16. Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Cal
Aiden waved to me from a huge booth in the corner of the bar. I squeezed through the crowd and slid onto the bench across from him.
“How’d you snag this?” I asked.
Fridays at Church Street Brews were always packed, but the bar was especially crowded because amateur open mic night started in an hour. Our booth had a decent view of the stage without being in the middle of the crowd.
Aiden spread his arms wide on the bench and stretched. “I brought my crew for happy hour.”
“And none of them wanted to stick around for open mic?”
“A few are still here,” Aiden said, nodding his chin toward a group of men standing near the bar. “I told them to get lost just before you got here.”
“That’s cold man, even for you. There’s plenty of room.”
“For all the women we’ll be inviting to join us,” he said with a smirk. “Don’t worry about my guys. They know the drill. Have a couple rounds on me then get lost. Besides, who’d want to hang out with their boss on a Friday night?”
“Definitely not me,” I said.
A waitress stopped by the table with a full pitcher, a stack of plastic cups, and a can of Liquid Death.
“Thanks, Brandi,” Aiden said with a wink and handed her a twenty. “Feel free to refill the pitcher whenever it’s low and bring another can of that shit.”
“You got it,” she said and hurried off to a nearby table.
“I can start a tab,” I said, reaching for my wallet.
Aiden shook his head. “I already have one.”
“So, you just tip the waitress twenty every time she comes to the table?”
Aiden shrugged. “Her kid has a lot of medical shit. And I guarantee we’ll never have to wait for drinks.”
I shook my head. Typical Aiden. He liked everyone to think he’s a complete dick, but he’d do anything for the guys on his crew, or anyone else who needed help. I leaned back and studied him.
Aiden poured me a beer and slid it across the table. “How’s work going?”
“You wrote those reviews, didn’t you?”
Aiden shrugged. “Thought it might help. I stopped when I saw how much it ticked off Avery. Sorry if I made things worse.”
“Thanks, man,” I said. “It was a good idea, but unless I can get her to take down the others soon, or at least stop posting, Cohen will fire me. He thinks I should sue Avery.”
Aiden rolled his beer in his hands. “If she won’t take them down, you might have to.”
I shook my head. “She’s hurt. I’m sure I can convince her to remove them, eventually.”
“What happens if Cohen fires you before then? Will you get a job at another practice or start your own?”
I blew out a breath. “Honestly, I don’t know. I doubt anyone else would take the risk, even if they knew the online stuff was bullshit. But with reviews like mine, I’d never be able to bring in enough patients to build a practice. At least not here. Even if I sued Avery to take them down, it would take a while, longer than I can afford to not work.”
Aiden slumped back onto the bench. “Shit, you’re right. You’d have to start over somewhere else.”
I nodded. “Don’t tell Theo.”
Aiden glared at me. “How stupid do you think I am? I might swing a hammer all day, but I don’t have shit for brains.”
He grabbed his beer and tossed the whole cup back before crushing it against the table.
“Uh oh,” Theo said sliding onto the bench beside Aiden. “Who pissed him off?”
Aiden shook his head. “Damn supplier. He said he’d have the tiles I needed by Wednesday. They still haven’t arrived. Set the entire project behind.”
“That sucks,” Theo said, reaching for his non-alcoholic drink. “Who do I thank for this?”
Aiden held up his hand, and Theo nodded. “Thanks, man.”
“You’re driving my ass home later. I’m buying all night.”
“You don’t have to buy mine,” I said.
“I said I was buying all night. Now, shut up and drink. I’m two rounds ahead of you already.”
“Thanks for getting here early to grab a booth,” Theo said. “I assume you wanted the extra space because you plan to get laid tonight.”
Aiden nodded. “Observant as always. I have some tension to work off.” He slapped Theo on the back and he winced.
“You ok?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Theo said. “I got new ink today, and this dickhead found it.”
Aiden smirked. “It’s a gift. What’d you get?”
“Poppy,” Theo said, looking across the bar.
“No shit,” Aiden said. “I knew it. You and the Goth Pixie, huh? Is it her name or did you go symbolic and get the flower?”
“Shut up,” Theo hissed. “I didn’t get a fucking flower or her name. She just walked in.”
My head snapped to the direction Theo pointed, and sure enough, Poppy was making her way toward the bar with Rowan and Lauren.
“Mind if I ask them over?” Theo asked.
“Sure,” I said, relieved he’d suggested it, so I didn’t have to. Aiden had been giving me shit about Rowan all week.
