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Em grimaces. “I’m so sorry I left that girl with you.”
“It’s fine,” I say, even though it isn’t.
Chad is staring at Em like he wants her to do his bidding. She gives in too easily. “So,” she says, shifting in her seat. “Where’s Claire?”
“Her Airbnb,” I answer without adding anything more. It’s none of their business where she is—especially Chad.
“Is she okay?” Ethan looks like he doesn’t want to pry, but it doesn’t stop him from asking the question.
“She’s fine.” Can’t they see how much I don’t want to talk about this?
Chad finally breaks his silence. “You sure? She seemed kind of upset.”
No shit, Sherlock. I don’t say what’s on my mind, though. I don’t know how much Claire told Chad about what happened between her and her ex, and it’s not my business to tell. “She wasn’t feeling well. I walked her to her Airbnb, and now I’m back. Anything else you guys need to know?”
They all shake their heads, but I can see the questions brewing in Chad’s otherwise empty fucking head.
They’re all quiet, and it’s pissing me off, so I say, “I’m going to the bar,” even though I don’t want to drink more tonight. All I want to do is go back to Claire’s and bury myself in her.
But if I can’t do that, I’d rather just call it a night.
It’s impossible not to stand right on top of people with how busy the bar is now. When I finally get through the crowd, I order water, and the girl next to me looks over her shoulder when she hears me.
“Water?” She asks in surprise. “Come on, that’s no fun!”
I have no interest in talking to anyone else tonight—especially not this random girl. “Maybe some people just want to drink fucking water,” I say flatly.
Her face falls, and she turns back to her friend.
Smart girl.
A gentle hand brushes my arm, and I groan. Are Florida girls really this forward? But when I turn around, I’m surprised to find Em standing behind me. Her petite frame probably had no problem weaving through the masses.
She peeks around me to check out my drink on the bar. “Water. Good choice.”
“Yeah, well.” Instead of finishing my sentence, I take a sip. Em has always weirdly understood me in a way that most people don’t.
Standing on the tips of her toes, she leans over the bar and signals to the bartender. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
“You too?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’ve had enough to drink tonight. Plus, I don’t want you to write off what I’m about to tell you because you think I’m too inebriated.”
“Oh, boy.” I look straight ahead at the display of liquor bottles behind the bar. “Here it comes.”
She smiles a little before turning to face me. “So, Claire.”
“What about her?” I ask, giving her a sideways glance.
She gapes at me. “Oh, come on.” Rolling her eyes, she says, “You’re no ray of sunshine, but earlier you were pissed—way more pissed than Lauren could have made you.”
I knew fucking Lauren opened her big mouth. “She gave you an earful didn’t she?”
Em shrugs. “Not really. She was all over the place, but I did make out that you couldn’t take your eyes off Claire all day.”
“It’s nothing,” I say dismissively.
“Clearly, it’s not.”
