Page 7
No matter what, I’d always cast any doubts about our relationship aside. I loved her enough to make it work. She obviously didn’t. Rolling my shoulders to release the tension that’d been building since I left the restaurant, I realized I was only a few spots down from the pub where Xi worked.
Part of me couldn’t stand the thought of admitting to her what happened after she’d voiced her disapproval about me proposing to Kinsley in the first place. But I had to tell someone. My family was out of the question, at least for the moment.
Shaking my head, I bit the bullet and grabbed the door handle, yanking it open.
“Damn,” I murmured, noticing how packed it was. “I guess I’m not the only one having a shitty-ass night.”
Pushing my way through the crowd, I managed to squeeze into an empty spot at the bar. Shrugging out of my coat, I quickly scanned the bartenders, looking for Xi.
“What can I get you?”
Pausing my search, I turned my attention to the woman who seemed to magically appear in front of me. Her beauty caught me off guard, but as I was nursing my feelings over my relationship ending, I left the attraction where it was.
She wasn’t Xi, but shit, at that point, I just needed a drink. It didn’t matter who was serving it.
“The strongest thing you have behind the bar.”
“Yikes,” her nose twitched. “Sounds like you’re having a bad night.”
“About as bad as everyone else who’d rather be in a bar than spending time with the person they love.”
She shrugged. “Can’t argue with that. One Celtic Buck coming right up.”
She momentarily stepped away, picking through whatever ingredients she needed to mix up my drink, giving me a chance to check my phone. It’d gone off at least three times since I’d claimed a seat. One was from my father, asking how things went. The second was another apology from Kinsley. The last was Xi, fussing about how I hadn’t told her about dinner yet.
Just as I responded, asking where she was, my drink slid gracefully across the bar top.
“You settling up now or starting a tab?”
“Tab,” I responded, fishing my wallet out of my pocket.
Digging out my card, I handed it over. As she headed to the computer, I took a sip, grimacing at the pungent burn accompanying the liquor.
“What’s in this?” I asked the moment she returned.
“Pub secret,” she replied, grinning. “I can’t reveal those details.”
“Ginger is a high-security secret?”
“Well, if you know what’s in it, why are you asking?”
Her spunkiness made me laugh, something I didn’t think I’d be capable of after the night’s previous events.
Chuckling lightly, I replied. “I obviously meant besides the ginger, sweetheart.”
“Well, I’m going by what you said, sweetheart. Not what you meant.”
“Alright, smart ass,” I smirked. “Just keep them coming.”
“Name’s Nyx,” she offered.
Nodding, I took another swig from my glass. “Jamie.”
“Let me know when you’re ready for another.”
As Nyx quietly slipped away, Xi’s loud ass barged over, as extra as she always was.
“Um, what are you doing here, sir? I thought for sure you and Miss Thang would be out celebrating the night?”
