Hashtag Home Run (Houston Honky Tonks #1)

Chapter 1 Hollis

Hollis

Nothing says welcome home quite like your childhood best friend ordering you a shot at the same exact moment your ex-boyfriend walks into the very same bar.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groan, glaring at the doorway as if it’s personally responsible for this epic betrayal. Then again, that might be the tequila talking. We did just order our second round of shots.

“What?” Candice asks, her attention shifting from the incredibly hot bartender (the one who looks like he could be Henry Cavill’s distant cousin) back to me.

“Brett just walked in.”

“Wait, what?” Logan asks, popping her head up over Candice’s shoulder as she scans the room for my ex.

Candice winces, her neck sinking low into her shoulders. “Oops.”

My head snaps in her direction. “Oops?”

“There’s a slight chance this could be my fault,” Candice admits sheepishly.

“Candy!” The sound comes out way more shrill than I’d like, but panic tends to do that to a girl. “What did you do? Please tell me you didn’t invite him?”

We’ve been best friends since preschool.

She knows my favorite snacks, my childhood crushes, and my deepest, darkest secrets.

One would assume she’d know better than to think I’d ever be interested in starting something back up with Brett.

If anything, the past two years I spent living in Los Angeles only strengthened my conviction that ending things with him was the right choice.

Has she already forgotten the number one rule of best friends’ club? Never, ever, invite your best friend’s ex to anything. He’s an ex for a reason. She’s lucky we don’t have membership cards, otherwise I’d seriously consider revoking hers.

She shakes her head. “No, of course not. I’m not that stupid,” she insists, though for me, it’s still up for debate.

“But I may have told Kenny we were going out tonight to celebrate your return to Texas. Those two are still somehow bro’ing it up as besties, so I’m going to assume it was Kenny with the loose lips.

” She places a hand on my knee. “And hey, if that’s what actually happened, I’ve got your back, and he definitely won’t be getting any from me tonight. ”

My head dips back as a loud whine escapes my lips.

I’m not usually this dramatic, but seriously? How am I still dealing with this man two whole years later?

I ended things with Brett right after we graduated college, and before I moved halfway across the country. He’d begged and pleaded with me not to break things off, even going so far as to offer to move across the country with me, but I shot him down.

Our college years were fun and all, but despite caring about him, it became increasingly obvious he was much more serious about me than I ever was about him.

The final nail in that coffin came when Kenny, Candice’s longtime high school boyfriend, hinted to her that Brett was looking at engagement rings. Apparently it was his job to get insider information from my best friend about what style of ring I wanted.

Thankfully, she’d had my back and I’d been able to nip that one in the bud before things went too far and Brett got down on one knee.

In our small-town bubble, people getting married right out of college is somehow normal, but the last thing I want or need is normal.

I’ve always planned to live an extraordinary life, and for me, staying in a committed relationship with someone I’d outgrown wasn’t the way to make those dreams happen.

Eventually I’ll settle down and plant some roots, but when I do, it will be with the right person. Unfortunately, for Brett Young, it’s just not him.

Even now I can admit as he glances around the bar, likely in search of me, not all of my feelings for him have vanished.

I’m not a total monster. He was a great boyfriend, after all.

He was kind, attentive, and incredibly good-looking, but just because someone is a decent person doesn’t mean I’m obligated to stay with them.

There are times in life when you have to be honest, even if it means someone gets hurt in the process.

“Maybe it’s just a crazy coincidence,” Logan offers, wearing her usual rose-colored, optimism-powered glasses. “This is one of the best bars in town, after all.”

“Maybe,” I offer, but like usual, I trust my gut, and right now it's screaming that he’s here for a second shot—and not the yummy kind served with salt and a lime.

His eyes find mine and they immediately light up. He makes a beeline straight for us.

Shit!

Would it really be so bad if I ran and hid?

It would make my life so much easier, but it’s clear the time for running has passed. The only thing to do now is focus on the positive, and right now, the only one I’ve got is the hottie behind the bar delivering our shots.

I don’t wait for my friends to grab theirs and clink them together like usual. Nope. I pick mine up and slam it back, wincing as it burns the back of my throat, and for once, it’s a welcome distraction.

If I’m going to have to deal with my ex on my first night back in town, I need to be fueled by alcohol. I’m way too sober for this shit.

