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It felt similar to the way things had been the first time I found out she worked here. The shock of seeing her, the frustration when I didn’t leave. I didn’t know how to feel then; I didn’t know what I wanted. I’d just come in for a drink, and there she was, like I was being pulled to her.
From the way Darius nursed the offered beer, it was obvious he was reflecting. I shouldn’t have let Adam talk me into bringing him here. I hadn’t known that there was conflict between them. I should have.
I’d been so worried about the outcome from all of this that I had only worried about myself. I had seen what it did to Adam. I knew how I felt. I hadn’t considered the man beside me.
I was a terrible friend. Not just to Darius, but to Kyle too. That wasn’t to say I regretted what we did. But the aftermath . . . I could regret that.
I picked up the bottle of beer and took a sip. I didn’t know how to make up for what had happened between us. Not with Darius. Not with Kyle, either.
Was there a way to repair our friendship?
I glanced at Darius. His gaze was at the beer in front of him. The boom of the music hammered in my ears. I looked up at Grace, watching her forced a grin as she took in the order of another customer. She nodded, shouted something back, and turned to make a drink.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze met mine for a brief moment. There was no way I’d regret this. There was no way I could regret her.
Chapter 18
Grace
Itried to not put too many beers in front of them. I could only hope that the distance between Adam and Cam was there because it was a Friday night. Darius didn’t meet my gaze any time I put a bottle in front of him. It hurt, but it was what I deserved.
I tried to pace the beers that I gave them. I’d learned my lesson with Cam. Even if the night was long and they intended to wait for me, I couldn’t have them so drunk that I had to drag the three of them to a car. I wouldn’t be able to do it without help. I knew Gary wouldn’t mind helping me, but after the little bit of friction with Elle, I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking her for help. If I asked Chad, he’d expect to be paid.
Given that I’d put in my two weeks’ notice and I was about to take a massive pay cut, I couldn’t afford to buy them a truckload of beer. Not that they were expecting me to buy their drinks, but it felt like it was something I needed to do. I had to take care of them while they were sitting at the bar.
Maybe it was a way of making amends? I didn’t know. It didn’t seem to soften the blow of Darius being there. I got the feeling he hadn’t known I worked here.
If I was smart, I would try to figure out a way to make things better between the two of us. But as the crowd shrank around the bar, I realized I was just too tired to think. I didn’t have it in me to entertain the three of them.
As soon as a stool opened up by Cam and Darius, Adam joined them. They spoke, and at one point it got heated. Darius began yelling at the two of them. It was a necessity with the music, but it was obvious it was an argument.
That’s when it occurred to me that Adam had told them what he had done. That was the only reason I could think the three of them were yelling.
It was enough to get me to come in front of the three of them. There were two empty bottles I took and tossed. “Everything okay?” I asked.
“It’s good,” Adam said, and he put his keys on the bar top. “You good to drive us home?”
“Yeah,” I said without hesitation, taking his keys. Probably not the smartest of ideas. I couldn’t tell him that there wouldn’t be any fun tonight.
He tapped the bar top. “Get me another beer.”
Yeah. Fucking was definitely off the table. I put another bottle of beer in front of him and moved to the next customer.
At closing, the three of them were still at the bar. Elle shot me a look before she disappeared into the bathrooms. She wasn’t gonna play referee or spectator.
I wasn’t gonna complain if I didn’t have to clean the bathrooms, but it would’ve been nice to delay the confrontation I knew was coming. As I approached the three of them, sitting shoulder to shoulder, I realized just how drunk they were.
Elle must have been serving them drinks too. I felt the weight of the day heavily as I planted my hands on the bar top. “What’s the damage?”
“Shouldn’t we be asking you that?” Cam slurred as he pulled out his wallet. “I lost count of how many drinks I got.”
“Did the other girl give you drinks?” I asked.
“Oh yeah,” Adam said, nodding heavily. “Any time it looked like you were ignoring us, I waved her down. Had to keep the drinks flowing.”
I didn’t resist the whine. “Are you gonna be a pain in the ass getting home?” I asked. “Because that’s all I want to do. Go home and go to bed.”
“But, baby,” Adam crooned, “we’re celebrating!”
