Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
NATHAN
I’m so busy staring at Riley that I don’t notice McLanely passing by with April on his way to the door.
“Hey, Chance.” Layla tips her martini glass toward the Lucky Striker’s captain.
Her words shake me back to reality.
McLanely scowls at Layla, nods at me and then hustles his girlfriend out of there so fast, you’d think the building was on fire.
“That’s the first time a man’s ever run away from me,” Layla muses with a chuckle.
I grunt.
“I’m noticing something strange about Lucky Falls.”
My eyes return to Riley. How could it not? It’s like my brain and my eyeballs have mutinied. I know I shouldn’t be staring like this, but I can’t take my eyes off her.
In the background, I hear Layla droning on. “All the men here are so muscular and good-looking, but they’re also incredibly…”
She lets the sentence dangle as if waiting for me to guess what she means, but I couldn’t give two rat’s tails about what Layla is mumbling about. Every muscle, every vein, every molecule of my body is focused on Riley.
Are the remaining mechanics going to stay and enjoy themselves some more? Or are they going home? How far does Riley live from here? Is she going to walk or drive?
I hope Riley doesn’t plan to drive. I don’t care if she told me—in so many words—not to bother her. There’s not a chance on this green earth that I’m going to let her get behind a vehicle while she’s inebriated.
Layla inhales through her teeth. “Nat.”
“What?”
I feel something poking me in the shoulder and pull my attention away from Riley to find Layla trying to impale me with her monster claws.
“Have you been infected by it too?”
“Infected by what?” I grumble.
“This town.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t get it.” She throws her hands wide. “The vibes here are so… old-fashioned.”
I stare blankly at her.
“Like, for example, I ran into this ten-out-of-ten at the grocery store. He was big. I mean really big. Weirdly enough, he was carrying this Hello Kitty bag, so that should have been my first clue, you know?”
A Hello Kitty bag? Is she talking about Renthrow?
“I walked up to him and asked for help to reach the can on the highest shelf and do you know what he did? He got an attendant and didn’t even talk to me. So, my first thought is that he isn’t attracted to women. But then later, this little girl called him ‘daddy’. So he obviously likes women.”
“Renthrow has a girlfriend and he’s very committed to her.”
‘Committed’ is an understatement. I remember when I first joined the training camp. Renthrow, McLanely and Kinsey embarked on a quest to run a bad guy out of Lucky Falls. Turns out, that guy was harassing Cordelia for years and Renthrow had enough of it.
“This place takes having a girlfriend so seriously. I mean, what’s wrong with having lots of friends? Who’s to say you won’t like someone else a lot better than your current partner? You can’t let your girlfriend keep you from finding your wife.”
My mouth falls open halfway. I have no idea what to say to that. Is this what Layla thinks about relationships?
Seriously… who was I dating for two years?
Turning away in disgust, I wave to get the bartender’s attention and gesture for him to refill my water glass.
“You sure all you want is water, Nat?” Layla asks. “That’s no fun.”
She’s right. This is no fun. But it’s not because of my drinking choices.
I check across the room and notice that Mauve is bringing another set of glasses to Riley’s table.
Chance already whisked April to safety, but Riley is still here, which means I’m staying too.
But maybe I find a table far away from my ex while I watch.
Layla suddenly kicks her legs out and scoots to the edge of her chair. “Ooh-la-la.”
I ignore her.
She elbows me in the side so I have to look. “That’s the guy from the grocery store.”
It’s Kinsey and Renthrow. Their heads swing back and forth as they scan the room, searching for their girlfriends.
Renthrow spots me at the bar and stomps over. “Campbell, have you seen—”
“They’re back there.” I point to Riley’s table.
Renthrow immediately swivels to find Cordelia among the patrons. He sees her drinking and sighs heavily.
Kinsey barely acknowledges me as he makes a bee-line for Rebel.
I wish I had the right to head over to that table too.
I wish I could pick Riley up gently the way that Kinsey is picking up Rebel.
I wish I could push Riley’s hair behind her ear the way Renthrow is doing with Cordelia.
