One Timer With A Wingman (Riverside U #4)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

B riar

2 weeks before Christmas

Black Jack’s is packed to the rim. The tables are full and bodies are lined against the bar. I take the Thursday night shift because it’s one of the busiest nights of the week. Only my legs are killing me tonight from an intense gymnastics practice this afternoon. I’m dreaming of a warm shower. A bath would be even better, but my house doesn’t have one. I just have to get through another two hours. The countdown is on. I don’t have classes early on Friday, which is why I take the late shift Thursday.

I walk up to a table filled with football players. Everyone knows who they are. “What can I get everyone?” I ask with the iPad ready in my hand to take orders.

“How about you for the evening?” a guy named Eli says. I’m used to guys hitting on me at work. It seems to be an occupational hazard, but I never hook up with them. I had a friend I had casual sex with during my first two years of college but he’s in a committed relationship, so we ended last year.

“Eli, I need you to order. It’s a full house tonight,” I say curtly but with a smile because I want a nice tip. “It’s going to take time to get the orders ready.” And we close in two hours.

“Right, I’ll take the cheeseburger and fries.” He winks. I don’t know why he feels the need to wink. There is nothing flirtatious about me taking his order.

I move on to the next five guys at the table. Once I get their orders, I turn to the next table in my section. Great, more jocks. These guys are on the hockey team. I heard they had a home game tonight; must be why they are here so late.

I walk up to their table and take their order. I’ve met these guys. Two of my friends are living in the hockey house, since their dorm flooded and they had nowhere to go. One of the hockey players is Hayden, who is my good friend Ruby’s brother.

“What can I get you?” I ask Hayden.

He taps his chin. “A plate of dirty nachos for the table.”

“Fuck yeah,” a guy named Aaron says from beside him. “A pound of spicy wings would be great too.” Aaron adds. He’s the kind of guy who’s too good-looking for his own good. The type of guy I make sure to stay miles away from.

“Sure thing,” I reply, ignoring my body heating from his warm green eyes and searing smile.

I take Luc’s order next, he’s the goalie, followed by Finn, who is their captain. He was secretly hooking up with one of my best friends, Charlie for most of the semester.

I head over to the bar to collect a round of drinks for a table when I feel a palm connects with my ass, followed by a sting.

Oh hell no.

I turn to see one of the patrons smiling at me. “I don’t know what you’re smiling about. I could call the cops right now and have you charged with forcible touching and harassment,” I state.

The guy laughs. “Come on, beautiful. No harassment going on here.”

“Excuse me, but you had no right to touch my behind,” I assert, which causes him to laugh more.

“What’s going on here?” Jace, the owner of Black Jack’s, walks over to us.

“He smacked my ass really hard,” I say to my boss.

The asshole tries to fist-bump Jace. Jace is a big muscular guy, who is in his mid-thirties. One of the reason’s I like working at Black Jack’s is because he takes care of his employees. I have worked as a waitress in all kinds of restaurants since I was fifteen, so I know a good job when I have one, and Black Jack’s is respectful and reputable.

“Bro, I’m not fist-bumping you. Touching a woman inappropriately is sexual assault. Now, you apologize to Briar,” Jace demands. His black Black Jack’s T-shirt is stretched to the hilt over his muscles.

“This is bullshit,” the guy has the audacity to complain.

“Briar, should I call the police?” Jace asks politely.

“Nah, just throw his sorry ass out of here,” I mutter.

Jace does exactly that and I move past him to grab my order from the bar. I almost bump right into Aaron as I spin around. He must have come from the restroom. Did he just witness that whole interaction?

“Good for you,” Aaron cheers.

Well, that answers my question.

My brow quirks. “Huh?”

“Because of you that stupid asshole won’t put his hands on a woman he shouldn’t,” he says, surprising me.

“Exactly,” I agree. “Couldn’t let him get away with it and make another woman his victim.”

“I should be getting back to our table,” Aaron says with a smile that is melting my panties right off me.

I nod. “I’ll have your order up soon.”

“Take your time,” he says.

For a jock, he seems very down to earth and nice. Not that it matters.

