Myles gives a quick nod and spins on his heel, heading back to the bar. He can’t get away fast enough.
The air rushes out of my lungs as I drop my head into my hands.Whydid he have to overhear me rant about my sex life? That was hideous.
When I glance up, Alex and Geoff are gazing at me. “What?” I ask, pressing my cool glass to my hot cheek.
A smile tugs at Geoff’s lips. “Who was that?”
“That’s Myles, the new bartender.” I let my eyes wander to where he is behind the bar, mixing me a vodka soda. His gaze collides with mine and he quickly looks away. I shift on the vinyl seat of the booth, uncomfortable.
“What just happened?” Alex cocks her head. “You got super awkward.”
“What? No I didn’t.” I utter a strained laugh and they stare at me dubiously. “Well, you know…” I scratch my arm. “That was kind of embarrassing. He heard me say I haven’t had sex in a year and I’m dying to sleep with Shane.”
“So?” Geoff leans over to get another look at Myles. “Do you have a thing for him? Because I can totally see that.”
“No, Geoff.” I roll my eyes. “I’m dating Shane, remember? Besides, Myles iswaytoo similar to Mark. You know I don’t date guys like that anymore.”
“Right,” he says, watching me over his glass of merlot. “How is he similar to Mark, exactly? Okay, they both have tattoos, but otherwise—”
“It’s more than that. He’s a bartender, like Mark was. He flirts with anything that walks. Honestly, watching him work is like being back at the bar with Mark. Even theirnamesare similar.”
Geoff opens his mouth to respond when Cory appears at the booth with our tray of drinks.
Oh, God. I embarrassed poor Myles so much that he couldn’t even face coming back over. This isn’t good.
Cory unloads our drinks then slides into the booth beside me. “Have you been avoiding me? I sent you a bunch of texts.”
I reach for my vodka and take a long sip. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you told Myles I was having trouble with my business and asked him to help, and it made me feel pathetic.”
Cory crosses his arms over his broad chest, his forehead scrunching. “No. He asked me what was wrong and I just told him the landlord raised your rent. That’s all I said.” He pauses, looking at the others then back to me. “He’s helping you?”
Alex leans forward, placing a hand on my arm. “You’re having trouble with the store? Why didn’t you say something?”
I lift a shoulder. “Mark raised the rent and I thought I was going to have to close, but Myles had a cool idea to rebrand and open a store online, selling my own designs.” I smile, thinking of him in the store the other day, convincing me to dream bigger with my business. “He’s going to help me build something new.”
Geoff grins. “That’s fantastic! See? I said you need to do more with your designs.”
“Yeah. I’m really excited about it, actually.”
I glance at Cory. There’s a deep V between his brows and his gaze is trained on Myles. Eventually it swings back to me and he puffs out a breath. “There’s nothing going on with you guys, right?”
I chuckle at the way Cory has slipped into protective big brother mode. “No, Cors, I swear. He’s just helping me out. And it couldn’t have come a moment sooner.” I scan Cory’s concerned face, then add, “I’m actually seeing someone—a guy named Shane.”
“He took her to La Bouffe,” Geoff chips in helpfully.
“Really?” Cory’s eyebrows spring up. “Woah.”
I grin, sipping my drink, feeling fancy.
“Well, that’s great. Just… don’t get involved with Myles.”
Déjà vu sends a shiver over my skin. I remember all too clearly the bar downtown all those years ago, where Cory worked with Mark and told me he was bad news—and I got together with him anyway.
“What’s wrong with Myles?” Geoff asks.