I wish I could coax her to her feet and ask her if she’s feeling okay after all that drinking.
I want the right to do that.
So badly.
Layla leans in until I can smell the olive on her breath. “Who’s the black-haired guy with the pretty blue eyes?”
I put distance between us and keep watch over Riley. Cordelia is standing and trying to tug Riley up. Since they live in the same building, the girls will probably travel together.
At least Riley will be taken care of.
Even if it’s not by me.
“Don’t tell me he’s taken too,” Layla says, watching the men collect their tipsy girlfriends from the table. Then she shrugs. “Oh, well. Taken doesn’t mean married.”
I’ve had enough of Layla for one night.
Pushing firmly to my feet, I walk away from my ex-girlfriend.
“Nat, where are you going?”
“Home,” I grind out.
“Aren’t you going to pay for my drink?”
I lift a hand in a silent wave.
Layla sputters. “I’m starting to get annoyed, Nat.”
I really don’t care.
“Aren’t you supposed to be extra nice to me so I keep my mouth shut?”
My body freezes in place.
Although everything in me wants to leave, I turn slowly around. My grumpy expression deepens when I see Layla’s victorious smile.
She pats the seat next to her and tilts her head, flapping her eyelashes. “Come on. Have a seat. Have a drink with me. A real drink.”
I’m about to force myself to join her when Riley stumbles past the bar.
Cordelia sees me and her eyes brighten. “Oh, hey!”
“Goodnight, ladies,” I say with a smile, trying to hide the fact that I’m being blackmailed by my heartless ex-girlfriend.
“Have you been drinking?” Cordelia asks, her eyes darting to the counter.
“No, I just… had business here.”
“Then you should take Riley home.” Cordelia pushes Riley at me as if she’s a ball on the playground.
Riley stumbles, but in three giant strides, I’m there, ready to catch her. Thankfully, Riley keeps her balance, but she seems like she can barely stand on her own.
“Mm, what’s happening?” Riley asks, pushing her hair out of her eyes and squinting at everyone.
Cordelia smiles tipsily. “Riley, Nathan is going to take you home.”
“No, I don’t like Nat. Nat is bad for me.”
I cringe.
“Do you prefer I take you home?” Cordelia asks, looking concerned.
Riley nods but, to my surprise, she wraps her hands around my arm and rests her head on my shoulder. “I don’t want to go with Nat.”
“Okay, then. Come with me.” Cordelia beckons her over.
Riley tightens her hold on me and refuses to let go. I hold my breath as she nuzzles into my shoulder.
“Riley, do you want to go with Nat?” Cordelia asks again.
And again, Riley denies it.
“Then let him go,” Cordelia says patiently.
“No.” Riley hugs me tighter.
“I think she wants to go with Nathan,” Renthrow tells his girlfriend.
Cordelia eyes me. “Nathan, can you…”
“I’ve got her,” I say, wrapping a hand around Riley’s shoulder and tucking her closer.
“Take care of her, alright?” Rebel says, as she passes by with Kinsey. “I think she was upset about something earlier.”
I nod.
“Drink lots of water when you get home, Riley,” Rebel says in a motherly tone.
Cordelia hugs Renthrow with a smile and then says, “See you at home, neighbor.”
Renthrow, Cordelia, Kinsey and Rebel leave and I turn my attention to Riley. With her face smushed against me and her eyes tightly shut, she looks unbelievably adorable.
“Why’d you drink so much tonight, shrimp?” I whisper.
“My stomach hurts,” she complains.
“I’ll get you home soon.”
The perfect little bubble around me and Riley bursts when Layla shrieks, “Nat, who’s that girl?”
My ex’s voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
I can’t take this anymore.
Holding Riley steady with one hand, I pull out my wallet and produce enough bills to cover her drink tonight.
Layla stares at the money that I offer, making no moves to take it.
Rather than play this game with her, I lead Riley closer to the bar and set the money down.
“There. I paid for your drink. Keep your end of the deal.”
Layla’s eyes settle on Riley like a snake on an injured squirrel. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“Who she is to me is none of your business,” I say firmly.
Then I whisk Riley outside to my car.