AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, yeah? Who with?” Stetson asked.
Remington slapped him on the shoulder. “No one. She’s already there.”
I looked at Stetson, but he shook his head. Remington’s love life was as uncomplicated as mine used to be.
“Just you and me?” I asked as a server slid my usual drink in front of me. Damn. Coal Haven was a small town, but that was a sign I came here too much.
“It looks like we’re getting company.” Stetson leveled a steady stare on me.
I was about to ask him what the hell that look was for, but a hand brushed across my shoulders.
“Hi, Holden.” Holly planted a kiss on my forehead.
I automatically brushed it away and frowned at my fingers. Red lipstick was smeared across them. I wiped them off on a napkin. “Hey, Holls.”
Sienna took a seat next to Stetson, but she was looking at me. “Are you alone tonight?”
“Yes, Emery’s staying in tonight.” I thought she was, anyway.
Holly ran her fingers through her long, blonde hair. “You’re still seeing her?” When I nodded, her red-stained lips curved up. “That must be a record for you.”
Stetson stared into his beer. People had given me a hard time about my free bachelor ways over the years, but none of them had noticed that Stetson sat the conversation out. None of them assumed I was three-dimensional enough to have a past, to have a valid reason to protect my heart.
It had never bothered me before. Why now?
Because I had more people who cared and who knew the real me. Holly and I hadn’t reached the friend stage. She was a buddy I’d had sex with a couple of times.
“It’s not a record, believe it or not.” I’d admit that much. “So, what are you two up to?”
Holly rolled her eyes. “What is anyone ever up to in Coal Haven?”
“Right?” Sienna grabbed Stetson’s beer and took a long pull off it.
He flagged the server for another drink, refusing to share. It was a subtle but clear message that they weren’t at the sharing stage of hooking up. Sharing body fluids wasn’t as intimate as sharing a beer.
Holly reached for my beer. I tried to beat her, but she snagged it and watched me while she took a deep drink from it. And just like that, I was back in high school. Tina Pearson was trying to steal my breadstick to make the girl I was taking to prom jealous. I was in my thirties and had been over that shit for a long time.
“Keep it,” I said, digging out my wallet to leave cash on the table. “I’m taking off soon.”
She pouted as she set the glass down. “You’re no fun, but thanks for buying me a drink.”
My stomach fell. I didn’t need Holly telling the town I bought her a drink when I was trying to be serious with Emery.
Laughter rang through the place. I spotted Aspen, Lyric, and Isla at the bar. Three guys who looked vaguely familiar were eyeing them. They weren’t from Coal Haven but probably worked at the plant, the mine, or the refinery. I’d seen Lyric and Aspen flirt and leave with some of the guys, but never Isla.
I glanced at Stetson. A heavy scowl was etched into his face. I almost joked about how he was going to cockblock his sister, but when I followed his gaze, it was Lyric he was pissy about.
That was his fault. Everyone knew she’d had a thing for him since she’d been old enough to know she liked boys. But Stetson’s baggage blocked her out further than anyone else.
Between the women at our table and Lyric’s group, I didn’t need to get involved. I loved my cousin, but there was only one person I wanted to be with right now.
“See you for practice?” I said as I stood and pushed my chair in.
Holly’s roaming eye had moved on to the guys eyeballing the other three. It was after ten, and Rattler’s had become a meat market.
“See you. Excuse me, ladies. Gonna go say hi to my sister.” Stetson grabbed his beer and stalked toward Isla’s table. Out of the group, Isla might not appreciate his interference the most.
I was at Emery’s in minutes. The light was on in the living room. Should I leave? Maybe I should’ve messaged. Given her some warning and let her have a chance to turn me away. Perhaps that was why I hadn’t.
