Chapter 9PATIENCE
Chapter 9
PATIENCE
I didn’t get a chance to talk with Tucker again, though my eyes drifted over to him more than once throughout my shift.
“Are you going for it with him?” Hailey whispered to me as she passed me behind the bar.
“I don’t know,” I told her honestly.
“G and I were talking today. We think you should go for it.” She nudged me in the arm.
“Giana called you?” I questioned, sliding another beer to one of the regulars and pocketing the tip he laid out on the bar.
“Yep. While you two were eating lunch. She said you were both giving off all kinds of sexy sparks at Nonna’s. Understatement of the freaking century. You two are a whole damn firework show.”
I groaned. “Don’t you two have your own love lives you can worry about?”
Hailey laughed. “Yeah right. All the good ones are taken around here or aren’t interested.”
“Not interested? Who’s not interested?” I grabbed onto her statement like a life preserver, hoping to turn the subject away from my own love life.
“It doesn’t matter. Like I said, he’s not interested.” She shrugged it off.
“Then he’s an idiot and doesn’t deserve you.” I smiled at my friend and wondered who it was she had a crush on, and why hadn’t she told me?
***
I was about an hour into my shift when I saw some guy I’d never seen before approach Tucker. I studied him, but he didn’t look familiar to me, and the way they greeted each other made me think they weren’t close friends either.
When they both left the bar, my curiosity got the better of me. “Hey, I’ll be right back,” I told Hailey and followed them both outside, not even stopping to grab my coat.
“Tucker?”
I approached the two men as they were talking beside an older modeled truck. “Patience, you shouldn’t be out here without a jacket,” he said as he shrugged out of his own and wrapped it around my shoulders. His warmth enveloped me, and his concern for my well-being caused a different kind of warmth to radiate through my chest.
“What’s going on?” I asked, looking at the guy who was studying Tucker’s motorcycle.
“He’s been looking for a Harley, and I was looking for a truck.”
“You’re selling your bike?” I gasped. I knew he loved his bike. It was one of the things we had talked about over lunch. I hated the thought of him having to give up the beautiful piece of machinery that he seemed to baby. It also caused a wave of panic and fear that he may be getting ready to leave sooner than I thought.
“Trading, but yeah. Why?”
“I just thought—never mind—it’s none of my business. I was just making sure everything is okay. I’ll see you back inside.”
I’m not his girlfriend, I had to tell myself for the millionth time today. God, I could get used to being around him. I could get used to his chivalry and care, but to let myself enjoy those things would only end up breaking my heart.
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my hand to stop me from leaving. “I have to take the truck for a test drive, Patience. Don’t leave the bar for any reason. You stay inside in case Grant comes around, okay?” He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. I had to fight myself from stepping forward and embracing him. He had a hold on me.
“Okay.” I nodded and removed his jacket, handing it back to him before I headed back inside.
If he was getting a truck, he wouldn’t need me to take him places. A part of me felt disappointed because today had been fun. I forced myself not to think about it. I tried my damnedest to focus on working and not on the fact that my heart felt like it was breaking at the thought of Tucker leaving. He just got here. It was too soon for me to feel so attached to him, but I did.
I almost dropped a tray of shots when I realized that I had fallen for him—completely, head over heels, mad for Tucker. He was a mystery to me in so many ways, but I knew the important stuff. He was a good man: kind and caring, strong, protective, and patient. And, he made me laugh. I liked the way he made me feel when he was around and who I get to be when I’m with him. Craved him in a way I’d never craved anyone before—in a way I didn’t fully understand.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I flinched, hearing Grant’s voice. Dammit. I must have missed him walk in, because I would have gotten behind the safety of the bar had I seen him.
“Nope. Just an ex-boyfriend who I wish would ghost me already.” I turned to head toward the table of customers whose drinks I carried, dismissing him before he could try to engage me again.
“You think you’re so damn funny, Patience.” I heard his angry words behind me and felt a chill race up my spine. Grant wasn’t going to let me go or stop hounding me. He was like a rabid dog after a bone, and instinctively, I knew if something didn’t stop him, someone was going to get hurt—either me or anyone who got in his way.
I took a deep breath and turned to face him. Quickly, I scanned the room looking for Tucker, but he wasn’t there. I knew he was going to test drive that truck, so I didn’t really expect to see him, but I was hoping he’d be back already. There was no sign of Noah, Carson, or Griffin either, so I was on my own against Grant.
Don’t let him know you’re scared, Patience, I silently told myself as I drew up and gathered my courage.
“Grant, I can’t be the first woman who’s ever broken up with you. This needs to stop because Tucker’s right. I’m going to file a police report and request a restraining order. You need to quit this.”
“Tucker.” His nostrils flared with anger as he spat out the name. “You’ve been whoring for him when you wouldn’t even kiss me.”
People were starting to pay attention because Grant wasn’t trying to keep his voice down. He was making a scene, and I was all for it because the more people that saw his crazy—the easier it would be to file that report and get that restraining order.
“My relationship with Tucker is none of your business, Grant. I went out with you on a few dates. I should have stopped after the second one because I already knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere with you. If I led you on, I’m sorry—that wasn’t my intention.”
“Yes, it was!” he all but yelled in my face. “You’re nothing but a cock tease!”
“First, I’m a whore. Now I’m a cock tease? Which is it? By definition, whores don’t typically tease?”
“You bitch.” He stepped closer to me.
“I’d rather be his bitch than your girlfriend, Grant.” I raised my chin with false confidence that I didn’t feel. “You need to go, and you need to stay away from me.”
“You need to get out of here now, and don’t come back,” Payton, the owner, said, moving up beside me and partly pushing me behind her body.
Hailey came at me from the other side, putting her body between his and mine. It was then that Noah and Tucker both walked into the bar. They took a quick assessment of what was happening and not only am I pushed even farther back, but Payton and Hailey are also both now situated behind Tucker and Noah.
Relief washed through me as the men handled the situation from there. Tucker is angrier than when I almost accidentally ran him over, and the calm, cool, jokester Noah isn’t so calm, cool, and collected anymore.
I flinched as Hailey wrapped her arm around my shoulders for support. It’s then I realized that I’m visibly shaking and there were tears running down my face.
“I’ve called the sheriff. He will be here in a moment,” Payton said as she shoved her phone back in her pocket. “Grant won’t be allowed back in the bar, Patience.”
I nodded, still unable to speak. Noah and Tucker have Grant cornered, and he won’t be going anywhere until the sheriff takes him away. “I’m sorry,” I finally croaked out, leaning my head onto Hailey’s shoulder. The sobs were caught in my throat, and I was fighting them for all I was worth.
“Hey. You have nothing to be sorry for, Patience. He’s the one who’s the issue, not you,” Payton replied, pulling me into a hug. “Once you talk to the sheriff, I want you to get your boyfriend or Noah to take you home, okay?”
I nodded and thanked her, not correcting her boyfriend comment. “Hailey, will you go from table to table and let people know that once everything is taken care of, there will be a round of beers on the house as a thank you for their patience?”
“Sure.” Hailey reached out and gave my hand a small squeeze of support. “You’ll be okay?” she asked quickly.
“I think so,” I offered, looking toward where Tucker was standing with Noah.
His gaze met mine from across the room, and suddenly, I didn’t know if I’d be okay or not. Though, it had nothing to do with Grant’s crazy ass and everything to do with Tucker.
When he left, he’d be taking my heart with him.