Chapter 6
Chapter Six
PRESLEY
Hollis Beck.
I stare at his name in the chat history on my phone.
It’s been a few days since he sent me those mystery messages and crashed back into my life.
We’ve been playing catch-up ever since.
Since that first phone call, it’s been mostly texts. I left him a voice memo one night when I was too busy to type, and got a text back that said, “Nice to hear your voice. Especially when you’re not yelling at me.”
Jerk.
I want to be mad at him for all the times he could have called.
I want to hate him for leaving us…leaving me and never coming back.
Over the years, I would always look for him in crowds, at bars, and even searched for him on social media, but I never found him.
I eventually lost hope of ever finding him again.
To find out he had the ability to contact me this entire time? It hurts. But holding a grudge and staying angry at him would hurt a lot more. Because more than anything, I’ve missed him, and I like having him back in my life.
As selfish as it sounds, I kind of like having him to myself, too. I’m not ready to share him with the rest of the family—or anyone else, for that matter.
Since we started talking, I haven’t told a single soul about Hollis Beck. Not my parents or my siblings.
Not even my boyfriend.
Sitting in the small office in the back of Creeds, I look at the latest text from him and can’t help but smile.
Hollis
Do you still skip breakfast? You know that’s an unhealthy habit for someone as advanced in years as yourself.
Me
Coffee doesn’t count as breakfast? Also, advanced in years?!
Hollis
Well, you are almost thirty.
It should not impress me that he still knows my age, but it does. Is that how low my standards have fallen?
Me
Says the man who’s 32.
Hollis
Exactly. I’m just offering sage advice from the other side. It’s not pretty over here. Soon, you’ll be bitching about all those rowdy kids on bikes and telling anyone who will listen about how when you were young…
Me
Were you gonna finish that sentence, Grandpa?
Hollis
Sorry, nodded off…
I snort out a laugh, then yelp in surprise when Jace suddenly darkens my office door. “What’s so funny?”
“What?” My face flushes scarlet, like I’ve been caught doing something scandalous. It’s a ridiculous reaction, but it doesn’t stop me from answering, “Oh, nothing. Just a funny video I saw on Instagram. What are you doing here so early?”
I check my watch and nearly gasp. He’s here a full half hour early. I don’t think that’s ever happened in…well, ever. He casually shrugs and saunters forward. I place my phone face down on the desk. Thankfully, it doesn’t buzz again.
“I promised I’d come help with inventory.” He smirks. “Plus, I’m just an awesome boyfriend.”
“Yeah.” I nod, remembering how much he used to help in the beginning. Maybe he is trying to make it up to me. “That’d be great.”
“Great.” He rocks back on his heels, looking far too eager for a stock run. “Let’s go.”
Ten minutes later, Jace seems to be more interested in the booze than actually stocking it. “What’s this?” he asks, holding up a bottle.
“Oh, I ordered some new wine from this vineyard in Paso Robles.”
“Expensive?” He eyes the label.
“A little, but our wine list is in need of a refresh. Plus, I like supporting California businesses, and Paso has some amazing vineyards.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“You’ve never been to the Central Coast?”
He scoffs. “I’ve never been anywhere, Pres. Not all of us grow up in mansions on the beach.”
His words feel like a slap across my face, and I’m momentarily stunned.
He must notice because the hardened expression on his face suddenly disappears and is replaced with an easy-going smile.
“I’m sorry, babe. Maybe you can take me there?
” he offers. “And in the meantime, I’m gonna take a pic of this label so I can grab a bottle at the store.
I like the idea of supporting local businesses too. ”
I try to brush it off, nodding as he snaps the photo and then types out something on his phone.
For the next half hour, he’s the model employee, helping me empty crates and restock the bar.
But as we get closer to finishing, his mood shifts, and he decides a quickie in the stockroom is exactly what we need before the bar opens.
“Jace,” I steady his hand as it slides down to grip my ass. I’m pinned between him and the stock shelves, and I can feel the cold metal digging into my back. “Mel will be here any minute.”
“Then I guess we’d better be quick.” He palms my breast as he drags my lips between his teeth. It stings.
My watch suddenly lights up, alerting me to a new text.
From Hollis.
It feels like pouring water on a fire, and I can’t explain why. I try to refocus on Jace, but he’s staring at my watch.
“Who’s Hollis?”
“What?” My heart starts to hammer in my chest. Why am I behaving like a cheating spouse? I haven’t done anything wrong.
“He’s just a friend.”
“Just a friend?” He pushes away from me. I can hear the accusation clear in his tone.
“Yes. A friend. I’ve known him forever. He used to live with my family when I was in high school, and we recently reconnected.”
“He’s one of your parents’ little pet projects, then? Like Myles? And Zander? Your parents sort of adopted him, too, right?”
My hackles rise. “Do not call my siblings pet projects, Jace.”
“So is that all this Hollis guy is to you? A sibling?”
I wait just a second too long to reply.
“That’s what I thought,” he sneers, stalking toward the door like he can’t get away from me fast enough. “I’m out of here. Enjoy serving a full house tonight without me.”
Well, Jace was right about one thing. I definitely did not have a good night.
With him bailing on me and the packed house he promised, I was left short-staffed and overwhelmed. My bartender, Mel, helped out a ton, but it was just too much, and by the end of the night, I was breaking my own rule and comping drinks just to keep customers happy.
