AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just that his boots go under a lot of beds. Doesn’t date the same girl for long and usually gives him the old it’s not you, it’s me.” Tammy came out of the room with a grin. “Don’t get me wrong, I adore the man and he is charming as all get out, but...he’s kind of a tramp.”
Olive burst out laughing, but Anna Beth bit her lip. She couldn’t believe Jared would play with her, after everything they talked about. He wasn’t a jerk. Was he?
Her phone dinged with a new text message and she ducked inside the dressing room to read it.
Hey A.B. I’ve been thinking a lot about us. Wanna meet for lunch tomorrow and talk?
Olive poked her head in. “Is it him?”
“He’s asking me to lunch tomorrow.”
“Eff that with a toilet brush. He needs to sweat for a bit. Leave him on read. It will drive him crazy.”
Anna Beth wavered for a moment before setting her phone down. “You’re right. This is girl time. He can wait.”
Nineteen
Jared walked into Fire and Ice Pub on Thursday night ready to kick off his three-day weekend. Vance was already inside, getting the first round of drinks while Jared parked the car. He took a second to check his phone again while he headed for the front door. He’d sent Anna Beth a message, asking her if she was free for lunch tomorrow, but she hadn’t responded.
Can you blame her? You pulled away and have avoided a real conversation for days. Face it, jackass, you fucked up.
The music blared the instrumental intro to Jingle Bell Rock just before a woman belted an off-key rendition of the classic song. Karaoke could be entertaining, especially when people didn’t care how they looked or sounded doing it, and alcohol always helped with the not caring part.
Usually, Jared enjoyed hanging with Vance at the pub, but tonight, he’d rather be home with Rip, vegging out. But he couldn’t be alone with his thoughts, especially since they’d been berating him for days. He could have gone with the flow and seen how things with Anna Beth went, but oh no, the man with the plan had to overthink everything. And once again, he’d blown it.
Vance waved at him from the bar and Jared headed that way, weaving through the crowd. When he reached Vance’s side, his friend clapped him on the back.
“I ordered two whiskeys, so we can drink like real men.”
“Thanks, buddy. I’ve got next round.”
“I think I’m going to need it,” Vance said, staring at something past Jared’s shoulder.
Jared followed Vance’s gaze to the dance floor and saw Olive in a slinky white dress, her hands in the air, shaking her hips to a Mariah Carey song.
Jared shook his head. “Man, if you like Olive, why don’t you just tell her?”
“I don’t like Olive. We’re just having fun. She looks good though, right?”
Jared rolled his eyes. Vance could deny his feelings, but Jared knew he had a major thing for Olive. But he definitely didn’t need to give anyone advice on relationships.
“Alright, guys,” Cade Brighten said from behind them. “Two whiskeys. Enjoy.”
Jared grinned. “Thanks.”
“Speaking of friends, is that Anna Beth dancing with Olive?” Jared asked.
Jared searched the dance floor again. When he caught sight of her, Jared stopped breathing for a beat.
Anna Beth’s blonde hair swung around her shoulders in golden waves as she danced, her breasts bouncing beneath the red halter dress she wore. She had her hands in the air, waving them back and forth. Her joyful expression made the area around her light up too and Jared took a step toward her.
Vance caught his arm. “Whoa, where are you off to?”
“I was just going over to say hello.”
“That is not a 'hi' expression on your face. That is an 'I just saw something I want and I need to claim it' look and that never goes over well with the ladies.” Vance dropped his arm and picked up the whiskey glass. “I thought you weren’t talking to Anna Beth anymore.”
“What makes you say that?”
