Chapter 4
Chapter Four
MIA
This day utterly sucked. Seven calls. All involving kids under the age of sixteen. One died. Two were in critical condition the last I heard. The others I had no update on. Sometimes I wasn’t sure what bothered me more. Knowing or not knowing if I was able to help them or not.
Slamming my car door shut, I hiked my bag up on my shoulder and walked around the front of the car to the sidewalk.
I paused when my phone rang and debated pulling it out of my purse.
Maybe it was someone with an update on one of the calls.
And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to risk it being more bad news.
Of course not knowing would bother me more, so I grabbed it and checked the display before accepting the call. I could always send it to voicemail. I was mostly relieved to see Nicole’s name pop up and swiped the answer button. “Hey, did you change your mind about coming out tonight?”
“No. Between studying for my exit exam and getting my clinicals done, I am so overwhelmed.” She let out a long breath. “But three months and it’ll be done and I’ll finally be a nurse. If the stress doesn’t kill me first.”
“You’ll be fine.” I started walking, heading to the local bar most of us frequented after long or difficult shifts. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Actually…yes.” Silence filled the line, and I internally groaned at what that meant. She didn’t want to ask me for the favor she needed, which meant it was something she knew I wouldn’t like.
“Get on with it,” I coaxed. There were drinks waiting for me inside the bar. And hopefully some stranger who could take my mind off the day I had, too.
“I told Izzy I would help plan the co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party she and Logan want. But I just don’t have the time.”
“And you’re asking me?” I tried to mask the surprise in my voice.
“Well, yeah. You literally used to help manage events and big parties at that restaurant you worked at.”
That felt like so long ago. Lyla and I had grown up together in another small town about forty minutes away.
My generic business degree gave me a lot of options, but I just couldn’t see myself working primarily in an office setting.
So, when I came home from college over five years ago, I got a manager position at a local restaurant.
And then I got sick of the restaurant business.
Between the constant turnover of employees and the amount of complaining I had to deal with, I just found myself dreading coming to work.
There was nothing about what I was doing that was in any way fulfilling.
I think in some way I’ve always wanted my work to make some kind of difference. But now I was second guessing my latest career choice too. Some days it felt like I still wasn’t making a difference.
“Not to mention you’ve already planned a bachelorette party for your friend from college,” she added. “That counts as experience in my book.”
Well, that was true. Although the only planning I did for that was where we were meeting and which bars we would go to.
“Please?” Desperation laced the single word.
“Fine.” I sighed, and then a thought dawned on me. “But what about Jay?” Logan’s best man would probably want to be involved, wouldn’t he?
“He said the guys are fine with whatever we decide. Honestly, with his wife being eight months pregnant, he’s probably not going to be much help. But I’ll keep him in the loop.”
“Just text me his number. I’ll make sure to keep him updated.”
“Okay. And thank you. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem.”
Sigh. Small problem. But I would deal. I always did.
We said goodbye and I threw my phone back into my purse before swinging the door to the bar open and stepping inside. I glanced around the small space, spotting the group quickly, and stomped over to where they were sitting around two square high tops pushed together.
Slamming my hands on my hips, I glared at Zack. I had a serious bone to pick with this idiot.
He wore that stupid smile of his as he ran his gaze slowly up my body. “I haven’t even said anything and have already pissed you off. Must be a new record.”
What I would give to be able to wipe that smirk off his face. “Lyla said you’re the reason we were inundated with calls today.”
He glanced over at Lyla. “Oh, did she?”
Lyla shrugged. “Technically, Adam told her while I had her on speakerphone.”
Adam’s eyes widened slightly before he shot Zack a smirk of his own. “I kinda hope she rips you a new one and teaches you to stop using that damn Q word.”
“Amen,” Logan said, lifting his beer in the air.
Zack turned back to me. “I didn’t take you for a silly superstitious person.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Right. Because you know me so well.” With a roll of my eyes, I yanked out the stool at the head of the table. “Why am I always stuck sitting next to him?”
“Must be fate,” he quipped dryly.
“Or misfortune.” I mumbled.
Adam chuckled but sobered quickly when I narrowed my eyes.
“I need a drink.” Thankfully the waitress appeared a moment later, taking my order.
Zack ordered a round of shots for the table as well. “My apologies for using the Q word today.”