Aiden grunted and stared at his beer.
Theo slid from the booth and made his way to the women. Poppy smiled at him, which wasn’t something she did often, and re-introduced him to Rowan. They shook hands, and I didn’t miss the flash of shock that crossed her face. She pushed it down and said something that made Theo laugh. Lauren waved at Theo and headed to the bar, shooing Poppy and Rowan away.
“Hello again,” Rowan said to me as she approached the booth. I stood and greeted her with a hug, the whole time fighting the urge to bury my face in her hair. She wore it down tonight in gentle waves that brushed the tops of her breasts, which peeked from a simple black tank top. Her short jean skirt showed off her toned legs, and I caught one of Aiden’s guys checking her out. I motioned for her to slide into the booth first. Any asshole who tried to talk to her tonight had to lean over me. She reached across the table and offered Aiden her hand.
“Nice to see you again, Aiden,” she said.
He gripped her fingers and ran his eyes up and down her body. “Very nice to see you, Rowan.”
I cleared my throat and he dropped her hand with a chuckle. Theo watched the exchange and slid in beside him, creating a wall of tattooed muscle between Aiden and Poppy.
“Hey Aiden,” Poppy said. “Mind passing the drink menu? I want to know what’s in the fruity shit Lauren brings me.”
“Sure thing,” he said, grabbing the menu and shoving it down the table.
“How’s Chris’s training going?” Theo asked me and glanced at Aiden, who’d started shredding a napkin, something he used to do in high school whenever he was nervous about a game or asking out a girl. I hadn’t seen him do it in years.
“Great. We’re going to the park tomorrow at ten if you want to join us.”
Theo nodded at Aiden, and I finally picked up the hint he was throwing down. “You should come, Aiden. Rowan and Poppy’s little brother is trying out for wide receiver next month. I’m throwing him passes as best I can, but I was never a quarterback. He could learn a lot from you. He’s really agile, and if he keeps improving his routes, I think he’ll be a varsity starter.”
“Really?” Rowan asked. “I mean, I think Chris is wonderful at whatever he does, but I’m biased.”
“No, he’s great,” Theo said. “Special even. I’m surprised he didn’t make varsity earlier.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “How would you know?”
Theo chuckled and Poppy snuck a glance at him while pretending to read the drink menu. It was clear she liked him. Too bad Theo had left so much room between them he might as well be snuggling with Aiden.
“I watched y’all play for years,” Theo said. “I know talent when I see it.”
Aiden nodded. “Not sure what I could do for the kid. I can’t throw for shit anymore.”
“Have you tried?” Theo asked.
“I don’t need to,” Aiden snapped. “My shoulder still hurts like a bitch if I use it too much.”
Theo nodded and shoved his back against the booth, shifting like he was trying to scratch an itch. To anyone else, it’d look innocent enough, but I knew better. I wanted to reach across the table and smack Aiden, and judging by the look on his face, he wished I would. Theo was hurting himself, right in front of us, rubbing his damaged skin to intensify the pain. I wasn’t surprised he’d gotten another tattoo. He always marked his body in some way or another near the anniversary of the accident. Sometimes more than once. He claimed it was to honor Logan, and maybe that was part of it. But more than anything, he used the physical pain to ease his guilt.
“Stop,” Aiden said, through gritted teeth.
Poppy and Rowan both stared at him, and then at Theo.
“What’d I miss?” Lauren asked, joining us with three tall pink drinks pressed together. She set them on the table and slid the first to Rowan. “Hey, Aiden,” she said.
He gave her a brief nod and grabbed another napkin.
Rowan glanced between Lauren and Aiden and raised her eyebrows at her best friend. Lauren ignored her and slid into the booth beside me, passing Poppy a drink. I moved closer to Rowan to give Lauren space, and my thigh touched her leg. A bolt of lust shot through my body. Fuck, this was ridiculous. I hadn’t felt so out of control since puberty.
“What is this?” Poppy said giving the glass a sniff. “I swear if it’s some Carrie Bradshaw Cosmo shit, I’m throwing it at you.”
“I’d never,” Lauren said. “Besides, those come in a martini glass. Just try it.”
Poppy brought the glass to her lips like it contained poison and sipped. “Mm,” she said, and then slurped a hefty gulp. “Not bad.”
“Don’t tell her what it is,” Rowan said, after taking a sip from her own glass. “Or she won’t drink it.”
