Chapter 4 #2
I set my phone on the desk and scrubbed my face. What the hell was that about? Why now?
“Dude, after this, I’m taking you out for a beer.” Dylan stood in the doorway of the stalls. “And don’t say no. Wes doesn’t have school tomorrow and I’ll have you home early.”
“Yeah, fine.” I could use it, and there’d be no talking Dylan out of it.
After showering and changing into some shorts and a nicer shirt, Dylan picked me up at my place, parked his truck in the parking lot for Tempe Marketplace, and we both stepped out.
I breathed in the warm evening air, and the hint of the sunset splashed orange and turquoise along the sky, above the tall palm trees.
I hadn’t been out in forever. Maybe this was what I needed to shake it off? “Where are we going?”
“I thought maybe The Thirsty Lion? It’s time you had a proper drink that wasn’t from a dive bar.” He chuckled and strolled next to me toward the sidewalk.
“There’s nothing wrong with dive bars…and are you buying?” I slapped his shoulder. The shop performed well this week, so a few beers and a burger shouldn’t break the bank.
“I’ll buy you one.” He gave me a sly grin. “A shot of Jack, maybe?”
“You’re driving. You shouldn’t be doing shots.” With a scoff, I followed him to the entrance, housed inside a rounded turret on the building. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been here. Maybe with Lori on a date? That would have occurred before all the shit with Mom happened.
“I can have one early and still drive.” He walked onto the black concrete floor and scanned the place. “Let’s go sit at the bar.”
“Sure.” I gave a quick smile to the hostess as we passed and then took in the dark room with heavy iron chandeliers falling from the ceiling.
The bar was a massive square structure that centered the room with rows of lit liquor bottles behind the bartending stations.
The scent of meat and spices filled the air.
This place had good bar food. I had to give it that.
As we walked through the smattering of black tables, I thought through the phone conversation with Mom. Normally I’d let Wes know about it, but not this time. He didn’t need to know everything.
Dylan hitched onto a barstool with a slatted back and set his forearms on the dark granite bar top. “What kind of beer do you want?”
“IPA.” I trailed my gaze along the taps. A man with dirty blond hair caught my eye, his profile to me. “Fuck.” Dipping my head, I scowled. It was fucking Casey Carter. And he was sitting with another man. A date or a hookup, no doubt.
“What’s wrong?” With his eyes narrowed, Dylan peered across the bar. “Oh, shit, is that Casey over there?” Lifting his hand, he made to point.
“Yes.” I grabbed his hand and pressed it to the bar top. How did we both end up here? “Don’t let him know we see him.”
“Why?” Leaning in, Dylan said, “He’s not a bad guy. We should say hello.”
With a coy grin, Casey came in close to the big guy, as if whispering in his ear.
The big guy broke out in laughter.
“But he’s with someone.” I peeked across the taps again, taking in the man he chatted up, with the dark hair and eyes and the massive build. Was Casey hooking up with a teammate?
“How do you know it’s a date and not a friend?” Dylan flagged the bartender down and ordered our beers and shots.
“The guy’s a player. Of course, it’s a date…or a hookup.” My traitorous gaze wandered to Casey, and my chest tightened. Why did it concern me what he did, or whom he was with? It was no business of mine.
The bartender set our drinks down and some menus.
I held my menu to my face. Now Casey couldn’t see me, even if he quit focusing on his date.
“I’m going over there and saying hi.” Dylan downed his shot and slid from his stool.
“No, you’re not.” I snatched his arm, holding him in place. “Please leave it alone. Let’s just pretend he’s not there.” I was being a baby, but so what? Weren’t we here for me to feel better about shit?
“Okay, fine. Have it your way.” With a huff, Dylan hopped onto his stool and perused his menu. “I’m getting a burger.”
“Me too.” I set my menu down and drank my shot, the burn of the whiskey soothing my nerves.
“So, when will you discuss the phone call?” Furrowing his brows, Dylan sipped his beer.
