order another round of beers and two glasses of white wine.
When I return, Renee is sitting on the empty stool beside mine talking with Riley, and Astrid is standing beside her chatting to Myles. I set the tray down and hand the ladies their wine before the vultures descend on the beer like they’re the last beers in town.
“You can take my stool,” I tell Astrid as I stand on her left side.
“I’m fine to stand. We’re not staying long.”
Fuck, she’s so beautiful. It’s no wonder I’ve never had eyes for anyone but her. She’s wearing high-waisted jeans, heels, anda black halter top that dips low in the front and flashes a strip of toned tan skin at her waist. It looks incredible on her. Waves of golden-blonde hair cascade around her bare shoulders, moving with the motion of her head as she talks with Myles.
I remain standing, sipping my beer, and content to listen to the sound of her voice. Every so often, I’m hit with the scent of her perfume, and I’m glad she doesn’t wear the same one anymore.
“I became friends with this lot after I worked on Callan’s ink,” Myles says, bringing me into the conversation.
“Ana mentioned that.” Astrid turns toward me, and her eyes gravitate to the design winding around my arm. I’m in jeans and a black T-shirt tonight, so most of the tattoo is visible.
“Wow.” She stares at it. “I don’t know much about tattoos, but I’m guessing that took a lot of hours in the chair to complete.”
“Try ten hours, spread over three different sessions,” I say.
“It’s amazing work.”
“Thanks,” Myles says. “I’m quite proud of this one, even if my style is more sophisticated these days.”
“Does it symbolize something?” She reaches out, running the tip of her finger along the design, and I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it.
Myles smiles, waggling his brows as he brings his bottle to his lips.
My arm is tingling all over, and my longing for her reaches an all-time high.
“Callan?” she looks up. “Does it?”
I snap out of it the same time she does, yanking her hand off my arm and shoving it in the pocket of her jeans. A familiar blush steals onto her cheeks, and it’s like being zapped back in time.
Oh, how I have missed her.
I miss her so much.
In some ways, it feels like it was only yesterday we were together because I haven’t forgotten a single second of our time together. In other ways, it feels like forever since I held her in my arms and called her mine.
“Yes, it means something,” I admit. “I wanted a visual reminder that snakes don’t always hide in the grass. Sometimes, they’re right there in front of you, out in the open, biding their time, waiting to strike at the perfect moment.”
Her face drains of color, like I suspected it would, but I refuse to shy away from the truth.
