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“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
I can see the disappointment in her eyes. There goes her tip for the night. She starts to walk back in the direction of the bar when I call out after her, “Actually, I’ll take a Coke, if that’s alright?”
The waitress turns back around to look at me. She’s very pretty with long auburn hair that’s tied back in a ponytail, and she has a really sweet smile. “Diet or regular?”
“Regular, please.”
“Good for you. Diet Coke tastes like cat piss,” she says, rolling her eyes which are framed with long dark lashes. “I don’t know why Leon always makes us ask. The answer will forever beregular.” A slight smile forms at the corner of her mouth as she surveys the room. “Find a seat, and I’ll bring your drink over in a sec.”
“Actually, I’m looking for someone. Do you happen to know where I can find Cassie?”
“You’ve found her. Who’s asking?”
Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be.
“Reed told me to ask for you. My name is Sienna. I’m a friend of Reed’s, well… sort of; anyway… he told me Kael Jenkins is here somewhere. I’ve come to take him home.”
The sound of glass smashing suddenly cuts through our conversation. Cassie startles and then curses under her breath, shaking her head as she points to a booth at the very back of the room that’s hidden in the shadows.
“Congratulations, you just found him,” she says, gritting her teeth. “And it’s about damn time. That’s the third glass he’s broken. He’s lucky Leon isn’t working tonight, or he’d be out on his ass.”
“Is Jaxon here?”
“Yeah, he’s over there,” she says, wiping her hands on a towel that’s slung over one shoulder. She nods her head toward the cigarette machine on the opposite side of the room.
“Thanks,” I tell her, and then head in that direction.
“Hey, Jaxon, what’s—” I jump a freaking mile in the air when he pounds his fist hard into the side of the machine.
“Fucking thing never works!” He looks over his shoulder toward the bar. “Hey, Cass,” he shouts, cupping his mouth with both hands. “You owe me a pack of menthol double. Or give me my fucking twenty bucks back.”
Cassie flips him the bird.
Okay. Enough distractions. I came here for a reason. I turn back to look at Jaxon, only to find him imitating a rather vulgar sex act that involves his hand and his mouth.
I hear Cassie burst out laughing behind me, but I don’t bother turning around.
“Jaxon, listen to me. Focus.”
“What’s up, Jonesy? You seem tense.”
“Have you spoken to Kael? Is he alright?”
“No. He’s not alright. He’s a fucking loose cannon, not to mention a miserable sack of shit. He hasn’t been himself lately. He won’t talk to me. But you know what, I’m done babysitting him. I’ve got places to be. He’s all yours!”
Jaxon pushes past me, knocking into my shoulder which makes me stumble. I grab the back of a nearby booth to steady myself.
Geez, he’s in a delightful mood.
Narrowing my eyes toward the booths at the very rear of the bar, I recognize the side of Kael’s face in the muted light. His sharp jawline is covered in dark stubble. He obviously hasn’t shaved since the last time I saw him, which is almost a month ago, but it feels like so much longer.
I take a few steps in that direction, although I’m terrified to think of what I’ll find when I get closer.
When I eventually reach his booth, I can see he’s nursing a tumbler in his hands. It’s full of some sort of clear liquid, most likely vodka. There’s ice in it so I can tell it’s a fresh drink.
Not his first for the night.Great.
He looks like he’s aged in the last few weeks. He looks different. Older. He also looks more muscular, which means he’s been jogging more than normal, or hitting the gym more frequently.
