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He knitted his brows together. “I don’t throw it away.”
“Is it a charity thing? You feel sorry for whoever this driver guy is? And me?” I wasn’t offended, even though I knew he couldtake my question that way. I was simply curious as to why he’d do something that made zero sense to me.
“I don’t pity you.” He said, his voice tight. “I pay you for the service you provide, as we discussed prior to beginning our arrangement. Where are you taking me?”
Where are you taking me? Where are you taking me?I shook my head. He couldn't just go along for the ride. “I’m taking you out. To the bar with my friends. It’ll be fun.”
He stiffened in his seat.
“They won’t bite,” I said, trying not to take it personally. “They’re nice people. You’ll like them.”
Even on short notice on a Wednesday night, Juno and Chester were both happy to drop everything and come hang out just because I asked them to. I would have invited Morgan, too, but she had finally gotten off of work early and was looking forward to a hot date with Oscar.
Gabriel didn’t say anything for the rest of the drive.
He didn’t ask any questions when I parked two blocks down on Maple Street, or as we walked toward the bar that had been the WTW crew hangout since day one of filming the reality show. The rollercoaster of shared thrills and trauma required drinks.
I tried to imagine what it was like seeing this place for the first time through Gabriel’s eyes. Broken glass, a used adult diaper, and other less discernible garbage littered the sidewalk in front of the bar. The bar’s name,Pour Decisions,flickered in fluorescent light above the door. It was maybe not the best first impression, but it’s what’s inside that counts.
I took a hesitant glance at Gabriel, ready to defend what was unquestionably the most awesome bar in Epiphany.
His stance was open, his expression unreadable. He said, “Looks like the kind of place Esme would work.”
“Esme?”
He opened the door and held it for me.
Too many things were happening at once. He wasn’t making a joke about how entering would be a poor decision or insisting it was too much of a dive for him to enter. I guessed I should have assumed he’d make a joke. But still, this was not what I’d expected from a stuck-up rich guy who wore suits that cost more than everything I owned.
And who was Esme?
I crossed my arms and glared at him as he held the door. Why wasn’t he telling me who this woman was?
Oh. My.
Esme had to be his dead wife, the one he’d built the garden patio for. I let my arms drop, gave him a quick apologetic smile, and walked inside.
Dim lighting, sticky floors, and a crush of dancing patrons greeted me like a warm hug. I grabbed Gabriel’s wrist and dragged him through the crowd toward the corner where our usual table stood.
Halfway there, a head of bright pink hair popped up in my face.
“LayLay!” Juno pulled me into a big hug. “I’m so glad you called. I’ll tell you, with the reaction to my last video, I could really use a drink. Or ten.”
Even though her words implied something was wrong, her expression was pure delight.
“You posted a new video?” How could I have missed that? I tried to check in every day. “I’ll have to watch it. Things have been weird and busy. Sorry I haven’t watched it yet. What was the reaction? What happened?”
Her bright eyes flicked to Gabriel. Right—introductions.
“Gabriel, this is Juno.” I scanned the bar and found a tall slender shape lingering in the dark corner by our table. I pointed.“That’sChester.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Gabriel told Juno with his flattest tone.
“Same.” Juno’s smile grew. “I saw on social that you’re joining the crew.”
I’d upset him by posting that.
“It’s a paid arrangement.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. There was something more than just a financial transaction between us, and it felt wrong to sum it up that way. Though I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what that something more was, and it was safer not to think about it.