Aaron walks away. I head over to a table in my section that is waiting on their drinks. I’ve learned a long time ago that I need to be tough and not take shit, or else people will walk all over me.

The rest of the night goes by in a blur. I barely have time to drink some water between serving tables. By 2:00 a.m., Jace motions to his watch, a sign that all the servers need to close out their tables. I set the bill on the table where the hockey guys are sitting, another table where a bunch of girls have been hanging out the last two hours, and the table where the football guys are still hanging out. The rest of my section is clear, so I clean my section and fill up the condiments while I wait for my last tables to settle their bills. It doesn’t take long and then I clock out. I look outside to see my Rav4 is completely covered in snow and it’s blowing pretty hard outside.

I head to the back room to get my purse and jacket.

“You need a ride?” I ask Hawk. He works in the kitchen.

“Thanks, Briar. Got a lady waiting on me,” he says with a blush in his cheeks.

Most of the servers are gone by now since we can close out our section when the patrons have paid their bills Levi walks into the staff room next and grabs his jacket. “Have a good night, guys.”

“Yeah, you too,” I murmur.

I leave the staff room and head outside. The guys from the hockey team are just about to pile in to two cars.

I head over to my SUV and pull out a brush to clean it off. I don’t have gloves on me, so my fingers feel like they’re going to snap right off. I begin to scrub at the windshield, which has a thick coat of ice on it, when one of the guys runs up to me. I don’t see who it is until he removes his hood.

Aaron is wearing his varsity jacket with a hoodie peeking out underneath. His hair is a sexy mess, and his green eyes always glow with playful amusement. I think it’s because he’s a big flirt.

“Can I help you?” he offers.

“I’m good,” I assure as I continue to scrape at the ice.

“Aw, come on.” He looks behind him. “The guys are all working on getting Cade’s and Luc’s cars clean.”

“I’ve got this,” I repeat. I’m used to getting by on my own. I’ve been doing it ever since my mom got remarried and her new husband didn’t really want me around.

“I get it. You’re an independent woman. I respect that, but it’s freezing out here and your hands are two red tomatoes,” he notes.

My hand slides when the snow scraper catches on a strong patch of ice on my windshield. “Ow, shit,” I curse as I cut my hand on the ice.

“Shit, let me take a look,” Aaron says.

“I’m fine, Aaron,” I assure but then blood starts dripping on to the snow in big red splotches.

“Do you have a Band-Aid or something in your car?” he asks.

“No, but I’m fine,” I tell him as the blood falls on my boots. Just great. I hope they don’t get stained.

Aaron pulls a pack of tissues out of his jacket. “Here, take this and put some pressure on it. You may need a stitch or two.” He takes the snow scraper out of my hand and cleans all the snow off my car. “Why don’t you go sit inside and warm up the engine.”

I don’t argue because he clearly isn’t listening.

When he’s all done, he opens the back door and places the snow scraper on the floor.

“Take care of that hand,” he urges me.

“Thanks,” I say, but I don’t look at him.

“Have I done something to offend you?” he asks.

“Not at all,” I reply.

“I hear a but in that sentence. What is it?” he asks.

“Are you always this. . .clingy?” I ask him because I don’t have a better word and I’m overtired. I just want a shower and my bed.

“Clingy?” His green eyes widen to saucers. “I can’t believe you just called me that.”

I blow out a breath. “Sorry. I’m just exhausted. Thanks for your help with the ice.”

“Aaron, come on,” one of the guys shouts.

“One sec,” he hollers back.

“I’ve never had a girl call me clingy before,” he says to me.

“Aren’t you too cold to be having this conversation?” I retort.

“Yes, but I feel like we aren’t done here.”

“We’re definitely done,” I tell him.

Aaron laughs like I amuse him. “Have yourself a safe drive home, Briar.”

“You too,” I reply.

He closes the door, and I blast the heat.

I take off, my tires skidding along the slushy streets. Whoa, what is it with those hockey boys? No wonder Charlie lost her mind over Finn. I give my head a good shake. I’m too tired to think about a guy. Besides, I need to stay focused. Gymnastics and my degree. That’s what I need to succeed. I would never let a handsome jock derail my plans.