Chapter Six #2
This is a new low.
The woman leaned across Jonah, smiling. “Hi.”
Roxanne shifted on her stool and stammered. “H-hello.” She cleared her throat and shook her head. “Margarita’s always give me cotton mouth.”
“Same here.” She reached forward and around Jonah, whose stare was pinned on Roxanne though she refused to make eye contact.
“I’m Rachel.” She offered her hand.
Roxanne leaned forward, unintentionally brushing against Jonah’s arm when she shook Rachel’s hand. “Roxanne. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“I work with Roxanne’s brother,” Jonah said.
She was sure it wasn’t meant as a dig, but it stung.
Of course, he’d want to make it clear to his date he wasn’t hitting on her.
And his explanation was accurate. Jonah worked with Ethan on some projects.
She was no more than a familiar acquaintance.
I totally misread this. Heat rose from her chest to her cheeks, and she forced a smile, hoping to mask her embarrassment.
Roxanne slowly swiveled her seat away from Jonah and his date. She tapped her phone, hoping God would throw her a bone, and she’d have a message from Emory. Nothing. Obviously, God was a man.
“Our table is ready, babe,” Rachel said, and Roxanne angled her head to glance over at them. Their demeanors were interesting. She seemed completely at ease, while Jonah seemed tense and on edge.
Rachel gave a short wave. “Nice meeting you, Roxanne.”
“You too. Have a nice night.” Rachel pushed away from Jonah and turned her back. Roxanne let her gaze travel up his arms to his face. Jonah was staring at her with a look she couldn’t figure out.
She forced a smile. “Enjoy your dinner.”
His chin jerked, but he said nothing. She turned away from him, feeling the heat burn against her cheeks.
Roxanne spent the next five minutes sipping her drink, checking her phone and resisting the urge to spy on Jonah and Rachel.
She should’ve tried harder. When she casually glanced around the dining area, they weren’t hard to find.
As fate would have it, being the cruel bitch that she is, they were seated directly behind her.
It would’ve been perfect had there not been a mirror behind the bar giving her a perfect view of their table.
They sat next to each other as opposed to across.
The minor detail cinched it for her—this was an intimate date and, more so, it wasn’t a first. They knew each other.
Rachel was comfortable enough to touch him.
Roxanne craned her neck to watch Rachel laugh and Jonah smile at something she said.
Fuck my life.
She lifted her hand, waving to Jase and then pointing to her empty glass. “Another one.”
This would probably end badly, but if she was forced to sit in a bar alone, she was drinking. She grabbed her phone and texted Emory.
Roxanne: Where are you?
She waited, refusing to look in the mirrored backdrop.
Emory: I’m soooo sorry. Remember how much you love me and have another drink. I’ll pay the tab, promise.
Roxanne shook her head, in dire need of a distraction.
She made her way to the restrooms. It was the perfect excuse to kill time.
The line was longer than she expected and served its purpose.
Fifteen minutes later, she was walking back to the bar.
Roxanne was careful to keep her eyes straightforward. Do not look at them.
She hopped up on her stool, and Jase placed her drink down. “Was getting worried about you?”
Roxanne snorted. “Afraid I took off without paying and stiffed you on your tip? Don’t worry, I’m here until my best friend decides to show up. She’s picking up this tab.”
“Well damn, you’re a popular girl tonight! Everyone wants to buy you drinks.” He pressed his palms on the counter, leaning against the bar.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your friend with the tats.”
What? Roxanne blinked and sat up, almost falling off her stool. What was he talking about? Before she could ask, Jase gestured toward the dining area.
“Your friend with the beer from earlier? He told his waitress to add your drinks to his bill.”
She spun around on her stool, immediately regretting it.
Rachel was grasping Jonah’s arm and whispering something in his ear.
They looked perfect together. Her beauty and his rugged good looks.
They just worked. Ugh, why do I even care?
She barely knew Jonah aside from a few conversations and his friendship with her brothers.
It was ridiculous to feel any type of jealousy. But she did.
Roxanne slowly turned toward the bar and grabbed her bag.
This night was officially over. While it was a gracious gesture on Jonah’s end, it was humiliating on hers.
Did he feel sorry for her? I mean, I am sitting at a bar alone after flirting with him while his date was in the bathroom.
It screamed desperation. I didn’t know he was on a date!
