Page 12 of Taken With You

Those barriers weren’t there as much anymore, but the remnants still remained. The shadows. I didn’t want any part of that. Or, at least, I shouldn’t.

“So, you’re going to take your break?”

I shook my head. “Maybe another half hour. We’re about to hit that lull, and I’ll let Ben take over for a while. Sound good?”

Cameron nodded, took the beers I had poured for him, and headed over to the table.

Brendon and Cameron had already sat down, Aiden moving back and forth between the booth and the kitchen. A big group had just finished getting their food, so I figured Aiden would wrap up for the night. He’d technically been off shift for the past hour, but the man never let his kitchen go without him for too long. He might trust his staff, but he was very anal-retentive when it came to his food. I didn’t mind, though. It was damn good grub.

Thirty minutes passed, and the lull indeed came. I nodded at Ben, who took control of the bar, and I went back to the storeroom. I’d make sure that we had everything ready for when I got back, and then I would actually take my break.

As soon as I turned the corner and passed the billiards area where we’d hosted a pool tournament at one point, Meadow walked from the other direction. She’d probably come from the bathroom area.

I wanted to touch her. Wanted to be close to her.

She did something to me that made no sense. But I was stronger than these feelings. I had to be. When she looked up, and her eyes widened, I knew I wasn’t resilient enough to resist her.

I was a fucking bastard, and I didn’t care anymore. I’d tried to be good for so long. Had even succeeded in some respects, but I wasn’t going to be good anymore. I didn’t think I could be.

“Oh. I didn’t know you were back here,” she said, her voice a little breathy.

I leaned against the wall, blocking her way. Then I smirked. I knew she hated that. Every time I did it, her eyes narrowed, and a little crease formed on her brow.

But her eyes always went to my mouth, so maybe she didn’t hate it that much.

“Just coming back here before I take my break. Why don’t you take it with me?” Jesus Christ, that was the worst line ever. I wasn’t very good at things like that, especially when it came to her. But that was fine. I wasn’t good at many things.

“I think we’re okay. We had enough of that already, didn’t we?”

Surprised that she had alluded to the kiss, I raised a single brow.

“You did kiss me back.”

“And then I ran away.” Her voice was a little sharp, and I blinked.

“I figured you had to be home by midnight or something.”

“I’m not Cinderella. I didn’t go home in a pumpkin. I took a Lyft.” She raised a brow in response. “Honestly, I’m surprised your ego can fit in this hallway. Just saying.”

“Well, it’s a heavy burden to bear, but I manage. You should go out with me.”

Fuck, why did I say that?

“No. Never.” Her voice shook a bit, and she lowered her gaze. “I can’t.”

Jesus Christ. I knew she couldn’t. Why we shouldn’t. I didn’t think she knew all of it, though. “Meadow.” I reached out and lifted her chin as I gently caressed her skin. “You don’t have to be wary of me.”

Or should she be?

“I’m not afraid of you.” I didn’t know if I could taste the lie, but it definitely didn’t sound entirely truthful.

“We could be friends, though. Right?”

“That kiss wasn’t about friendship.”

“No, it wasn’t. But we have a lot of mutual friends. You’re going to be coming into this bar often with them. That means you’ll have to deal with me. Maybe we should make sure that we stay friends.”

“Only friends?”