“It wasn’t much. My mom’s got a wild hair up her ass and thinks she should try to reconcile with Carl.” I set my forearms around my beer on the bar. I wanted to avoid dwelling on it more than I had to. The whole idea was stupid.
“Isn’t he in for like, twenty years? What’s there to reconcile? They could never have a life together.” He clicked his tongue.
“I know, right? I suppose if he behaves, he could get out sooner. Even so, it wouldn’t be for a long-ass time.” I breathed through the stitch in my gut. If all the planets aligned and she went back to him, I swore to God I’d never speak to her again.
“Carl almost killed that poor woman during the robbery. I don’t think they’ll let him out anytime soon. The man is dangerous. He shot someone. He’ll do it again.” Dylan sighed. “I can’t believe the bullshit excuse he gave your mom so she’d be the getaway driver.”
“Yeah, but she was in love and really thought his mother lived in that big-ass Scottsdale mansion. Carl was a con man too.” To think my mother would believe Carl had a wealthy family who disowned him because he flunked out of college. I scoffed a sigh. “Let’s quit talking about it.”
“Sure, man. Sorry I brought it up.” He patted my forearm.
We ordered our food from the bartender, and my gaze found Casey again, laughing with his arm wrapped around the big guy’s shoulders. It was a date. I knew it. I ripped my gaze from him and focused on Dylan. “How’s your family doing?” I had to quit being so self-centered.
“Fine. My sister’s got a new job working in a fancy restaurant at a casino.
” He drank some beer. “Dad’s about the same.
Drinks too much and complains about his back all the time.
I don’t know how much longer he can work in construction.
” He pursed his lips. “Mom is…still working at the real estate office.”
“That’s good. Isn’t this the longest time she’s had the same job?” I fingered the condensation on my beer glass. Were anyone’s parents still together at our age? But at least he knew where both of his parents were. My dad? Who the hell knew? He was never a father anyway, just a sperm donor.
The bartender set our burgers on the bar top in front of us. “Enjoy.”
I added ketchup to my burger and placed the bun on top. “This looks delicious.” After picking it up, I bit into it, the juicy meat and melted cheese filling my mouth.
“Damn, so good.” He took a bite of his burger and then wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Well, hello.” Casey appeared next to me, his hand landing on my shoulder and his smile reaching his eyes.
Fuck. I choked on my burger and coughed into my hand. “Damn it.” Drinking some beer, I turned to face him. “Hey, man.” Why the hell was he over here? He was on a fucking date.
“I wasn’t aware you two came over to this side of town.” Casey squeezed my shoulder.
My shoulder tingled, and a shiver swept down my side. He was touching me. The dude was on a fucking date. I shrugged out of his hold. “Yeah, sometimes poor people eat here.” God, I couldn’t help myself.
“Who you calling poor?” Dylan snickered and wiped his hands on a napkin.
Casey’s gaze raked over me. “You look nice all cleaned up.” He stepped closer and sniffed me. “Smell nice too.”
I leaned back, putting space between us, my cock waking. Damn my dick. “Aren’t you here with someone?”
“I am.” With an even wider smile, he waved across the bar.
The big guy stood, grabbed both beers from the bar and strode toward us.
“That’s my buddy, Eli. He’s one of our linebackers and a roommate.” His eyes twinkled. “You weren’t jealous, were you?” He planted his hand on my thigh.
With a knowing grin, Dylan peeked toward the hold Casey had on my thigh.
“Why would I be jealous? I didn’t even know you were here.” Lying liar, yep, that’s what I am. The heat from his hand spread to my balls and knotted in my gut. Don’t get a fucking boner.
Dylan dropped his mouth open and shut it.
Keep the comments to yourself, Dylan. I shifted my leg, knocking his hand off my thigh.
Eli stepped to us and handed Casey a half-drunk beer. “Who’s this?” His gaze flicked from me to Dylan.
