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She also looks tired.
My chest caves in, as I know that tiredness is most likely from my dumbass actions.
I stare at her, tongue-tied for a moment, scrambling for the right words to not fuck this up.
“Are you ready to come home?” I decide to go with a playful tone. “Or are you here to get your job back?” I’m trying to stay composed, but my heart is heavy as it constricts in my chest.
“I’ll pass,” she says with unreadable eyes. “I’m here for the party, and I don’t want it to be weird between us. I’ll order all my drinks from Liz and steer clear of this side.” She gestures toward my area of the bar.
“Why did you come over here then?”
“To give you a heads-up.”
“I call bullshit.”
“Whatever, Maliki. Call bullshit all you want, but it’s the truth.”
I open my mouth to explain why I’m calling bullshit, but I’m cut off when she keeps talking.
“Also, I don’t know if Liz told you, but everything is scheduled for the remodel. I’m doing all my communication through her.” Her lips are pressed into a firm line.
Liz already shared this info with me.
I fix my stare on her. “Liz doesn’t own the bar.I do.Not communicating with your client is unprofessional.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Whatever. I’ll maintain aprofessionalrelationship until the remodel is over. I’ve appointed Liz as my assistant, so all communication will go through her. How’s that?”
“I’d much rather deal with the woman Ihired.”
“Don’t make this difficult.”
Trust me, I’m trying hard not to.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I miss you, Sierra. We need to talk about this. I know you’re young, but—”
She inches up her hand, stopping me. “Nope, don’t blame this on myage. I’m smart enough to know not to get hurt again.”
“If you get hurt again, it won’t be by me.”
“You already have. I won’t take that risk again.”
I gulp in an exasperated breath. “Anytime you’re in a relationship with someone, you risk heartbreak. Have another relationship, but you can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. With me, you have a fucking guarantee I’ll do everything in my power to never hurt you again. I’ve never made you doubt my feelings for you. Never. Remember that.”
“Maliki—” Her eyes narrow as she stares over my shoulder.
“Hey, babe,” Jessa says behind me, and I shit you not, I’m shocked my back doesn’t break with how tense my spine goes. “Molly is knocked out. Do you want me to bring your dinner down?”
My pulse slams into my neck, and my eyes don’t leave Sierra.
“Wow,” Sierra snarls. “Never doubt you, huh?” Her fingers dig into the wood of the bar.
“It’s not what it looks like.” The words slowly leave my mouth.
She scoffs, “Piss off, Maliki.”
I hop over the bar when she turns to leave, knocking down napkins and baskets of food, and follow her. I call her name louder with every step through the bar. When we make it to a clearing, I snatch her wrist and whip her around to face me.
She smacks my hand and wriggles out of my hold. “Don’t. I’m here for my brother and Chloe. I won’t let our drama ruin their party. This isn’t happening tonight.”