“Do you know what it is?” Poppy asked, glaring at Rowan.
“Of course,” Rowan said, taking another sip. “So would you if you didn’t pretend to only like whiskey.”
“May I?” I asked Rowan, and she slid the drink to me. It was crisp and fruity, and I couldn’t taste the alcohol at all. These things could be lethal.
“Delicious,” I said, handing the drink back to her. “Almost the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Rowan blushed, and Theo smirked at me. Usually, Aiden would have as well but he was focused on destroying another napkin.
“Well, Cal, what the fuck is it?” Poppy snapped.
I shrugged. “I pretend to only like beer. Clearly, I’ve been missing out.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes. “I hate all y’all.”
Everyone laughed except Aiden.
“I’ve never been to open mic here,” Rowan said, looking at the stage. “Are they any good?”
“It depends,” Poppy said. At the rate she was going, she’d finish her drink before the first act. “We have some decent musicians in town, but we also have some tone-deaf ones with zero self-awareness.”
“I hope Dr. Evers does his magic act tonight,” Lauren said with a smile. Aiden shifted in his seat and stared at the napkin in his hands.
“I didn’t know Dr. Evers was a magician,” Rowan said, pushing her glass toward me. It tasted better than beer, and I enjoyed another sip before sliding it back to her.
“It’s more comedy act than magic,” I said. “Mrs. Evers is his assistant. She’s the real comedian of the pair.”
“Oh, I hope they’re here tonight.” Rowan scanned the room, but the bar was so crowded it was impossible to see everyone. “I haven’t seen Mrs. Evers since I’ve been back.”
“Check her Insta,” Poppy said, eyeing her empty glass. “She usually posts if they’re performing.”
“You follow Mrs. Evers?” I asked.
“Of course,” Rowan said with a smile. “She was my favorite teacher in high school.”
“She hated me,” I said, taking a sip of my beer.
“I doubt that,” Rowan said. “I bet she just didn’t worship you like all the others.”
“That’s an understatement,” Theo said.
I shot him a look to shut the hell up. I’d just gotten back in Rowan’s good graces. I didn’t need Theo telling her about all the stupid shit I’d done in high school or how I almost flunked English. Luckily, he took the hint and asked Poppy about her current sculpture.
While Rowan rooted in her purse for her phone, I leaned over to Lauren and whispered, “Bring Poppy some water with the next round. She took that down pretty fast.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered back. “Looks like someone will take care of her if she overindulges.”
Poppy and Theo had started an animated conversation about some art exhibition in Charlottesville they both wanted to see, and he’d moved a couple inches closer.
“What’s he drinking?” Lauren asked, looking at the can in Theo’s hand. “I think they both need liquid courage, but I’ve never seen that before.”
I shook my head. “He’s straight edge,” I said, pointing to the elaborate X tattoos on Theo’s hands. Several lines appeared on her forehead, and I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about. “It means he doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs.”
“Never?” Rowan asked, leaning into the conversation.
I shook my head.
“What about sex?” Lauren asked.
“Let’s just say I haven’t seen him with a random hookup since he got those tattoos,” I said.
“Damn,” Lauren said, leaning back.
“Seriously, boss bitch,” Poppy said to Lauren, holding up her glass. “What is this? I’ll grab another round.”
I laughed.
“Bet you wish you could call Dr. Cohen that,” Rowan said, chuckling beside me.
“I got it,” Lauren said, sliding from the booth, though she and Rowan still had half a drink each. “Can I get you anything, gentlemen?”
“We’re set,” Aiden said, and I realized it was the first words he’d spoken since Theo saw Poppy.
“So, are the Everses performing?” I asked Rowan, pointing at the phone in her hand.
“If they are, she didn’t post anything about it.” Her phone vibrated with an incoming text from Brad .
“Ugh,” she said, dropping the phone on the table.
“Is that dickface again?” Poppy shouted.
Rowan nodded.
“Give me the fucking phone,” Poppy said, holding out her hand.
“No, thank you. I only called him back because of the last thing you did to help me.”
“I’m not going to talk to him. I’m going to block him since you’re too chickenshit to do it.”
“I’ll just ignore him like I have all week.”
“Is that your ex?” I asked.
Rowan nodded.
“Is he bothering you?”
Rowan said no at the same time Poppy said yes.
Poppy leaned over Theo and reached for Rowan’s phone. When she still couldn’t grab it, she crawled into his lap and bent over the table, her black-clad ass right in his face. Theo shut his eyes, looking pained, and Aiden laughed into his beer. Poppy swiped Rowan’s phone and went back to her seat.
