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Bex quickly scribbled an autograph with the paper and pen the driver provided.
“Many thanks, man. I appreciate your discretion,” she said, and handed him the autograph.
“You’ve got it. Nice meeting you. Good luck with the hangover.”
Bex chuckled as she got out of the car and waved the driver off.
She walked up to the door of Miller’s Pub, a hometown bar and grill, and let herself inside. A bar ran along the back wall with tables and chairs throughout the room. A small stage and dance floor stood off to one side. She could smell the years of good food and dancing in the air.
“Grab a seat where you’re comfy and I’ll be right with you!” a masculine voice called out. Bex cringed a bit at the volume.
“Sounds good,” Bex replied, a little quieter.
Only one other customer visited the place right now, an elderly man eating a sandwich at the bar.
Bex pushed the sunglasses up onto the top of her head and crossed the room to a table away from the window.
She sat down and picked up the menu. Looking it over, she wondered if it was the same menu from ten years ago. The plastic on it was yellowed and well-worn. The owner simply marked out the items no longer available in permanent marker. Bex smiled when she saw that.
Someone placed a glass filled with a Bloody Mary on her table.
“Figured you probably need this,” said the same masculine voice that initially greeted her.
Bex looked up, straight into Aiden’s blue eyes. Her heart jumped when she recognized him. His brown hair framed his face, long on top and short on the sides. Over the years, he had grown into a man — and it looked good on him.
“Hey. Thanks,” she said.
“No problem. What do you want to eat? I’ll put in your order.”
“You work here?” she asked.
When they’d parted ways, he had a scholarship to his choice college to be a chef — a full ride to the best culinary school in the country. Why was he working at the pub?
An odd look crossed his face, but he responded, “Yeah, I bartend here. I drive Uber sometimes on my days off.”
“That’s not what... nevermind.” She shook her head, while a sinking feeling filled her stomach. What he did wasn’t her business anymore — by his choice. “I need grease. Eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, the works.”
Aiden laughed. “One hangover meal coming up.” He walked over to put the order in for the kitchen.
She admired how sexy he looked in his black “Miller’s Pub” shirt and jeans. A slender but muscular build, like he worked out regularly. He’d filled out during the years since her hands had last been all over his body. She liked this look.
She did not like the ring that had appeared on his left ring finger. That actually made her more nauseated than the hangover. Of course, someone had snatched him up.
She took a sip of the Bloody Mary. The tomato and spices flooded her mouth and opened her senses. She made an appreciative noise. The drink was damn tasty. She had to admit, it tasted a lot better than the versions she’d had in New York.
Aiden came back across the room and surprised her when he sat across from her at her table.
He said, “Erica booked my Uber to pick you up last night. I couldn’t find your keys so I had to improvise to get you in the house. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t have a house key so I was planning to stay at the hotel in town until my parents got home. But you saved me an overnight hotel fee so thanks, I guess.”
“Ah, gotcha. Well, you’re welcome, I guess.”
Bex took another sip of her drink and watched Aiden as a range of emotions displayed on his face. Her stomach tied itself in a knot as she watched him struggle.
“How have you been?” he finally asked.
“I’ve been good. We had to cancel several dates on the last tour because of my bandmate Jade’s stalker, but the band recorded another album and we start a fall tour soon.”
