“Tryin’ to change the subject. Not suspicious at all. I’m sure your dry spell and Mae’s arrival in town, not to mention you clocking her ex-fiancé, isn’t at all coincidental.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. So, about those trout…”
“Sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
What was there to talk about? I had it bad for Mae. She saw me as a friend and always would. End of story.
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Fine.” He gave up. “And the bar?”
A somewhat safer subject.
“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about some of the changes I’d make as the owner. Has one thing going for it. Doesn’t reek of money or bullshit.”
Parker laughed. “No one would confuse you and the other Mr. Claymont, even if you owned this place and weren’t just a staple behind the bar.”
“Don’t give a shit about that,” I said, flipping a clean rocks glass into my palm and dropping in a cube like muscle memory. I grabbed the bottle of Booker’s from the shelf behind me. “Let them think what they want. I know where I belong.”
“Not even a little?” he challenged.
Digging in would be lying, something I wouldn’t do to Parker, even if I was willing to lie to myself.
“Maybe a little. Now tell me about the trout.”
As I expected him to do earlier, Parker regaled me with every detail.
While he talked, I snuck in a text to Mae.
All ok?
No response.
While Parker waited for takeout that he was bringing back for Delaney, I tried not to think about what Mae was doing. What her ex was saying. What she thought about me, at the moment. Was she pissed? Most likely. Probably should have thought it through first, but honestly… I wasn’t sorry. He deserved it for hurting Mae.
Parker was on his phone, likely texting Delaney.
You know what? Fuck it.
“The rule was warranted,” I blurted.
Parker immediately put down his phone and looked at me.
“No shit, Sherlock.”
“Having her home is a double-edged sword,” I admitted. “In some ways, it was easier when she was across the Atlantic. And engaged.”
“Tell that to past Beck.”
I laughed, remembering the night I found out about her engagement. I hadn’t taken it well. Dating was one thing. But an engagement, and then subsequent announcement she was taking a job in France? That was an entirely different animal altogether.
Running both hands through my hair, I squeezed my head. Hoping to stimulate some sort of sense out of the whole thing. My brain just wouldn’t function properly anymore.
“She’s killing me, man.” Jenn brought his takeout over. “Nachos won’t travel well cold. Forget I said anything.”
Parker grabbed his takeout, thanked Jenn and hopped off his stool. “No can do. Off to the house and will be back with reinforcements. Calling an emergency meeting.”
Ah, Christ. Parker was all smiles, but it was too late now. I’d shot my big mouth off and, an hour later, wasn’t at all surprised to have both Parker and Mason sitting at my bar.
