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“To new beginnings,” everyone except me says then they each down a shot.
I feel out of place sitting here during a toast that’s clearly between the eight of them and consider excusing myself to the bathroom, but then Blaise reaches over, grabs my wrist, and sticks a shot glass in my hand.
“To new beginnings.” With his gaze welded to mine, he clinks our glasses then moves the brim to his lips and slowly drinks the shot.
I’m not going to lie. It’s kind of sexy. I’m not even positive why nor will I ever admit that to anyone. But in my mind, sure, I can accept that. That Blaise does look sexy as he slowly devours a shot while staring at me in that intense way that makes my blood speed up and my heart rate quicken.
Once he finishes the shot, he sets the glass down and wipes his lips with the back of his hand. “Aren’t you going to drink yours?”
“Why would I?” I ask. “I don’t even know what we’re toasting to.”
His lips quirk. “We’re toasting to new beginnings.”
“Obviously, but I’m not sure what those new beginnings are.” I know what my new beginning currently is—working for the most corrupt man in Honeyton. And no way in stupid, sucky land am I toasting to that.
He dips his head closer to mine. “Jay and Sofie just signed the auto shop over to my brothers and me. We’re now the official owners.”
I slant back to meet his gaze. “Are you freakin’ serious?”
He nods, excitement twinkling in his eyes. “I’m completely freakin’ serious.”
“Well, that’s awesome.” I mean it, too.
I may have only known the Porterson brothers for a few weeks now, but I feel like their situation is similar to mine and my sisters. And if someone signed an auto shop over to us, I’d be… well, I feel like maybe I’d be able to swim out of the damn murky water.
“Awesome enough to toast to?” He gives a pressing glance at the shot glass in my hand.
“Sure. Why not?” I throw back the shot, making sure not to finish all of it.
“You didn’t drink it all,” Rhyland notices as I set the glass down on the table.
“I can’t,” I tell him. When both he and Blaise give me questioning looks, I add, “I have to drive back to school and I’m a lightweight so…” I shrug.
“Hadley Harlyton a lightweight?” Blaise tugs on a strand of my hair. “Who would’ve thought?”
“I actually don’t drink a lot,” I admit with a shrug. “I’m not really a big fan of alcohol.”
An understanding look passes between Blaise and I. Then he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Now I feel bad for pressuring you into taking the shot,” he says, his fingers lingering in my hair.
“First off, let’s get one thing straight. No one can pressure me into doing anything. And second,” I angle my head to the side to get his fingers away from my hair, “what is with you and your obsession with touching my hair? Or is just so you can get a good view of my beautiful face?” I smirk, but inside all the hair touching has got me frazzled. Well, not the hair touching per se, but the way a light, tickling shiver kisses across my skin just from the hair touching.
“Wait. He called your face beautiful?” Rhyland asks with a laugh.
“No,” Blaise insists at the same time I say, “Yes.”
Rhyland’s gaze shifts between the two of us. “Okay, one of you is lying, but I can’t figure out which.”
“Hadley, can I talk to you for a moment?” Blaise hisses, lightly tugging on my sleeve.
A smirk rises on Rhyland’s lips. “What’re you trying to run away from, Blaise?”
“I’m not running away. I just need to talk to Hadley without your big mouth around.” Blaise pushes away from the table, rises to his feet, and looks down at me expectantly.
Sighing, I stand up and follow him as he crosses the room and slips out into the bar. I expect him to stop in there, but he continues down the hallway and pushes through the back door, stepping outside and holding the door open for me.
Once I’m outside, he lets the door go and slides his hand into the front pockets of his jeans. He doesn’t say anything, simply squinting against the sunlight as he studies me.
