Page 30 of East

Why am I so attached to this woman? We interacted for maybe ten minutes. I’m feeling heartbroken, like I’ve been dumped by my wife of ten years.

It’s so weird.

Maybe I just need a drink. I amble over to North, sit down on a stool, and nod to Nora. “I need a beer yesterday.”

She frowns. “Everything okay, Aus?”

I sigh. “On paper, yes.”

She pours two glasses of Wonderful Whiz. “I think I’ll join you in this one.”

“I’ll always share a beer with you, Nor.” I raise my glass. “To healing hearts.”

She crinkles her eyes. “What’s got you in such a poetic mood?”

I take a sip of my beer. “It’s dumb.”

“Nothing’s dumb if it’s got you down.” She leans on the bar. “Come on, Aus. Spill.”

“Fine.” I draw in a slow breath. “That girl I brought by, the one I was showing around? Thea?”

“What about her?”

“I don’t know. She just… We seemed to hit it off great. But I couldn’t ask her out because she was here on one of those damned Twistr dates. But then, get this. The date didn’t show. At least that’s what it looked like. But by that point I was in the middle of my set. And then”—I look over my shoulders to make sure no one is within earshot—“fucking Wick of all people swoops in and picks her up right under my damned nose.”

“Aw, honey.” Nora pats my hand. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. And that you’re upset.”

“That’s the thing, though.” I grip my beer glass. “I shouldn’t even care. It’s not the first time I haven’t gotten a girl. But something about this particular girl… She just got under my skin for some reason.”

She scratches the side of her head. “And I’m sure it didn’t help it was Wick.”

I sigh. “You know we’ve never exactly gotten along.”

“Why is that?”

“Honestly, no idea. Before tonight, he hadn’t ever even done anything to piss me off. I just get a weird feeling about him. A general distrust.”

“Then why didn’t you get rid of him when you took over for Rouge?”

“Oh, come on, Nora. You know I can’t just fire a guy because of a feeling.” I take a long sip of the beer. “Besides, he’s good at his job. His whiskey sour is a big draw, and the college girls love him.” I roll my eyes. “And so, apparently, does Thea.”

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Nora takes a sip of her beer. “Affairs of the heart are complex. I know you just met this girl, but it sounds like you felt a connection. I bet she felt it too.”

I cock my head. “You think?”

“I saw the way she was looking at you when you were giving her the tour. I can’t read her mind, of course, but it’s a bit premature to abandon hope.”

“But she went home with Wick.”

“She left with Wick. You don’t know where they went after that. And even if she did go home with him, he has no claim on her.”

“I know that, but…”

“But nothing. Spare me the ‘I don’t want another man’s sloppy seconds,’ bullshit, Aus. It’s an outdated idea. Thea won’t be eternally tainted by engaging with another man.”

“But it’s not just any other man, it’s⁠—”

Nora holds up a hand. “I know. I know. It’s Wick. The last man you want Thea going home with. And why is that?”