Page 56 of All We Could Still Have

Traitor,I thought as my chest tightened. I picked up the second shot, which until this point I hadn’t touched. Casey finished the song, and the pub exploded with thunderous applause. I imagined Kyle here, dressed in his hockey shirt, leaping out of his seat to cheer her on. I tossed back my shot with one swallow.

Dana stared at me with a goofy grin. “Attagirl,” she said.

The alcohol traveled down my throat, but about halfway down, it reversed course and came back up. I swallowed it down again and broke out in a coughing fit. At some point the waiter must have dropped off water, because Dana pushed a glass across the table toward me. I gulped large sips while Casey played the opening notes of “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” by Ashley McBryde, a song that until that moment I’d liked but would always associate with Casey now.

Before Casey reached the end of the song, we made eye contact. She smiled and nodded. I thought about the way we had connected over Elizabeth in the office before I’d found out who Casey was. She was someone I would have liked in any other circumstance. By the time she finished her set, I had downed three shots. My vision blurred, myspeech slowed, and sweat slicked my forehead. After a standing ovation, Casey hopped down from the stage and approached our table.

“Nikki, right? You work with Elizabeth?” She scrunched her nose at the mention of my manager.

Slouching in my chair, I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes, pretending to try to place her.

“We met last week,” she said.

“Oh, right, Elizabeth’s nanny.” I sounded like I had a lisp.

“Redheaded slut,” Dana hissed.

Instantly sober, I jolted upright and kicked Dana under the table. What the hell was she doing?

“Excuse me,” Casey said. She and my sister locked eyes.

I shredded my napkin while they battled it out in a staring contest. This was not how I wanted tonight to go down.

Dana grinned. “It’s what we’re drinking. Join us.” She summoned the waiter. “I’m Dana. Nikki’s sister.” She extended her hand toward Casey.

Casey’s fists remained clenched, and the vertical furrow between her eyebrows remained.

“What are you doing in Stapleton, girl? Why aren’t you in Nashville? You killed it up there,” Dana said, laying it on thick.

It worked. Casey unclenched. “Thanks.”

Dana used her feet to kick out a chair. Casey hesitated before sitting.

The waiter finally made it to our table. He caressed Casey’s shoulder. “You rocked the joint tonight.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Casey beamed.

“Another round,” Dana said. “One for the star too.”

“No, no,” Casey said.

“Oh, come on,” Dana said. “Have one drink with us. A beer?”

“Ginger ale.” Casey’s hand dropped to her abdomen.

My stomach spasmed. She was protecting Kyle’s baby. I jumped to my feet, wanting to flee.

“You okay?” Dana asked.

“Be right back.” I wove my way across the bar to the restroom. A line snaked out the door down a long, narrow hallway. I took my place at the end. Most of the women waiting in front of me were almost half my age, like Casey. The contents in my stomach swirled. What the hell was I doing here? I wished I were home. Did it even matter if Kyle was the father? He’d slept with her.

When I got back to the table, Casey and Dana were laughing. “We’re talking about the lack of good men in Stapleton,” Dana said. “I just asked Casey if there are any cute, normal guys who come in here.”

I eyed my sister, willing her to stop. I wanted to leave.

“Nikki’s happily married. She has no idea,” Dana said.

“We should go. It’s getting late.”

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