I chuckled. “She’s going back to Germany. I’ll have a new roommate next week.”
Angela did herwhateverthing and we carried on with the easy banter. I loved that I could be myself around Angela. I could talk about being broke without being embarrassed; I could talk about Bryce and my hopes and dream or fears and know she wasn’t judging.
Mickey poked his head out. “Can you wrap it up? We just had two six-tops come in.”
Technically, we still had five minutes left, but Mickey was the best boss in the world, so with a sigh we stood and went back inside.
The moment my eyes landed on the new people who’d just sat in my section, my gut clenched and the air knocked out of me.
Ethan.
It felt like I hadn’t seen him in forever. Weeks. And there he was, looking amazing in a black button-down shirt and dress slacks. Jesus, I forgot how handsome he was. My eyes flicked to his foot to see it was in a walking boot. That meant he was probably doing well in physical therapy.
I couldn’t breathe. I had to remind myself to breathe, that’s how affected I was in seeing him again.
“Want to switch?” Angela whispered beside me.
No way. I needed to talk to Ethan, even though it would torture me.
I shook my head. “I got this.”
My eyes ran over the rest of the people at his table and I noticed for the first time that there was a girl next to him. A beautiful, if you like trashy, blonde. Sebastian, James, and two other girls were there too.
Three girls. Three guys.
It was a fucking group date.
Maybe I should have Angela take it. Fuck, he’s turning around.
I forced myself to put on a smile and walk towards the table just as Ethan caught sight of me.
His mouth popped open in surprise a little, and then his eyes flicked to my knee-high boots and slowly dragged up my body, pausing for a moment at my thighs. His jaw ticked and he leaned into Sebastian to say something. I saw Sebastian mouth “Sorry” and then I was at the table.
Ethan didn’t know I was working tonight. He was actively avoiding me and that stung.
“Merry Christmas.” My voice shook and sounded way more timid than I’d meant.
“Merry Christmas,” Sebastian answered in monotone as Ethan pulled his gaze from me to his date, giving me his back.
A bomb went off in my chest as I realized I’d let the only man I ever really loved go, and now he was free to fall in love with another … while he still owned my heart.
“What can I get you?” I mumbled, never taking my eyes off Ethan. I was just staring at his back like a psycho while the table rambled off their orders and I scribbled them down. I didn’t trust myself to remember anything right now.
It was Ethan’s turn. “Ethan?” His name on my lips made my belly warm. “What can I get you tonight?”
His date’s eyes snapped up to mine the moment I said his name, but she kept quiet.
Slowly, he turned in his chair and faced me. What I saw on his face shocked me … there was so much anger. I’d hurt him more than I realized. My intention had been to keep him safe and I’d done the opposite.
“You can have Angela get me a Bud Light,” he growled, and gave me his back again, causing his blond bimbo date to burst into laughter.
Tears swelled in my eyes, but I turned before they fell.
He had every right to be mad at me. I’d left him when he was injured and down on his luck. He told me he loved me, a vulnerable thing for a man to do, and I told him I didn’t feel the same.
Weaving in and out of the packed bar and over to Angela, I handed her the order slip. “Actually let’s switch.”
She gave me a sympathetic look and nodded.