“Good luck opening it,” Rowan said.
Poppy held the phone to her face and relaxed her features. “Ha,” she said, showing Rowan the open screen. “Still got it.”
“How did you do that?” Rowan asked. “And what do you mean still? How long have you been opening my phone with your face?”
I glanced between the sisters and noticed how similar they looked apart from their hairstyles and clothes. I really was the world’s biggest idiot for not noticing the family resemblance when Rowan came to my office.
Lauren returned with three new drinks. Brandi followed her with a tray holding Theo’s drink, a pitcher of beer, another of water, and a new stack of cups.
“Thanks, Brandi,” Lauren said, “I’ll see you and Max at story hour.”
Brandi turned, but Aiden shouted, “Wait,” and held up another twenty.
Brandi took it with a smile and left.
Lauren glared at him. “I tipped her.”
“So, she got tipped twice,” Aiden said. “I hope you put those on my tab.”
“Why would I do that?” Lauren yelled.
Poppy stopped fiddling with Rowan’s phone and stared at her. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you snap at someone.”
“Me either,” Rowan said.
“Here,” Lauren said, shoving a cup of water at Poppy. “Drink this, and I’ll give you another raspberry mojito.”
Rowan let out a huff, but Poppy grabbed the water and chugged the entire glass in one go.
“Ok, then,” Lauren said with a laugh and slid her another pink drink.
Poppy handed Lauren the phone. “Give this to my sister. I blocked dickhead.”
“Good,” Lauren said, handing the phone past me to Rowan.
“Please help me drink these,” Rowan said, motioning to the pink glasses. “They’re obviously bent on getting hammered tonight, and I’d rather not.”
We finished the first drink together and moved on to the second, our fingers lingering with each pass of the glass. A microphone screeched, and we all looked to the stage where the first act, a semi-decent garage band made up of middle-aged dads, was setting up to play.
The evening unfolded with the typical mix of performers until a tall blonde took the stage for the final act. The entire bar quieted. Something about her drew everyone’s attention in a way none of the other acts had. I felt a tug of recognition but couldn’t place her. Her hands shook as she adjusted the microphone, but she took a deep breath and strummed a few quiet cords on her guitar.
“Is that Cammie?” Lauren said beside me. “I’ve never seen her in makeup or with her hair done like that.”
“I think it is,” Rowan said leaning into me to get a better look.
“Holy shit,” I whispered as Cammie sang, her voice rich and clear.
“Did you know she could sing?” Rowan asked me when the song finished and the bar erupted in applause.
I shook my head.
“I’m going to tell her what a great job she did,” Lauren said, but Cam walked straight off the stage and out the front door while the applause thundered around the bar.
“I’ll try to catch her outside,” Lauren said and pushed her way through the crowd toward the door.
“That was amazing,” Rowan said, her eyes misty.
“It was,” I said, surprised at how tight my voice sounded.
“Let’s play darts,” Poppy said, clapping her hands. “I always play better when I’m buzzed.”
Rowan shifted beside me and winced. “Actually, I think I might walk home.”
“What?” Poppy yelled. “It’s not even midnight. You’re not that old.”
“I need to walk this kink out of my back.”
“I’m sure Cal can help you with that,” Aiden smirked.
I glared at him. It was clear she was in pain. I’d been so caught up in our conversations and the performances, I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed. Apart from a brief trip to the restroom with her sister, she’d been sitting all night.
“I can drive you,” Theo said.
“I’d rather walk,” Rowan said. “It helps.”
“Let’s go,” I said, taking her hand. “I’ll come with you.”
“You’re seriously leaving me alone with these two?” Poppy said, motioning at Theo and Aiden. Neither seemed the least offended.
Rowan chewed her bottom lip. Poppy was more than tipsy. I knew she’d be safe with Theo, but I could understand why Rowan might not want to leave her sister with two men she didn’t really know, especially when one looked like an extra on Breaking Bad .
“I’ll make sure she and Lauren get home safe,” Theo said. “And that Aiden behaves.”
Rowan reached across the table and gave his hand a squeeze. “Thank you,” she said and nudged me to slide out.
She had to do it a second time before I moved because I realized something that shook me. Rowan saw Theo, truly saw him for the man he’d become. And if she was perceptive enough to know him that clearly after only a few hours, what could she see in me?