Page 11 of Taken With You

Brendon raised a brow. “I’m not that bad of a bartender. I know you like to make fun of me, but I’m not that bad.”

Aiden snorted, pulling a draft before handing it over to a customer. “You’re not the best.”

“And you shouldn’t be back here either,” I said to Aiden, laughing. “Go cook. Brendon, go work your magic on the wife. I’m going to get to work. I’ve got this. Trust me with your baby. I know what I’m doing.”

Brendon smiled. “Yeah. I guess you do. And we do trust you, you know, Beckham? We wouldn’t have let you stay here for as long as you have, especially with your attitude, if we didn’t.”

He lifted his chin, smiled, and then went off towards the booth where the girls were seated.

I stood there in stunned silence for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts.

I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had said they trusted me. Could they really at all? Sure, I tried to do the right thing, but it wasn’t the same. Wasn’t actual trustworthiness. And though I planned to do the best I could for the rest of my life to make sure I earned what they gave me, I wasn’t positive I’d ever be worthy of it. Not with the sins that covered my body, the scars that would never go away, and the regret that ran through my veins.

“Hey, do you have that new IPA on tap?” a guy asked, and I turned around, giving him my best what-the-fuck look. Not that I didn’t like IPAs. I enjoyed all beer. Some more than others. But I loved making the young guy squirm. He looked barely over twenty-one, but I remembered him. He had a real ID. I was pretty good at spotting the fake ones. And I knew the kid was probably twenty-two now. He could drink legally. But it was good to remind them of their place. And this one tipped better for it. He seemed to like being intimidated a bit. I didn’t know why. But he did. So I indulged, and that meant more money for me. More cash for rent. More for food. And more to stockpile in case I had to go away. They would find me eventually. They always did. And when they did, I’d have to run. And…fuck. I didn’t want to. I liked it here. Enjoyed the friends and the makeshift family I had made. I didn’t want to leave. But I’d have to if they showed.

I looked up and met Meadow’s gaze. I swallowed hard. Yes, I’d have to go. If they came, they would find her, too. And I didn’t think she wanted to be found. I wouldn’t be the person who ruined her peace.

I got to work, pulling beers and mixing drinks. There was a rush on martinis with twists tonight, and I had to wonder if someone had mentioned it. It wasn’t on sale. But I was damn sure making them extra cold. It made me crave one, even though I didn’t really like vodka. Or gin. I was a whiskey man.

“Hey, you going to take your break soon?” Cameron asked as he walked towards me. “Dillon’s going to try to stop by a bit later. He’s out with his friends tonight, the ones he’s moving in with.”

“Oh, yeah? How’s that going?”

Cameron ran a hand over his face. “I don’t fucking know. It’s like watching my baby leave the house. And he’s not even my kid.”

“Stop lying to yourself. He’s yours. You raised him. Maybe not from birth, but you raised him. And he’s growing up, going to college, making friends. And now he’s moving out on his own. He’s doing damn well.”

“You say that, but I’m afraid everything’s going to get fucked up because I didn’t do a good enough job.”

I raised a brow and looked at the other man even as I pulled another draft. “That kid got into a private college, even after getting into the state one he’s currently at. He’s transferring this fall on a partial scholarship to a place that doesn’t give a lot of them. He worked his ass off.”

“He did. It’ll be weird not having him at the school right downtown. Where he can simply walk over and see us during the day if we’re here and he wants to.”

“He’ll still be close, though, right?”

“Yeah. It’s just weird that he’s growing up.”

“He’s nineteen, man. He’s already grown up.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“So you and Violet ever going to have kids of your own?” I asked, not even sure where that question had come from.

Cameron raised his brows. “Have to ask her to marry me first.”

“You better get on that. I mean, Brendon’s already hitched. And I think Sienna and Aiden are well on their way. You don’t want Aiden to beat you, do you?”

“You’re a shit-stirrer. And of course I don’t want Aiden to beat me.” He mumbled the last part, probably because he didn’t want his woman to hear. As much as she loved the brothers, I didn’t really think that Violet wanted to know that a proposal might be coming sooner rather than later only so Cameron could do it before Aiden did. Not that she’d say no. At least, I didn’t think she would. All three couples were happy and in pre—and post—wedded bliss.

It was nice to see, even though I wanted no part of it for myself.

My gaze strayed to Meadow once again. She smiled at me, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Oh, good. Fuck this.

I was losing my damn mind. I really needed to get her out of my head.

But I didn’t think I would be able to. After all, I hadn’t been able to before, even when she was so off-limits that it probably would’ve meant someone literally slicing my throat if I moved in too close.