“Ladies.” I slide into an empty chair. “I need a drink. Something strong.”
“I got you,” Claire says, signaling the waitress.
After I order a rum and coke, Lizzy excuses herself to play darts with a blond guy I’ve never seen before.
I scan the room while Claire and Noia get into a conversation about some romance novel they’re both reading until my drink arrives.
Just as I take my first sip, Jax walks in with Ryder.
Wearing dark jeans and a black button-up, his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, exposing tattooed forearms. His hair is styled in that goddamn new sexy mohawk, which for some reason makes me want to clench my thighs together. Both of them are laughing.
Nope. Not going there. Not tonight.
I drain my glass and stand. “I’m getting another drink.”
Deliberately taking a path that I hope will keep me out of Jax’s line of sight, I make my way to the bar. Time to put my plan into action.
The bar is crowded, but I manage to squeeze my way in. I order another rum and coke and strike up a conversation with the bartender, a cute blonde guy named Tyler who’s more than happy to flirt back.
After a few minutes, I make my way around the room, stopping to chat with a couple of guys playing pool. One of them—Jason or Justin, I can’t remember which—offers to buy me a drink, but I’m just not feeling it.
But what Icanfeel is someone’s eyes burning into the back of my head. I side-eye our table, and my breath hitches when I see Jax, drink at his lips, raise an eyebrow.
Whatever.
By now I’ve had a few drinks and I’m feeling pretty good, but not good enough to ignore Jax’s eyes following me around all night.
To keep out of sight, I settle at the far end of the bar where a dark-haired guy in a flannel shirt is sitting alone. His name is Brexton Saint, and he’s a local firefighter and helicopter pilot for Lakeside’s Fire, Search and Rescue team. He’s got kind eyes and a nice smile, and more importantly, he’s the complete opposite of Jax.
We talk for a bit before he asks, “Can I get you another drink?” He nods at my nearly empty glass.
“I’d love that.”
He smiles, and I can feel myself starting to relax. This is exactly what I need—a nice, normal conversation with a nice, normal guy who isn’t driving me crazy with mixed signals and heated looks.
After signaling the bartender, he leans in close. “I bet all that yoga makes you pretty limber, huh?”
I give him a flirty giggle. “It sure does.”
No more than two seconds after those words leave my mouth than a strong hand clamps around my upper arm and yanks me out of my seat.
fourteen
Ryder’salready in my truck waiting for me when I come out of the shop. “’Bout time,” he grumbles as I climb in. “I’m fucking starving.”
“Chill out,” I say, buckling my seatbelt. “It’s not like The Brew’s going anywhere.”
I pull out of the parking lot as he shakes his head. “No, but all the good tables’ll be gone. Friday nights are packed, man.”
“Since when do you care about getting a table? Drew always saves us a spot at the bar.”
“Since Noia texted saying she’s bringing friends,” he says with a pointed look. “And by friends, I mean Sasha.”
My stomach does a stupid little flip at the sound of her name. It’s been a couple of days since the bathroom incident, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since. Not that I expected to. She’s clearly trying to avoid me, which only makes me want to chase her more.
“Interesting,” is all I say, keeping my eyes on the road.
“That’s it?Interesting? That’s all you’ve got? Dude, you’ve been moping around like a lovesick puppy for months.”