Adam set his beer glass down and sat back. “Sadly, it won’t stop you from doing it again.”
“Probably not,” Zack said with a smirk and turned to me. “Speaking of today, I have a message for you.”
My brows shot up. Who the hell would have given him a message for me?
“Tara wanted me to tell you thank you.”
My spine went rigid, and I tried not to react other than with a curt nod. I didn’t deserve her gratitude. I couldn’t save her brother.
I dug my fingers into my thighs and stayed quiet as different conversations started around the table.
I refused to look at Zack. I could feel his piercing gaze on me, and I knew if I looked at him, he would see the pain in my eyes and tease me relentlessly about it.
That was the last thing I needed tonight.
I just wanted to blow off some steam and forget about my horrible day.
As soon as the waitress sat the shots down on the table, I grabbed one and threw it back.
“You’re supposed to wait for everyone else, you know?” Zack snickered and picked his shot up.
“Oh. Right.” Once everyone had theirs in their hands, I snatched Zack’s. “Cheers.” Wearing an evil grin, I downed that one too. The burn of the alcohol felt good as it coated the back of my throat.
“Oh, Raven.” He shook his head with a grin. “You’re even more of a spitfire tonight than usual. I think I’m going to enjoy it.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed down the urge to slap him. “Stop calling me that.”
He just chuckled, and I did my best to ignore him as I sipped on my Long Island iced tea.
Izzy looked over at me with a smile. “Nicole texted me and said you’re going to help plan the bachelor/bachelorette party?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Any specific requests?”
“No strippers,” she and Logan said simultaneously.
“Oh darn. I was going to try to find some hot firefighter too.” I chuckled, and out of the corner of my eye caught Zack opening his mouth. Raising a hand to cut off whatever stupid thing he was going to share, I said, “Don’t.”
He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest with that stupid smirk still on his face.
“I want a relaxed, food and drink, just chilling together type thing.” Izzy shrugged. “Maybe at a restaurant or something. Or even someone’s home. Wouldn’t mind music and dancing though.”
“Easy enough.” I took another long pull of my drink, surprised to find I had sucked down more than half already.
“Send me some dates and I’ll ask Savannah if The Dock is free.”
Surprisingly, Zack’s suggestion wasn’t a bad one. The family owned restaurant and bar had a large patio area that they enclosed with heaters during the cold months. Perfect for large parties.
I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
Logan hadn’t mentioned Jay at all, so maybe Nicole was right, and Logan knew Jay wouldn’t be much help right now.
“It might help if you had my phone number.” The smirk was evident in Zack’s tone.
Adam coughed, almost spitting out his beer.
I rolled my eyes. “Or I could have Logan text you the dates.” Sometimes his occasional flirting threw me off. I was sure he did it just to get a reaction out of me. He wasn’t getting one this time.
“Yeah, I can do that.” Logan spoke quickly, almost nervously.
“But where’s the fun in that?” Zack teased.
I sighed and finished the rest of my tea before hopping off my stool. “I need another drink.” And frankly space from that annoying, frustrating man.
Walking over to the bar, I slipped in beside a man sitting on one of the stools. I attempted to flag the bartender down with no luck. What was I, invisible?
The guy next to me raised his hand, successfully doing what I couldn’t. He looked at me with obvious interest in his gaze. “What are you drinking?”
He was cute. Quite possibly the perfect distraction to help me forget about my day.
“A Long Island iced tea.”
He smiled. “Good choice.” After giving the bartender our order, he turned back to me. “Are you from here?”
I nodded. “Grew up a few towns away, but I currently live here. You?”
“I’m originally from here. Back visiting family this weekend.”
The bartender brought our drinks and I brought the straw to my lips, taking a sip and pursing my lips a little more than what was needed. Hopefully more sexy siren and less Daisy Duck. “What’s your name?”
“Miles.” He leaned forward, the gesture telling me he was definitely interested. “And yours?”
“Mia.”
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
I grinned even though that line was a bit cheesy, then took another sip of my drink. Between the cute guy smiling at me and the alcohol warming my system, I was finally starting to relax.
“Zack,” Adam called.
I glanced over, watching as Zack headed our way. I swear to God if he said something stupid and ruined my fun, I actually might commit murder. I needed this.