“These are the pleasant gentlemen who helped me with my car the other day.” Casey lifted his palm. “This fine specimen of a man is Ryker. He owns the shop.” He raised his brows and focused on Dylan. “And this is his adorable sidekick, Dylan.”
“Hey, thanks, man. But just so you know, I’m not queer.” Dylan sniggered and popped a few fries into his mouth.
“Pleased to meet you both, and thanks for helping Casey out. That damn car of his is always in the shop.” With a quick snort, Eli smirked at Casey.
“But it’s a fun car to drive.” Casey stepped still closer to me and set his hand on the back of my stool, his broad chest brushing my shoulder.
Did Casey have any sense of personal space? I sipped more of my beer as my skin heated. How could I get away from him? “BMWs are fun to drive, but they can be finicky as they age.”
“Yeah? The car seems to drive great right now. Maybe I’ll keep using you as my personal mechanic.” Casey swept his thumb across my back.
Goosebumps broke across my back, and my dick plumped. How was I reacting so strongly to him? I didn’t like him. I barely even knew him.
“We’d love to have you as a regular customer, right, Ryker?” With a broad grin, Dylan shifted toward me. “Hell, maybe you can tell all the guys on your team about us?”
“You know what? I think I will. But I’m not sure I want to share Ryker with anyone.” Casey placed his hand between my shoulder blades and whispered in my ear, his breath shivering across it. “No, I’d like you all to myself.”
Eli rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Fucking Casey.”
I shrugged the shivers off and forced a glare at him.
He was coming on strong tonight. How much had he drunk?
I should say something to put him in his place.
But what? If I pissed him off, I could lose some lucrative business now.
My gaze crept to Casey’s. Green, his eyes were an amazing shade of green. I’d never really looked before.
As a smile played across Casey’s lips, he faced me, slipping his hand from my back. “Will I see you on Saturday?”
“Probably not. I open the shop at seven.” Breathing in deeply, I regrouped. “I’ll probably be gone by the time you pick Wes up.” More like, I’d be sure to be gone.
“Oh yeah, you’re the guy with the quarterback brother.” Eli threw me a warm grin. “Casey’s looking forward to coaching him.”
“Wes is looking forward to it too.” I glanced at my burger. It was getting cold. Would they ever leave?
“Oh, hey, guess you guys want to eat.” Eli twisted his lips. “I’ll get Casey out of your hair.” Ticking his head, he said, “Come on, let’s go back to our seats.”
“He can eat if I sit next to him.” With a wicked grin, Casey took the stool next to mine. “I’m not bothering you, am I?” Planting his elbow on the bar top, he rested his chin in his hand and gazed at me.
“No, guess not.” Yes, you certainly are. Having him this close was hella distracting. Facing my plate, I picked up my burger and bit into it.
“You’re cute when you eat.” Casey snickered. “But then, you're always cute.”
“Jesus, Casey.” Eli sat on the stool next to Casey’s. “Leave the guy alone and let him eat.”
Glancing at Eli, I asked. “How much has he had to drink?” I sucked juice off my fingers.
“Oh, damn.” With his gaze fixed on my mouth, Casey squirmed. “I’ve got something else—”
“Okay.” Eli stood and grabbed Casey’s arm, pulling him from the stool. “I think he’s had one too many. I’ll get him home.” He tugged Casey away from us.
“No, I want to stay.” With a pout, Casey’s gaze met mine.
I studied him. It might be nice if it were real, but it was obviously the alcohol talking. What the fuck? Nice if it were real? Had I lost my mind? Guys like Casey fucking Carter didn’t like guys like me.
“Hey.” Eli turned Casey to face him and whispered in his ear. “Right?” He nodded slowly.
“Yeah, fine.” With a salute, Casey said, “See you both another time. I’ll tell the team about the shop.” He trudged away with Eli.
“What the hell, man? He’s into you.” Chuckling, Dylan shook his head. “You should at least tap that shit.”
“Fuck all the way off, Dylan. He was just drunk.” I ate more of my burger.