25. Chapter 25
twenty-five
Jamie
B y mid day, I’m antsy behind the bar. I know Cara’s going to fall in love with Noe’s work. It’s a perfect match for Cara Bean, the florals and bright colors. But I don’t know if Noel will accept it. If she’ll stay. I’m trying not to get my hopes up high enough for the fall to be devastating.
I deliver an order to the end of the bar just as Wes emerges from his office. I forgot he was still here. He doesn’t usually stay this late, though I haven’t been here in a while, so maybe that changed without me noticing.
I glance at the door for the hundredth time. If he sticks around much longer, worlds are going to collide.
“Can I get one?” he asks.
“Sure.” I pull a glass. I don’t need to ask what he wants. He only drinks our original ale. Sometimes I think his faith in me only went as far as a one hit wonder.
I slide it to him, and he takes a long pull.
It’s terrible timing and perfect timing when the front door swings open, and Noel walks in, both hands clutched around her messenger bag strap across her front.
Finally. I know this is about to bite me in the ass with Wes here, but I don’t care. I’m so happy to see her.
I leave Wes, stepping around the bar to meet her at the wait station, pulling her flush against me. “Hey, gorgeous.” My voice sounds tight, caught in my throat.
“Hi.” Her hands slide over my shoulders, and she pushes to her toes, kissing me softly. My blood heats instantly. It’s such a small thing, a kiss hello, fingers at the back of your neck, but when you haven’t had it in so long, it’s dizzying.
When she pulls away, she bounces a little. Her lip is tightly between her teeth, eyes wide. She’s excited. It has to be good news.
“How’d it go?”
“It was so good, Jamie.”
I press a thumb to her chin, my heart in my throat. “Does that smile mean you said yes?”
“Yes. I said yes.”
My breath rushes out in a gust, and I wrap her in a tight hug, lifting her onto her toes.
“I think we’re going to work so well together,” she says into my shoulder, and I’m listening, I really am, but my whole body is vibrating with relief. I want to punch the air. I want to carry her right up those stairs, drop her in my bed, and show her how desperate I was for this answer.
She gives a little squeak when I squeeze her too hard, and I set her back down with a kiss that I have to force myself to to end.
“Sorry. Fuck. Tell me everything.”
“Cara’s giving me, like, complete creative control. I haven’t been this excited about a project since college. Thank you so much for introducing us. For setting this up.”
I laugh. “I’m not taking any credit, Noel.”
“But you should! It’s no different than my intervention .” She whispers that last part, and I instinctually glance behind me at Wes. Of course he’s watching me. Us.
“Well, I think it calls for a celebration, either way,” I say. “I’m off in an hour. I’ll take you out.”
“Cara asked if we had plans tonight. She said maybe we could all go out, her and Em.”
I can tell she’s excited about this too, and I jump at the chance to tuck her deeper into my life. “Will you sleep in my bed afterward?”
“Yes,” she says, bouncing on her toes. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
This fucking girl. “Then it’s a date. Sit here,” I say, heading back behind the bar. “I have to work, but I want to look at you while I do it.”
She settles on a stool, slipping off her coat and pulling the elastic band out of her hair. Her smile is enormous, and I can’t take my eyes off of it.
Which is probably why I didn’t notice Wes until he moved closer, leaning his arms over the back of the stool beside Noel.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your girlfriend, Jamie?” Wes says, and my teeth grind together. If he ruins this good mood for her, I swear to God…
“Noe, this is my brother Wes. Wes, Noel Kasey.”
“Oh, hi! It’s so good to meet you!” Noel puts her hand out, smiling.
She doesn’t know he’s being a dick. Why would she?
She didn’t grow up with his mood swings and there really shouldn’t be any reason for tension.
But there are landmines everywhere in this conversation, buried way before she got here.
Wes leans forward, clasping her hand, shaking it. “Ah, the famous Noel.”
“I don’t know about that.” Her smile fades, and she shoots a nervous glance at me.
I warn him with a look, but he ignores it.
“Well,” he says. “You’re practically his other business partner, right?
Or advisor, I suppose. As an obviously interested party, I have to ask: Did Jamie ever mention how he failed his attempt at a business major?
He had to do a fifth year to even graduate.
It must be important to your process to have all the information, right?
So he surely wouldn’t leave anything out. ”
“Enough,” I snap, and Noel gapes at me.
Wes takes the last sip of his beer and pushes the glass at me with a smug smile.
Damn it . I rarely let him get to me, and I know he considers it a win that he made me break character just then.
“It’s been a pleasure, Noel,” he says, slipping on his jacket.
Turning to me, he lowers his voice. “There’s a reason you didn’t try to run this place yourself. You’d be wise to remember that.”