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"Well, I guess no birthday is complete without a bar fight," Charley announces. "Show is over, people. Get back to drinking and spending your money, or go home."
Gabriel releases his hold on me and slaps me on the back before returning to his woman.
Ember approaches, her pretty face twisted with anger. "I can't believe you did that. And on Charley's birthday," she hisses. "I can take care of myself."
"The fucker wasn't willing to take no for an answer."
Ember crosses her arm and cocks her head. "You're jealous."
"I was lookin' out for you."
"Bullshit. You were looking out for yourself. You don't own me, Blake. And until you decide I am worth wanting, you don't get the right to act as if I belong to you." She stomps away.
A hand firmly grips my shoulder, preventing me from going after her. "Come on," Jake orders, and I comply, following him to a secluded corner of the bar, where we sit at a table away from everyone.
"You here to give me shit about Ember too?" I say, instantly regretting the clipped tone of my voice.
Jake ignores the burst of attitude. "She's not mad, son. She's hurt. You can't keep giving her mixed signals. You got to tell her how you feel or cut her loose. Staying stuck in the in-between is no way to live. You both deserve better than that."
"As bad as I want Ember, I'm no good for her."
Jake studies me for a beat. "Why?"
"I'm fucked up, Prez. How can I give Ember the future she deserves if I can't move on from the past? My father is permanently embedded in my head. The only time I don't hear his voice telling me what a worthless piece of shit I am is when I'm using." I shake my head. "I can't ask Ember to take on that burden."
Jake studies me. "Your sobriety becoming an issue?"
"No," is my quick response. "You have my word."
Jake nods, noting the sincerity in my words. "None of us are without flaws. And fuck your father. The bastard is dead."
I cut my eyes at him. "Yeah, and I killed him," I mutter.
"Yes; you did. But son, you can't live your life looking back all the time, or you'll continue to miss what's right in front of you." Jake crosses his arms over his chest. "Let me ask you this. Would you be willing to carry Ember's burdens? Because I'm telling you right now, she has her own heavy shit weighing her down. "
"I'd do anything for Ember. I'd cut off my own goddamn arm if she asked me to," I say vehemently.
"What makes you think she wouldn't want to do the same? Sounds to me like you're trying to make that decision for her."
When I don't say anything, Jake continues, "Sooner or later, Ember’s going to move on. She's going to find a man willing to give her all the things you want but are too chicken-shit to get off the pot."
My jaw ticks and my fists clench at the thought of Ember with another man.
"That's what I thought." Jake uncrosses his arms and stands. "I think you have all the answers you need, son." He claps my shoulder and retreats to the opposite corner of the room to join Grace.
I glance around the bar, taking in all the people in my life enjoying the rest of the night, drinking and laughing. My eyes land on Ember, sitting with Bella and Alba while they watch Logan and Gabriel shoot a game of pool. Sensing my watchful presence, Ember turns her head, making eye contact with me. I mouthI'm a dick,and even though she shoots daggers at me, her anger quickly dissipates and she smiles.
Jake is right. I need to get my head out of my ass.
6
EMBER
"You got a minute?" Jake raps his knuckles on the bar and sits across from where I'm wiping down the bar and restocking.
"Sure. What's up?" I wipe my hands on a rag and pop open a soda. "Want one?" I ask.
"I'll take a beer if you don't mind, darlin'."
