Chapter 34
Emmett
T
he bar is packed with regulars for Happy Hour on this cold Wednesday. Both Annie and I have been swamped all afternoon and into the evening. I was so relieved when 5 o’clock rolled around and Eddie and Luke got here. The four of us were working like a well-oiled machine, until things died down a little around 5:30.
The seats at the bar clear out, most of the customers at the high top tables and squeezed into the booths. I wipe down the bar as the rush of the past few hours settles. I feel a gust of wind rush in as the door opens. Looking up to greet whoever walked in, I am met with the most gorgeous view.
Drew waves, smiling at me, showing me she’s as happy to see me as I am to see her, and I’m relieved. I wasn’t sure if I was pushing too hard with my text this morning, especially after the distance she put between us last night after I apologized for asking her to leave when Riley came over.
For Drew, I’ll play the long game.
“Hey,” I say as she hops into the seat in front of me. “It’s good to see you.” Her cheeks blush to match her hair. She is wearing it down, which I haven’t seen much before. It is almost always clipped back. The red locks, framing her face, contrasts with the green in her hazel eyes, making my heart skip a beat. Something moves around in my stomach.
Is she giving me butterflies?
“Likewise,” she says as I set a coaster down in front of her.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“It was good. Finished the second book of that series I started a few weeks ago, thanks to you.” Her arms crossed on the bar in front of her, leaning in towards me.
“My pleasure. How was it?” I grab a glass and fill it with ice.
“Super good. I’m excited to start the next one.”
I bend down to the cooler below where I’m standing, grabbing our new seltzer option, “Can I get you the usual? Or…” I pull out a lime Whiteclaw, her preferred hard seltzer brand, “Someone told me Truly sucks, so we switched to Whiteclaw.” I hold the white can up to show her.
Her eyes widen and her mouth gapes open. She stands up on the foot rest on the bar stool reaching to grab the can from me.
“That someone sounds pretty smart.” She sets the can down on her coaster. I crack it open from her and watch her take a sip.
“Ahh. It really is the best.”
I laugh because she is literally the most intriguing person I ever met, always keeping me on my toes, always having me begging for more, and I’m feeling like a high schooler with a crush out of my league because I can’t believe she is giving me a another chance.
Drew sits at the bar with me while I dry glasses, refill drinks, and wipe down the areas where people have come and gone in the hour she has been here. She sips on her second Whiteclaw, watching me as I work.
“When are you done for the night?” She asks, right as Eddie passes by behind her on his way to clear one of the high top tables.
“Yeah, boss. Why are you still here?” Drew turns to face the voice from behind her. “Hi. I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Eddie Ramirez, Emmett’s best friend and favorite employee.” He holds his hand out to shake hers, smiling from ear to ear. The slightest ounce of jealousy runs through me, wanting to be the only one her hand ever touches.
I’m not quite sure where this possessiveness is coming from, so I shake it away knowing that I should really get it under control. Plus, this is Eddie. he is probably using all his willpower not to say what he is thinking: that Drew is the only girl I’ve talked to since Riley left.
Drew’s looking at him, matching his smile, taking his hand in hers. “Hi. I’m Drew Thomas, Emmett’s—” she pauses, not sure what to call herself.
Date? Too casual.
Girlfriend? Don’t want to push my luck.
Friend? I guess we’ll settle on that.
“Neighbor.” I hear her say, and I’m starting to hate the word. She must be able to tell when she turns back to me, a playful yet wondering glance. “Friend?” She corrects herself, but there’s still a question to it.
Eddie meets my eyes over her shoulder, then glances back towards her. “It’s nice to meet you, Drew.”
He walks away, back to doing his job.
I grab Drew’s can to see if it’s empty. I lift it and give it a little shake, glad to not feel any more liquid left. “Let’s get out of here.”
She smiles in return, hopping off the chair. She waits for me as I round the bar and meet her by the exit. As she goes to push the door open, I grab her hand. She looks down at our intertwined fingers and whispers to me as we walk out together, “I don’t think friends do this.”
“Sweetheart.” I say as we start our walk to our complex. “I’d argue we’re a little more than friends.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Her voice is flirty as the words leave her lips. “Who are you and what have you done with my grumpy neighbor?”
I laugh out loud at this. “You’re lucky your cute, otherwise I would have been hitting my ceiling with a broomstick telling you to be quiet for the past seven months.”
“Have we really known each other that long?” She asks. I squeeze her hand a little tighter as we walk because I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe that it took me so many months to convince her to give me the chance I know I wanted when I first met her but was too stubborn to admit.
“So, we’re more than neighbors?” There’s a hopefulness in her voice that gives me the confidence to continue this conversation.
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
She looks away, eyes facing forward as she smiles, thinking of what to say. “We haven’t even been on an official date.”
“Who said dates need to be official?” I challenge her. “Plus, I’d argue that our encounters have meant more to me than any ‘official date’ I’ve ever been on.”
Still walking hand-in-hand, she looks up at me, cheeks flushed, telling me she agrees, then looking away not being able to contain the smile on her face.
“Drew.” We’re the only ones on the sidewalk, so I slow our walking to a stop and grab her other hand so she’s facing me. “I don’t know exactly what we are or what you want us to be, but I know that my feelings for you are unmatched compared to anything I’ve felt for anyone else.
“You have been through so much, and I think you are absolutely incredible. I cherish every moment I get to spend with you because I feel like I can be myself around you, and I want to be that person for you too.”
Her eyes glisten at my sentiment, and I feel my own voice beginning to get caught. I clear my throat and continue, “We don’t have to decide anything now, but, just know, I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you want me to.” I let go of her hands to find the sides of her face, leaning down and pulling her in. Not being able to fight the urge to kiss her with all I have, wanting to show her the truth behind my words.
It’s been thirteen days since I last had her lips on mine, and I never want to go that long again.
I’m not going anywhere, unless you want me to.