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“He didnotsay that.”
Savannah laughs bitterly. “Oh, he did. He kept telling me Ishould just move back with him, and we could see each other any time I wanted. As if it was that easy.”
Savannah was a year older than me. After finishing college, she got a job in Houston, where she met the asshole, but last year she decided to move back to Bluebonnet because Mrs. Parker, her grandmother, had some health issues. Savannah wanted to be there to help the woman who raised her. As it just played out, one of the first-grade teachers was retiring, which worked perfectly for her, but the asshat didn’t want to move with her and leave his big corporate job. Hell, I don’t even know if he came to town more than once.
“What an arrogant piece of shit. I swear to you, if he was here right now, I would have kicked him in the balls.”
“Umm, should I come another time?”
We both turn around to find Nico standing next to our table. A beer is in his hand, and with the other, he’s rubbing at the nape of his neck as he gives us a wary glance.
“Are you an arrogant, self-centered bastard?” I ask, just as the waitress comes with our drinks. She gives me a nasty look, but I ignore her, shifting my attention to the man in front of me.
The corner of Nico’s mouth lifts upward, revealing a dimple in his cheek. “Well, I most certainly try not to be.” He glances from me to Savannah and back. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Savannah waves her hand. “It’s not like it’s anything new. Mark always has something better to do than come here to visit. By now, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Screw him,” I turn toward her, placing my hand over hers and giving it a squeeze. “He’s the one at a loss here. And we’ll have an amazing night, drinking margaritas, and who knows, maybe you find a nice guy to dance with that’ll make you forget about that piece of shit.”
“Yes to the drinks, no to the guys. I think I’ve had enough ofthem for the moment.” Savannah’s gaze darts toward Nico. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Nico shakes his head, sliding into the open seat next to me.
“Besides, didn’t you say that you can’t stay long?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling that familiar prickle of guilt rising inside my chest anytime I was away from home. The weight of responsibility I’ve been carrying on my shoulders for the last four years feels heavy.
She’s fine, and she’s not alone, I remind myself.Nothing will happen if I have a few drinks with friends.
“It’s okay. I can stay and make sure you get home if that’s what you need.”
“Good, because I feel like drinking tonight.” With that, she downs her drink, making a face when the alcohol burns down her throat, and lifts her arm to flag the server for another round. “Okay, so enough about my annoying boyfriend. What’s up with you two?”
“I just came from the station. It’s been crazy this past week,” Nico says as he takes a pull from his beer bottle.
“What happened?” I ask, glancing at him. Nico decided to forgo college and went to the police academy instead, and last year, he’d been transferred to work in Bluebonnet. “Did Mr. Brown think somebody is trying to break into his house again?”
“On the clock,” Nico sighs. “And then old Mrs. Willow called earlier today because her cat climbed the tree and wouldn’t get down, and since the fire department was busy with a call of their own, I was the lucky guy who had to deal with that mess.” He looks down at his naked forearms. “The damn cat scratched me when I finally managed to get to her. Vicious beast, that one.”
I can’t help myself. I start laughing as Nico visibly shudders.
“Poor little thing,” I coo, patting him on the hand. “Now you get a chance to show off your scars to the ladies.”
“You just laugh, but that’s not even the worst part. After I was done, she tried to set me up with her granddaughter!”
“She did not,” Savannah gasps. “What is she, forty or something?”
“Most likely,” I agree. Mrs. Willow was in her late eighties if I wasn’t mistaken, and she was still holding strong. I swear that woman will outlive us all. “Not into older women, Nico?” I wiggle my brows, unable to stop teasing him. This is just too good.
“Not that much older!” Nico protests when I lift my eyebrow in challenge. “Not that there is anythingwrongwith older women, it’s just… You know what? I think I’ll just shut up now.”
His cheeks turn pink in embarrassment, which only makes me laugh harder. I didn’t realize how much I needed a relaxing night with friends until this very moment. Hearing about Nico’s misadventures was a nice bonus, too.
“You’re the worst, Becky!” Sav protests, taking a sip of her drink.
“Hey, I wasn’t the only one laughing!” I nudge a still-blushing Nico with my elbow. “C’mon, I’ll get you a new beer as an apology.” I turn around, looking for the server, but The Hut ispacked.It might just be easier to go to the bar. It was pretty full, mostly guys nursing their drinks. “What about you, Sav?” I start to turn to her when a tall figure with dark, curly hair catches my attention and makes me do a double-take. “Want another o—”
The words die on my lips, my mouth falling open as my gaze sets on a familiar face. A face I never thought I’d see again.
