Chapter 3 #2
"What the fuck?" Reeves scoffs, throws the dish towel at the wall, stomps to the back room and slams the door.
As Caine disappears into the throng of patrons, my heart races, a mixture of excitement and dread swirling within me. The fleeting moment we shared feels electric, charged with an unspoken connection. But then there's Reeves, whose anger hangs in the air like a heavy fog.
Liza, her eyes wide, breaks the silence first. “What just happened?” She glances from the door Reeves stormed through to where Caine had stood moments ago. “Did he really just invite you to talk business? And to play with him for the rent? This is crazy, Jenna.”
“He’s our landlord,” I explain, though it sounds flimsy even to my own ears. My gaze slips to the doorway Reeves vanished through, my stomach twisting with anxiety. “And he’s a famous pool player, too. It’s all just so weird."
"I'd certainly like to play with him,” Liza says, biting her bottom lip. "You lucky wench."
I can't help but laugh. "This is crazy. I'd make a complete fool of myself. I suck."
“But you’re good! You love the game! You could learn so much from him.” Liza’s enthusiasm is infectious, but I can only think about Reeves. The way his expression darkened. Does he really think I have any interest beyond a professional discussion, beyond saving us a month's rent?
“Yeah, but Reeves wouldn’t like it, Liza. I can’t just…” My voice trails off, lost in thought. Reeves and Liam need me; they’re my priority. Yet Caine’s invitation stirs something in me, an urge for something more than the mundane cycles of my life.
The memories of Caine’s slow smile invade my mind, and I shiver at the thought. I shake my head to clear it. “This isn’t about me, it’s about all of us. I can’t see him like that, not when Reeves…”
But Liza won’t let it drop. “Reeves is bossy and possessive sometimes, and you know it. You deserve to explore what you want too. It’s not like you’d be cheating. At least, not yet,” she adds, waggling her eyebrows playfully.
Just as I’m about to respond, the door to the back room swings open violently, and Reeves re-emerges, his face taut with anger. He strides towards me, tension radiating off him like a storm cloud.
“Did you really just stand there and let him talk to you like that?” His voice is low, simmering. “He’s not just some guy. He’s your boss.”
I straighten my back, feeling a rush of defiance. “He’s not my boss, Reeves. He’s our landlord. We were talking about the hall.”
“The hall?” he scoffs, crossing his arms tightly against his chest. “That didn’t seem business-like. You two were practically flirting.”
My frustration boils over. “Flirting? Are you serious? I was just trying to do my job!”
His jaw clenches, and I can see the seeds of doubt sprouting in his mind. “You should’ve told him you weren’t interested. You should have spoken up, told him off instead of just standing there like an idiot.”
“I was shocked!” I point out. “So sue me.”
“Trust me, Jenna. He doesn't give a shit about you. He’s just trying to get to me.”
His words confuse me, and I take a step back. “What about my life outside of this place?” I counter, my voice rising. “You don’t get to decide who I can talk to!”
“What’re you two arguing about?” Liza interjects, stepping between us as tension crackles in the air. “Reeves, calm down. It seems like Caine isn’t a bad guy. Jenna’s allowed to have professional relationships, right?”
I nod, grateful for Liza’s timely intervention, but my heart still pounds in my chest. Reeves glances at Liza, his frustration still palpable. “He’s a smooth talker. I’ve met enough of them to see it coming. You’d do well not to get sucked in.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” I snap. “Can’t you see how condescending that sounds? Just because he’s successful doesn’t mean he’s out to get me.”
Reeves takes a deep breath, visibly fighting to rein in his anger. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, okay? You know how men like that are.”
“I’m not a child, Reeves. I can handle myself!” As the words slip out, I feel the weight of them deep in my chest.
Liza looks back and forth between us, her own distress evident. “Guys, can we cool off for a second? This isn’t helping anyone.”
I lower my gaze to the bar, feeling the swell of regret creeping into my heart. “I’m sorry if I’m making things worse,” I murmur, my voice smaller now. “I don’t want to fight.”
“I’m just looking out for you,” Reeves grates out, the corners of his mouth tightening.
“I know. Listen, he’s given me his number, and we’re doing this. This is too good to pass up. One hour of my time to save a month’s rent. It’s crazy.”
Reeves’s shoulders drop in defeat. He knows we have to do this, as ridiculously strange as it is.
“I’ll be there watching you two,” he warns. “Now let’s get back to work. We still need to run this place.”
I nod, suppressing the annoyance that stretches in the pit of my stomach. I push nagging thoughts of Caine away as I step back behind the bar.
“Okay, back to work,” I say, trying to lift the heavy silence.
With a deep breath, I wipe the bar top, forcing myself to concentrate on handing out drinks, but thoughts of Caine interrupt another order I try to take. The way he’d looked at me—like I mattered, like I was worth knowing.
As the night drags on, I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of something I’m not quite ready to face.