“Beer?”
“Yes.” He side-eyed the corner booth one more time. “He just seems so sad, you know?”
“And you seem pushy and horny.”
“Look who’s talking.”
I shrugged and handed him the beer. Passing by in a hurry, Sedric called, “Two IPAs and two lagers.” I checked the orders on the tablet mounted by the taps, wiped a spill under them, and selected the matching glasses.
“How comehegets to talk to Mr. Riley?” Monty hissed, gesturing toward the booths.
Hunter stood by Laurel’s table, smiling widely. Laurel pointed at the bench, and Hunter sat down opposite him, waving at Sedric for another beer.
“What the hell?” Monty pushed away from the bar.
“Montgomery, control yourself,” I said sharply.
He glared at me. “It’s unfair.”
“You’re acting like a toddler. Hunter is Barclay’s cousin, and he’s at Barclay’s and Calvin’s place all the time. He and Laurel are friends.”
“I’ll sit with them. Put their orders on the house.”
“For fuck’s sake, man…”
But he was already on his way, his half-finished beer in his hand. He just couldn’t help it.
The thing about Monty was that he meant well. He always meanteverythingwell, even when he acted like a bull in a china shop.
He’d been obsessed with Laurel ever since the incident at Barclay’s last fall. When he’d found out Laurel was building a chalet in Beauville, his excitement could have fueled a medium-sized amusement park.
I got it. Laurel was sexy as sin with those long legs and dancer-like movements. His incredible voice could hypnotizethousands of people, and he had the charisma preachers and dictators would kill for. He was mesmerizing in ways that set him apart from us mortals. But our superstar was also sulky, a loner at first sight, and a cold contrast to Monty’s eagerness.
The big guy went into everything with his arms and heart open. It was pure luck that he looked intimidating as hell, or he’d have gotten steamrolled by life a long time ago.
I looked away, not keen on witnessing the rejection in real time.
Except when I checked on him a minute later, Monty sat by Hunter’s side, smiling like the sun and gazing at Laurel adoringly, his chin supported by his fist. Laurel had taken off the hood and baseball cap, and his messy, curly hair stuck out in all directions as he waved his hands around, explaining something to his engrossed audience.
I’ll be damned.
What were they talking about? I could see the pink hearts circling around Monty’s head.
When Laurel’s burger was ready, I took it to his table myself. Sedric threw me a confused look, but I ignored him.
“Here you go,” I said, and placed the plate in front of Laurel. His beer was nearly finished.
“Another one?”
He took a deep breath. “Sure.”
“For me, too,” Monty said, giving me a smug smile.
“Hunter?”
Our doctor placed a hand over his nearly finished glass. “I’m good. Busy day tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
