I held his stare. "See, that's just not in my nature."
He turned away first. The sound he made was low and even and came from somewhere deep in his chest—a warning growl, directed squarely at me.
I ignored it.
"From what Brody said?—"
"Brody don't know shit," he barked. "For everything he thinks he saw, asshole must be blind in one eye and can't see outta the other?—"
"Hey!" Hank shouted, scowling at Rhett. Rhett paid him no mind and carried on.
"Sassy, she don't?—"
He stopped short.
Just stopped. Like he'd walked himself right up to the edge of something and looked down.
I didn't fill the silence. Just sat there while his little unfinished outburst hung in the air.
He didn't go back for it.
I ordered two more shots.
Slid one toward him.
He picked it up.
We drank.
And we didn't say another word about it.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
I hadMom wrapped up in a big bear hug when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I let her go to fish it out.
Calvin's name on my screen had me grinnin'. The message made that grin grow.
CALVIN
Your friend is being an idiot
BRODY
Where?
CALVIN
BP
I locked my phone and tucked it away. When I looked up, Mom was just starin' at me, a soft smile on her face. "Happy is my favorite look on you. I'm sorry I didn't see you were hurting sooner. Clear as day now."
I hugged her again. "You had a hard year, Ma. I love ya," I said with a kiss to the top of her head.
"Love you, too, sweetheart."
She walked me to the front door and I kicked my ass into gear to get to my girl. Fortunately, The BP was close. I pulled into my usual spot behind the bar—and my apartment—in just a couple minutes. The vibes when I rolled up to the bar were… tense. I stood between my best friend and my… girlfriend? I didn't know what she was to me, TBH. With an arm around each of them, I asked, "What're we drinkin'?"
"Shots," Rhett said as he threw one back without lookin' at me.