“Want to do a shot?” Jase asked. “I’ll treat you to one on the house, save the tat guy six bucks.”
She needed to get out of there. Roxanne shook her head and grabbed her phone. Her fingers frantically tapped her screen.
Roxanne: Now or never, Em.
She dropped the phone on the bar, scanning the mirrored wall of liquor while her foot shook uncontrollably.
As luck would have it, her gaze caught Jonah at his table.
This was torture, but she didn’t look away.
Jonah reached for his beer, drawing her gaze to his arm.
The sleeve tattoo was colorful, but she was too far away to make out the design.
She should’ve paid more attention when he was next to her.
She squinted, noticing lots of black and some blue, then a large green insignia.
His arm hadn’t moved, which seemed odd because he was reaching for his beer. She glanced up and sucked in a breath when she noticed his eyes locked on her.
Shit!
Roxanne jerked her gaze when her phone pinged. She grabbed it, reading the message.
Emory: I know, I’m sorry. Give me another 20 minutes. 30 tops.
No way. She scoffed, and her fingers flew over the screen.
Roxanne: I’m leaving.
She tapped her phone, shoved it in her pocketbook and slipped off the stool. “Jase, how much do I owe you?”
She already had her wallet out and was sifting through her cash.
“Your friend with the tats is picking up the bill.”
Oh no, he’s not! She shook her head but didn’t look up. There was no way she would allow Jonah to pay for her drinks. Especially when he was out with another woman. “I’m paying, so how much?”
“Uh …” he stalled, tallying up her bill. “Twenty-eight.”
She tossed two twenties down and shoved her wallet in her purse. “Keep the change.”
“Not gonna finish your drink?”
“Nope.” She hiked her pocketbook strap over her shoulder and turned toward the exit.
“Hey, wait. Can I get your number?”
Roxanne didn’t bother to stop or turn around. She waved her hand and headed for the door. “Have a good night.”
She walked outside and started down the sidewalk.
She shivered and quickly buttoned her light jacket.
It wasn’t cold, but for some reason a chill ran down her spine as if an arctic blast had hit her.
Making her way toward the curb, she leaned against the streetlamp and pulled out her phone.
Not only had she paid for her own drinks, but now she’d be adding another expense of a car service. Emory owes me.
She ordered a car and her shoulders sagged when she saw the wait time. Ten minutes. On any other night, it would’ve been more than reasonable. But right now, all she wanted to do was go home to her apartment, crawl in bed and forget the night ever happened.
A message flashed on her screen, but Roxanne ignored it. She’d deal with Emory tomorrow. She tucked her phone into her bag and scanned the road. The street was busy for a Thursday night. She paced around the small sidewalk hoping the car would arrive sooner than expected.
I really need this night to end.
****
What are the fucking odds? Thousands of restaurants in the Houston area and she shows up at the same one.
Jonah had only himself to blame. When he’d arrived with Rachel, she’d excused herself to use the bathroom, and he headed to the bar.
The minute he saw Roxanne, he should’ve turned around and waited in the lobby.
But he didn’t. Instead, he walked right up and sat next to her.
While I’m on a date with another woman. He clenched his jaw and silently scoffed.
Date was a bit of a stretch. In the simplest terms, it was dinner and a fuck.
Jonah had been upfront with Rachel, as with all the women he’d been with, from the very beginning.
He wasn’t emotionally available to any woman.
Too much baggage and responsibility. Casual was the only way he’d have an intimate relationship.
It seemed like a perfect match with the woman sitting next to him.
Rachel was more than happy to go out every few months, have a few laughs, eat some dinner and go back to her place and fuck.
She wasn’t invested in him either. It was more of an arrangement than anything else.
Still, he should’ve resisted approaching Roxanne.
It sure would’ve avoided the extremely awkward introduction between Roxanne and his date.
Rachel was oblivious, but he caught Roxanne’s uncomfortable vibe.
If he had to guess, she’d assumed he was alone at the bar.
Of course she’d think that. What kind of man who's out with a woman approaches another when his date is using the bathroom?
Ah, fuck, that’s probably one of Cord’s signature moves. It was official. I’m an asshole.
The waitress placed the check on the table and began clearing the plates. He swiped it before Rachel had an opportunity. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d tried to pay. Though he’d never let her.
“One of these days, you’re going to let me pick up the tab.” Rachel stood. “I’m going to hit the ladies’ room before we go.”