As we approach the bar, I try to look casual, like I’m not having an internal crisis over seeing him here. Tucker is making a drink for someone on the other end of the bar, and I find myself unable to take my eyes off him.
“This is the best bar in town,” Lily says. “And I’m not just saying that because my brother owns it.”
“Noted,” I say, barely registering anything she’s saying because all I can focus on is the way Tucker’s forearms flex with every move he makes. He’s not even lifting anything heavy, just bottles of liquor. Yet, I’m transfixed on everything he’s doing.
He slides the drink across the bar, then turns to face us.
That’s when he sees me.
His whole body stills and the easy rhythm he was moving with seconds ago stops like someone flipped a switch. He stopsbreathing, or I imagine he does, because I feel like I’ve forgotten how to breathe, too. The music dulls into light background noise, and the laughter at the bar turns to static. All I can see are his eyes—wide and shocked that I’m standing here. But it’s short-lived as a smile reaches his eyes and he moves to stand across from us at the bar.
“Well, look who wandered in here to see me,” Tucker says, his voice low and impossible to ignore.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I came here for karaoke, not you.”
He leans forward, forearms bracing the counter. “And here I was hoping you’d say you missed me.”
“I did.” I smile sweetly. “Like a root canal.”
He laughs—entirely too easy. I latch onto it like a lifeline because this…I can do. This back and forth with him is safe territory where nothing has to mean more than what it looks. If we keep things light, then I don’t have to explain the way my heart stumbles or why his attention still affects me. I can’t help it when my mouth mirrors his naturally warm smile. The way he looks at me does that—past be damned.
Then it hits me…thisis why he’s so late to get home every single day. Not that I’m stalking him, but living on his property and hearing the truck come in so late had me wondering.
Does Tucker work construction all day and the bar all night? Seven days a week?
Why does he work so much?
And why do I care?
Lily leans over the counter, and that’s when Tucker breaks our stare. “I’ll take a vodka cranberry, please. And whatever Scottie wants.”
“I’ll have…” I pause, looking at the shelf of liquor behind him. The moment I see the tequila my attention shifts back to Tucker. One arm drapes across the table, the other tucks under my chin to keep it casual.At least that’s what I tell myself.“Tequila sunrise.”
He shakes his head. “How did I know?”
“I knew you’d order something like that.” Lily laughs, oblivious to whatever is happening between Tucker and me right now. “This girl loves sweet things.”
“I know,” Tucker says matter-of-factly. “I’m willing to bet she has a package of Sour Patch Kids tucked in her bag right now, and a second package to discard the yellow and green ones.”
My lips part and I blink, unable to comprehend how he already assumes I have my all-time favorite snackandthat I pick out the two colors I can’t stand. He says it so casually, like it’s no big deal.
Except now I’m the one spiraling, because if he remembers something as small as that from theone timeI did it in front of him, when I didn’t even think he watched me do it, what else does he remember?
“How do you know I discard those colors?” I ask.
Tucker huffs in amusement as he makes both of our drinks. “I’m very observant.”
A little too observant.
He passes Lily her drink first and then moves effortlessly around the bar to make mine. Poppy steps up to the bar on the opposite side of her and says something to Lily along the lines of Griffin and Blair not coming, but I barely register what they’re saying because, again, I can’t fucking stop watching Tucker.
God, what is wrong with me?
When he’s done mixing my drink, he takes an orange slice and places it on the rim. When I reach for it, our fingers brush, and my pulse jumps. My eyes snap to his, and neither of us move. Somehow, even with the music and chatter around us, the air between us feels static.
“One,I Have My Life Together. On the house.”
This is the second time he brought up the memory of that night.
