“I will!” she squealed.
It was like she was totally clueless about the fact that my life was falling apart while she stood in the middle of the chaos. Still, if she bought something, it was at least a sale. And I was going to need all the money I could get to keep this store afloat if this kind of shit continued.
So, I put my head down and got to work. This store wasn’t going to clean itself.
10
RYDER
It was Thursday night.The perfect night to drown my sorrows at the bar in town. But instead, I was the stupid fuck who agreed to meet my date who didn’t show up on Tuesday.
Why?
Call it insanity. Maybe I needed to feel like someone still wanted me in some way. Hell, maybe it was just curiosity. I strode into the bar, scanning the customers for a woman who looked even remotely close to the woman on the dating profile.
She wasn’t in here, but someone else was, and she looked just as fucking gorgeous as she did two nights ago. I started for the bar, but then hesitated when I remembered her yelling at me that she hated me.
Did I really want to hear from another woman how much I disappointed her? Nope.
But just as I was about to find another table, I saw her swipe her finger under her eye like she was crying. I really hated seeing women cry. Not because it made me uncomfortable, but because it reminded me what a shit I was when I was younger. I’d made quite a few girls cry with my teasing.
Sighing, I headed over to the bar, thinking that maybe I could make her smile.
Or at the very least, I could give her a target for her anger and sadness.
“Beer,” I said to JR as I took a seat.
He quirked an eyebrow at me, then glanced at Ellie, as if seeking permission to serve me.
“Something wrong?” I asked as JR turned away.
Ellie didn’t bother to look at me. “Are you talking to me?”
“Well, you are sitting next to me.”
“You sat next to me.”
So, she was gonna go that route. Arguing semantics instead of telling me what was wrong.
“Yep, I did. Thought I’d finish our conversation from the other night.”
She finally turned to me, her eyes slightly red and watery, but she did a good job hiding behind her sadness.
“What conversation?”
“About date night.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion as she stared at me. “There was more to discuss?”
“Well, your date never showed. Neither did mine. Do you think it was us?”
“I highly doubt she could tell what a horrible personality you have just based on where you were sitting.”
“Ouch,” I chuckled, taking the beer as JR slid it to me.
“But you know, I do have a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
