Sterling relaxed his shoulders.
"That man has a lot of nerve," Cullen muttered.
"What's your beef with him?" Sterling settled back onto his stool.
"Other than he cares more about his profit sheet than whether there's a waterway left for the rest of us?" Cullen took a pull off his beer. "His son, Graham, started seeing, my ex, Tamara. Man's a dick, and I don't love him hanging around Tyler."
"Don't hold back. Tell me how you really feel."
"Nah." Cullen set the bottle down. "That wouldn't be nice."
An uncomfortable silence settled over the bar. There was more to that story, but Sterling didn't have the bandwidth to ask more questions, and he could tell Cullen didn't want to talk about it. No point in pushing him tonight.
Juniper came down the bar with a towel slung over her shoulder. "You've been nursing that one for over an hour. It's got to be boiling by now."
"Pretty close."
"Shall I get you another one?"
He pushed his near empty bottle across the bar. "I gotta drive home, but thanks."
"How about a water?"
"I'm heading out," he said.
"Already?" Dove leaned around Cullen. "It's nine o'clock."
"Buddy's gone for three days. You're running on saltines. And Cullen has another job he's got to finish before he comes in tomorrow. I've got work." And maybe a little digging to do on Royce and his company. Why? Sterling didn't know. Except he didn't like the way he rolled into a private party where there was clearly signage on the door.
"Work can wait." Dove waved her hand. "There's nothing but paperwork, anyway."
"Files don't jump into filing cabinets by themselves." Sterling shifted on the stool.
"Buddy's taking three days," Dove said. "When has he ever done that? If he can relax, so can you."
"That's some weird logic," Sterling said. "We need to take up the slack when the boss is gone."
Trent reached around her and tapped Sterling's shoulder. "Let him go, Dove. He's been staring at Juniper for two hours. He needs to leave before he does something stupid."
"I've been sitting here looking around like a normal person." He stood.
"Nothing's normal about taking a walk in your head," Cullen added. "But hey, whatever works."
"Drive safe," Dove said, because she knew when not to argue—mostly.
"Always." The stool wobbled as he stood. "I expect everyone to be at work on time tomorrow."
"Even the pregnant lady?" Dove batted her eyelashes.
He laughed. "I'll bring crackers and soda." He waved his hand over his head as he went the long way around so he could stop and say goodbye to the happy couple.
"Hey, man," he said.
"Thanks for coming." Buddy pulled him in for a half a man hug, slapping him on the back.
"Wouldn't have missed it."
"Three days." Buddy held up his hand. "Don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