Now, it’s three a.m., and I’m pretty sure I just woke up all my neighbors when I dropped my keys at my front door, cursed, and then loudly burst into tears.
By the time I make it inside, I let go of everything—purse, shoes, and keys. It all goes onto the coffee table as I head to the sofa, bury myself in a pile of blankets, and try to forget the last eight hours.
It doesn’t work.
I check my watch and see the minutes ticking by.
I’m dead on my feet, but I’m wide awake.
I’m so angry at Jace. I can’t stop replaying those moments in the stockroom. How dare he get mad at me for texting an old friend when he flirts with every woman in the bar?
With a huff of frustration, I sit up and reach for my phone. I had hoped to just flop onto the couch and fall asleep from exhaustion, but clearly that’s not happening.
Maybe a shower would help clear my head and calm me down. A little personal time with my battery-operated friend would definitely do the trick.
At that thought, I remember I have unread text messages from Hollis.
I should not be following up thoughts of an orgasm with Hollis Beck…
Hollis
Hope the band goes well tonight.
Make sure you eat. Old folks like us need protein.
I grin at that last remark and swoon a little at the first one. I barely remember telling him about the band I booked for the evening.
I can’t believe he remembered.
But then, he seems to remember everything.
The other day, he texted me and asked if I still drank coffee like other people drank water. I laughed so loudly that the person in front of me in line at Starbucks turned around to see what was so funny.
I start to text him back, not expecting a reply. Like me, Hollis works crazy hours. He probably won’t be up for hours.
Me
Does caffeine count as protein?
To my utter surprise, three dots start to appear almost instantly. I don’t know why my heart begins to flutter.
When they disappear, I feel a pang of disappointment. But it’s quickly erased when my phone starts to vibrate and I see his name flash across the screen.
“What the hell are you doing up?” I say, not bothering to say hello. I set my phone on speaker and place it on my lap.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
It’s still so weird and thrilling to hear his voice.
“I can’t sleep,” I admit.
“Rough day at the office?” His tone may be light, but I can sense the question isn’t. He genuinely seems interested in my life, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to about it.
I’ve never been great at making friends. Most people assume that because I work in a bar and enjoy going to concerts, I’m outgoing, but I’m actually quite shy.
When I’m around people I know and love, I can be loud and animated, but at work, it’s easy to get overwhelmed surrounded by strangers all the time.
It’s why I tend to hire people like Jace. People who are naturally charismatic and confident. People who can step in and handle the small talk when my social battery dies halfway through the night.
People who don’t have to fake it.
“You could say that,” I answer, letting my eyes close as I lean my head against the cushion.
“Something go wrong with the band? I looked them up, and they seem to have a good reputation. Nice following too.”
He looked them up? “Um, no,” I answer, feeling somewhat off kilter. “They were great. One of my favorites so far this year, actually.”
“Yeah? That’s awesome. I bet they filled the place up.”
“Yup,” I answer, feeling my mood souring. “We were packed.”
“Short-staffed?”
“How’d you guess?”
“Call it my sixth sense from being in the business for so long,” he says.
I hesitate for a moment before admitting to him. “Jace and I had an argument right before we opened, and he walked out on his shift.”
“He what?”
“He walked out,” I repeat. “He saw a text from you on my phone, went nuclear, and stormed out.”
“Wait. Why would that set him off?”
I leave out the more intimate details of the encounter—like how he was feeling me up when he saw it. Or the slight hesitation I gave after he asked if we were more than just friends.
“He just got jealous,” I explain. “Seeing another guy texting me.”
“That’s ridiculous, Pres. I’m nearly three thousand miles away.”
“I know,” I agree, even though I know there is more than one way to cheat—not that I think I have, but emotional cheating is still a very real thing.
“Did you have anyone else to cover the bar?”
“Yeah,” I answer. “But there are supposed to be at least three of us on busy nights, and with it being so close to opening, I couldn’t find a replacement for him. So it was just Mel and me all night. It was total chaos.”
“You should fire him, Pres.”
“I know, but—”
“And break up with him.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry for being so blunt, but that guy is an asshole. You don’t deserve to be treated that way—as a boss or a girlfriend.”
My mouth falls open. “I’m not really sure it’s any of your business, Hollis.”
“I’m not sure it is either, but here we are.”
I attempt to stop it, but the words come out of my mouth before I can catch them. “He’s not an asshole. He just reacted poorly,” I say, coming to Jace’s defense like I always do whenever someone tries to question his place in my life.
“Poorly?” he scoffs. “Pres, he walked out on you. That’s unacceptable.”
“He was upset. Can you blame him? I’m not sure I would have acted much differently if I saw a text on his phone from some random girl.”
There’s a beat of silence. Just enough to make my pulse kick up a notch, and then Hollis says, “Random?”
Dammit. I’d been so focused on defending my boyfriend’s shitty behavior that I’d inadvertently hurt Hollis in the process. “No, sorry. But you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I guess I do fall into the random category of your life.”
“No, Hollis—”
“Listen, it’s late. You should get some sleep.” I can tell by the tone in his voice that he doesn’t want to talk anymore tonight, so I don’t push it.
“Right, yeah. Of course. I’ll talk to you later?”
But he doesn’t answer. Instead, he just says, “Good night, Pres.”
“Good night, Hollis.”
As I hang up, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve just said goodbye to Hollis Beck for good this time.