Chapter 17 #2
She chuckles and shakes her head. “You two may look alike, but you are as different as night and day.” Tapping the bar, she adds, “I’ll let you two catch up. Holler if you need anything.”
I watch her walk away, because I can’t seem to help myself.
Cade whistles. “Damn, you have it bad.” He takes a sip before adding, “Never thought I’d see the day.”
I know exactly what he’s talking about. “Me neither.”
After a beat, Cade asks, “Have you seen her?”
Keeping my eyes on the baseball game on TV, I confirm, “Here and there. Haven’t spoken.”
I don’t have to tell him how badly it hurt to see her. Living the life we were supposed to have. Together.
But looking back now, I don’t even really recognize that life or the person I shared it with.
Hell, I don’t even recognize myself. A lot has changed since then, and it wasn’t until right now that I realize it’s changed for the better.
I feel more settled, more content than ever before, and to be honest, I could not care less about looking over my shoulder or what people are saying about me.
My eyes seek out Lizzie, who’s standing by Tom and Larry, chatting it up.
She fits in so fluidly here—with me—and never in a million years did I expect to say something like that.
I never expected to find myself completely enamored with an outsider, someone who blew into town and turned my life on end.
As badly as I anticipated her arrival in town and at the bar to be, it was anything but.
“Have you told her yet?” he asks, grabbing my attention once more. There’s no question as to who the her is he’s referring to.
“No.”
There’s a pregnant pause before he asks, “You gonna?”
I exhale, not wanting to have this conversation right now. Not when I’m sitting in the bar, my eyes locked on the one woman I can’t seem to get off my mind. I don’t want to talk about Whitney. Not tonight. Not ever.
But I know that’s not logical. Talking—especially about your past—is a key element in any relationship.
I just never really got to that point with any of the women I’ve dated since the whole Whitney mess.
However, I can already tell Lizzie is different.
I want to talk to her, get to know her, share things with her, and that means I’m going to have to share what happened with my ex.
When I’m ready.
“Yeah,” I finally confirm, answering his burning question.
“Good. Doesn’t have to be today, but if that dopey look on your face is any indication, you’re already falling for this girl.
Make sure she knows everything, especially since you know Whit.
Chances are, when the Cooper Town rumor mill starts its thing, she’ll hear all about you and your hot new girlfriend. She’s gonna have to investigate.”
“She needs to mind her own fucking business,” I counter, my tone downright lethal.
“Agreed, but we both know that won’t happen.”
I grunt in response, because he’s absolutely right.
In fact, I’m surprised Whitney and her posse of bitchy friends haven’t already come in to give their opinions about The Tipsy Lizard.
Everything from the new owner to the décor to the updated name and logo are free game when it comes to busybody gossips like that group.
“Anyway, you’ve done well to tune out the chatter around you, but it might be more difficult now with her,” Cade says softly, referring to the woman across the bar.
“I hear ya.”
“Good. The last thing I’d want is for Whit to fuck up the best thing that’s happened to you in the last decade,” he replies. “You have any problems, let me know. I’ll sic Charli on them.”
I chuckle at the thought. My sister hates my ex with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.
She has no problem letting her opinion of Whitney fly and doesn’t care where she’s at when she does it.
Of course, the feeling’s mutual, mostly because Whitney knows my sister is right in what she says and has the upper hand, and Whitney hates that.
“Anyway, I’m gonna head out. We’ve got a bridge deck pour in the morning, and the laborers I’m shoveling with are green as fuck, which means I’ll be doing most of the work.”
I lift my chin as he stands.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I can see the difference in you.
I hope whatever it is, you just stay present.
It’s that simple. Don’t let the noise in the background fuck up a good thing,” he states, turning and glancing at Lizzie.
“And something tells me, she’s good, man. Probably too good for your dumb ass.”
I snort and grin, catching her attention. We stare at each other, a secret, knowing smile on her beautiful face. “She’s definitely too good for me.” Taking a deep breath, I return my attention to him and add, “It’s still early days, but I like her. I like the way I feel when I’m with her.”
He slaps me on the back, nice and hard, the way any good brother would. “Happy to hear that. And don’t piss her off. I’ve seen her family, and I have a feeling you’d disappear, never to be heard from again.”
I want to laugh at his statement, but to be honest, I can’t. While I don’t get mafia vibes from them, they definitely protect their own. I have no doubt if they wanted me to disappear, they could make it happen.
And then help everyone look for my body.
“Have a good day tomorrow. Be safe,” he says, throwing his hand up to wave at Lizzie. “Night, Lizzie Lou! I’ll have your side of the bed ready.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Good night, Cade.”
I sit here, nursing what’s left of my Coke for another hour, watching her and chatting when she makes her way down to my end of the bar.
Unfortunately, I need to get home, or I won’t have enough clean clothes to take with me to work.
I always make sure I have three days’ worth, because you never know when you’ll have to change or stay late.
I pull my wallet out to leave a tip and realize we’re low on a couple of the popular bottled beers. Dropping the cash on the bar, I get up and head toward the cooler. Just as I step inside and move to the cases I want, I hear someone enter behind me. “What are you doing?” she asks.
“Well, I was getting ready to leave and thought I’d help first.” I grab two of the cases and turn to face her.
She’s smiling. “I could have gotten them.”
“I know, but I thought I’d do it quick.”
She steps to where I stand, the beer separating us. “Thank you,” she whispers before going up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips to mine.
There’s no way to deepen the kiss, not with the cases between us, but that’s okay. If I did, I’m liable to toss the beer to the side, say fuck it to the customers in the bar, and do very dirty things to her right here in the walk-in cooler.
“You’re welcome,” I reply when she pulls back. “I’ll help stock these, and then I gotta take off.”
She nods. “Okay. I’ll see you when you get back to town.”
I nod. “I might be able to call you,” I find myself saying, surprising the both of us. “Or maybe text.”
“Oh, okay. I’d like that,” she agrees, offering one more smile. “Be safe.”
“I will,” I state, leaning forward and brushing my lips to hers once more.
We walk out together, her making sure the old door is latched firmly behind me.
I don’t miss the way the regulars smile when they see us, as if they know there were a few stolen kisses in that walk-in cooler.
Kisses we said wouldn’t happen while at the bar, but to be honest, it feels like the most natural thing in the world to kiss her—here, anywhere.
“See you guys later,” I holler to those at the bar, throwing up my hand in a wave before I leave.
“See you in a few days,” Tom replies with a wave.
Feeling Lizzie’s eyes on me, I give her my attention one last time and wink. She grins ever so softly, and that one simple gesture goes straight to my heart. Like a fucking bow and arrow, it hits its target with a sharp punch.
I push out the back door, smiling as I walk to my truck, all while wishing I could stay.
Stay with her now.
Stay with her tonight.
It’s literally been one day since we took our relationship to the next level. The fact I don’t want to leave is awfully telling, if you ask me. For a man who kept everyone except family at a distance, I sure am eager to jump into the unknown with both feet.
My brother’s right.
I do feel lighter, happier.
In just a short amount of time, she’s turned my world upside down.
And do you know what? I like it.
I whistle as I climb into my truck and head for home. Tomorrow I’ll have to focus on my job, but tonight, I’ll let her consume my every thought and dream until then.
I’m already anxious to see her when I get back.