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Her eyes squint in my direction before she turns and makes her way toward the bar.
“What is the likelihood of her spitting in my drink or food?” I ask no one in particular.
My three friends laugh. “She’s the sweetest woman I know, but I wouldn’t look too closely when she brings your items back,” Camden states with a smile on his face.
* * *
The music has shiftedfrom a live band to late-night radio remixes of the Hot 100 over the last hour and a half that I have been sitting at this table. My ass has gone numb and Maddox, Camden, and Levi left about twenty minutes ago.
Blaire has put her focus on her other tables, giving me a questioning look twice to see if I needed anything. After my third beer, I switch to water to make sure I have a clear head when I talk to Emree. She has done a successful job of avoiding me, even though I haven’t been able to take my eyes off her.
The bar has slowed down for the night, with it closing in about twenty minutes. Garrett has already shut down the patio since that was cleared out about half an hour ago. Blaire and Emree have four tables between the two of them and the other waitress working tonight has cashed out her last table and started wiping down the tabletops and stacking chairs.
“You done with that glass?” a deep voice asks from behind me.
Turning, I look up slightly and make eye contact with Garrett. His face is unfriendly as he stares at me and even though I am sitting at a high-top table, I feel like I am being towered over by his large frame.
“Yeah,” I tell him, handing over the glass.
He takes it with a grunt but doesn’t walk off. “What are you doing here, Conrad?”
Leaning back in my chair, I contemplate not answering because it is none of his damn business, but maybe it’s because I’m tired or that my focus is off, but I answer. “Waiting to talk to Em.”
His nostrils flare at my answer. “Not sure she wants to talk to you.”
“Nothing personal, man, but what’s going on between Em and me isn’t any of your business,” I tell him as I cross my arms over my chest.
“When I have an employee looking like someone kicked her puppy and a woman coming into my bar and causing a scene involving said employee, it becomes my business.”
As much as I want to argue, he does have a point. “Listen, I’m sorry about that. Never did I think Liliana would come in here creating trouble. Em and I need to talk, though, so please just stop the big brother act and let me explain things to her.”
We have a stare-off for several seconds, the tension between the two of us clear to anyone in the room. “Fine. But if any of the shit that happened tonight goes down again, you won’t be welcome here anymore.” He walks off without another word.
Over the next twenty minutes or so, as the bar comes to a close, I remain in my seat even as Blaire wipes down my table and flips the chairs apart from mine. Emree works on her own tables while Garrett cashes out the register and tips for the night. The four remaining front-house employees take their earnings after giving the cooks in the back their cut, and they all gather their belongings from the back locker rooms.
Since I know she will make an attempt at sneaking out of the building without seeing me, I get up from the table and flip my chair to match the rest before heading toward the front doors. One by one, Emree’s coworkers make their way out of the building, making sure to stick to the buddy rule Garrett set in place.
When time runs out, Emree and Blaire finally make their way out of the back room. Em keeps her head down while Blaire is shooting daggers in my direction. While my focus is not on explaining myself to Blaire, I can’t help but feel something unsettling in the pit of my stomach, knowing she probably hates my guts for how I have been treating her best friend.
“Em…” I trail off. Her head snaps up, and her eyes narrow at the sight of me.
Emree looks at Blaire, then back at me as they continue walking past me. “I have nothing to say to you, Conrad.”
“Well, I have a lot to explain to you,” I press.
They both stop before exiting the door. Blaire looks between the two of us before standing with her legs wide and arms crossed in a defensive stance. Having this conversation with Emree after midnight in the middle of a bar with her best friend beside us is not ideal, but I have put this off long enough and need to come out with the truth.
Emree visibly sighs, her shoulders moving with the action. “Conrad, I’m exhausted. I just spent the last five hours on my feet, serving drinks and food to tipsy coeds. I had to deal with whoever that woman was, and then a conversation with my boss about the drama I brought into the bar. I’m tired and cranky and sore.” Her mask falls, and the exhaustion she tries to hide becomes evident. “Please just let me go home, shower, and crawl into my bed.”
I think long and hard about my next words. “Fine. Let’s go.”
She stares at me with wide eyes. “What?”
“You heard me,” I tell her.
Emree looks between Blaire and me. “But I drove here with Blaire.”
“We’ll follow her to the apartment. Now let’s go.” Without another word, I turn and walk out of the building without checking that they’re following.
