“You’ll make it and I’ll ring them up,” she said again in a pointed tone. She eyed me closely, and it seemed like she was picking up on my tense posture.
I’d dealt with rude customers, but the way Joey looked at me felt like he hated me. Usually, I refused to leave the front, but this time, I was happy to do it.
“Yeah. I’ll do that.”
Shuffling over to the bar, I made their drinks. I could feel eyes on me as I did, but I focused on my job.
And when I set them down, both men grabbed them and left.
At least Mitch gave me a friendly smile.
“What waswiththat guy?” Kelsey muttered.
“He knows Piper, and he’s protective.”
“You wouldn’t hurt Piper. Hell, you wouldn’t even hurt a fly.”
I tensed, thinking of my past.
“You’re really shaken by him. What, are you worried her friends won’t like you?”
“That’s exactly it.” His glare reminded me why I’d been determined to stay away from her in the first place. When I was with her, it was easy to forget about the tattoos and my age. It felt like we fit.
Others wouldn’t agree.
“I think I need a minute,” I muttered.
“Take all the time you need. I’ve got things here.”
I took a shaky breath the second I was in the fresh air. Piper had somehow convinced me to kiss her, filling my head with ideas that we were simply two people who liked each other.
But it wasn’t true.
I heard footsteps through the alley. Foolishly, I hoped it was Piper. She would know what to say.
My luck had clearly run out. Instead of the woman who was nearly always on my mind, it was Joey.
“Hi,” he said, his voice flat. He paused to take a sip from his cup. “Good coffee. I see why Piper comes here.”
I had a feeling he wasnothere to talk about the coffee. “Thanks.”
“You know, Piper is my closest friend, and I care a lot about her.”
“I figured that out.”
“I’m going to give you a word of advice,” Joey said, crossing his arms. “Piper might seem like she’s fine, but she’s not. She’s had too many terrible things happen to her, and I’m not letting you be one of them.”
“I don’t plan to be.”
Joey’s lips pursed. “The best way to do that is to leave her alone. You know that, right?”
“I do.” I said it slowly. I wanted to fight it, but what standing did I have? I was too old for her. I had connections to her past.
What the hell was I doing?
“Good. She’s a little too delicate for someone like you anyway.”
Joey turned, and I should’ve let it go, but one word silenced all of my other thoughts.
