Page 77 of My All American Girl

34

DEAN

Igrabbed the drunken asshole by his arm and dragged him through the bar. I didn’t know how Jude tolerated so many jerks. I didn’t remember being a dick when I was younger. I didn’t understand why people couldn’t just enjoy a few drinks and have a good time. Instead, they had to start shit with everyone.

“Don’t come back until you’re sober,” I said, giving him a hard shove out the door. “Then you can come back and spend all your money if you want to.”

“You’re an asshole,” he muttered, half-slurred.

“Then drink at Applebee’s,” I said.

His buddies were waiting for him, giving him shit for getting so hammered. I watched as he staggered away, muttering curses under his breath.

Turning back toward the entrance, I saw Sarah standing there, looking beautiful in jeans, white sneakers, and sunglasses. She pulled the sunglasses down slightly and looked at me over the rims, a playful smile on her lips.

“Hey there, stranger,” she said.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Sarah, you made it.” I gestured for her and her friends to come in. “Welcome back.”

Sarah and her group followed me inside. I went behind the bar to start pouring them beers. Kylee took a sip of hers and sighed dramatically.

“This is the best beer I’ve ever had,” she declared. “I thought I was going to die in Washington. I don’t even like beer, but this is heaven.”

“Survival training is no joke, huh?” I asked, with a laugh.

Kylee nodded vigorously. “You can say that again. We had a lot of friends who didn’t make it through. Even though I’d been warned about that, it still shocked me. I’m pretty bummed about it. I’m hoping the beer will help.”

“Think about it this way,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Now you don’t have to share flight time with as many pilots. You’re going to get more time in the air.”

Kylee blinked, clearly not sure how to react to that. She was a nice girl. But pilot training wasn’t nice. It was cutthroat. She was going to have to figure out how to be a fighter in and out of the cockpit.

Sarah grinned beside her. “I like the sound of that. One man’s loss is another woman’s gain.”

“Exactly,” I said with a wink. I poured them another round. “This one’s on me as a congratulations. Just don’t tell anyone. I can’t afford to buy the whole bar a round. Pilots are like mosquitos, drinking this place dry.”

The girls giggled and thanked me, clearly enjoying themselves. The Fly Trap was buzzing with energy, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Sarah. She looked amazing. I could tell she was happy to be back.

As the night went on, the bar filled up with a mix of regulars and newcomers. Sarah was chatting animatedly with Kylee and the others, sharing stories from their time away. I couldn’t help but be drawn to her infectious laughter and bright smile. It felt like a breath of fresh air amidst the usual crowd.

At one point, a group of rowdy men stumbled into the bar, clearly already intoxicated. They started causing a ruckus, knocking over chairs and yelling obscenities. I could see Sarah tensing up, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden change in atmosphere.

She looked at me, like she was asking for permission. I knew the Sarah before the incident in Washington would have jumped up and started talking shit. I gave her a slight shake of my head, basically telling her to stand down.

“I’ll handle it,” I told Jude.

“They’re always starting shit in here,” he muttered.

I made my way over to the group, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated any further. They were loud and obnoxious, clearly looking for trouble. I stood in front of them, crossing my arms over my chest as I fixed them with a stern look.

“Hey guys, I think it’s time for you to call it a night,” I said firmly. “We don’t want any trouble here.”

One of the men, clearly the instigator of the group, scoffed and took a step forward. “Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?”

I maintained my composure, refusing to back down from the confrontation. “I’m the one who runs this place,” I replied calmly. “And I’m telling you, either you all settle down or you’ll have to leave. Your choice.”

The man glared at me, sizing me up with a sneer. His friends exchanged looks, clearly evaluating the situation. For a moment, tension hung heavy in the air as they considered their options. I wasn’t looking for a fight, but I was also pretty confident I could hold my own if they decided to throw down. How I was going to keep Sarah from jumping in was another matter. I knew her well enough to know I was someone she would defend. That was the last thing I needed.

Mo would have my ass out of the Air Force so quick my head would spin. If his precious daughter got in a bar fight defending me, it would be over for both of us.