“Hollis,” Brett’s familiar voice rings out as he approaches our small group. “I heard a little rumor you were back in town,” he beams, confirming all my fears.

God, I really am going to have to shut him down all over again.

“You heard right,” I nod, doing my best to keep my voice friendly despite the irritation already festering inside.

“I also heard you got a job working for your dad. So I take it this means you’re planning to stick around for a while?” he asks, the hope obvious as he gazes at me with his overly-adoring puppy-dog eyes.

Once upon a time, I found that look endearing. It gave me hope that, in time, I’d grow to care for him in the same way he seemed to love me. But unfortunately, the feelings never came—at least not in the way he wanted or deserved.

“You heard right.” I force a smile, doing my best to tiptoe the fine line between being friendly and not leading him on.

“But unfortunately, it also means I plan to stay pretty busy. Tonight is my only real night of freedom before getting to work, and once I’m in Houston, I don’t see myself having any free time at all. ”

His head bobs in acknowledgment, that same lovesick grin still plastered across his face.

Wonder-fucking-full. So much for expecting him to take the hint.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll need a break at some point, and when that happens we should catch up. You know I’d love to take you out,” he says, once again reminding me why we never worked in the first place. He sucked at listening then, and he’s clearly maintained that frustrating talent.

My smile falters.

No. I don’t want to go out with Brett. But I’m also not looking to go down in history as the evil ex who not only crushed him once, but twice. Why can’t I just be one of those women who stand up for themselves and tell men how it is without a care in the world for their fragile egos?

At least when I was leaving town, I had that as an excuse. But what can I say now that won’t shatter him all over again? I’m seriously running out of polite ways to say no, and I’m guessing faking my own death would probably fall under the category of being a little too dramatic.

“Hey babe,” a deep voice cuts in, surprising us all as he slides in beside me, his strong arm wrapping around my waist. “Sorry. I had to take that call,” he apologizes, gazing down at me before turning toward Brett as though he’s only just noticed his presence. “Who’s your friend?”

There’s something vaguely familiar about him.

Or maybe it’s the fact he has the kind of face that makes you want to stop and look twice or really, just stop and stare altogether.

With strong, chiseled features, he’s clearly been blessed by the gods with a sharp jawline and deep brown eyes framed by equally dark brows.

His body feels solid against my own, making me far too aware of the muscles lurking under his tight, tan T-shirt. While I’d normally judge someone for wearing a hat inside—and backwards at that—it somehow works with his boyish charm.

I’m sure I look insane as I gaze up at this stranger, my eyes likely bulging out of their sockets in the most unattractive way. He nods for me to speak, and only then do I pull myself together enough to clear my throat.

“Uh, this is my old friend, Brett Young,” I manage, forcing my attention back to my ex.

Brett is, of course, attractive in his own clean-cut way, but he’s got nothing on the man who somehow inserted himself into this conversation.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Brett,” the stranger says, holding out his free hand to shake. “It’s been so nice meeting all of her friends. Oh, and I’m Mason by the way. Her boyfriend,” he casually states, like he didn’t just drop a huge bomb on us.

What the hell is happening here?

Does he really think anyone is going to buy this? Then again, with the way Brett’s smile falters, maybe he’s actually onto something.

“Oh, wow. I had no idea,” Brett says, the betrayal noticeable in his eyes as they dart between me and my so-called ‘boyfriend’.

Yeah, neither did I.

I want to say something. I should say something. Hell, I need to say something, but my mind is a black hole of nothingness.

“Well, if it makes you feel better,” Candice cuts in. “Neither did we. It got sprung on all of us tonight as a surprise,” she adds, her bright, cheery voice saving me and perhaps redeeming herself after causing this mess in the first place.

If anyone were to know about me having a boyfriend, it’d be Candice. If she’d known, she would have told Kenny, who ultimately would’ve passed the news on to his best buddy, Brett.

“Well, it’s all pretty new,” I attempt, my voice weak, but it’s still all I can manage, along with a sheepish shrug

Brett looks confused, and I don’t blame him.

This whole thing doesn’t make a lot of sense. I can only pray that from here on out he doesn’t ask too many questions. I’m pretty sure I have just as many as he does.