Chapter 8 #2
Not that I’d ever considered dating him. We’d been friends leading up to that night. But the experience had completely freaked me out, and afterward, I’d thrown myself into the renovations at the coffee shop and focused on starting my own business. I had no desire to date.
But I was ready to get my flirt game on. I added some waves to my hair and dabbed on some lip gloss and a few coats of mascara. It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to get ready.
Peyton and I walked the short distance to Whiskey Falls, where we were meeting up with a few friends from high school. Thankfully, it was no longer snowing outside, which made wearing this jean skirt a lot more tolerable.
“Roxy and Taylor are meeting us there,” Peyton said, handing me her pink rhinestone flask. I took a sip and coughed as the cool liquid moved down my throat.
“Is that whiskey?” I gasped at how strong it was.
“The Daily Market’s finest,” she said with a chuckle when I handed it back. “Oscar is such a grump. He carded me like he didn’t know my age. It’s so annoying.”
Oscar Daily was her dad’s best friend, and he owned the grocery store in town. The man had a way of making you feel like you were breaking the law when you bought booze, even if you were legal.
“He stopped into the coffee shop the other day when you were off, and he told me he didn’t think this town was going to buy coffee at my prices. Meanwhile, he was cashing in on his free cup and complaining about the price.”
We both laughed as she pulled the door to the bar open, and the sound of Zach Bryan’s sexy voice had us swaying our hips from the moment we stepped inside.
Roxy and Taylor waved us over to a large table they were at, and I groaned because Blane, Scotty, and Brayden were sitting beside them.
I dated Blane Johnson for a few months during my senior year of high school.
He cheated on me at our senior prom when he got wasted, and I walked in on him balls-deep in Sabrina Marsh in a coat closet.
Good times.
I broke up with him immediately. We hadn’t been all that serious anyway, but it wasn’t exactly the way I’d planned on spending my last prom.
But he’d taken the breakup hard and acted like the victim during the whole thing.
He blamed me because I hadn’t slept with him, and apparently, he had a bad case of blue balls, so he had no choice but to bang Sabrina while I was only a few feet away at the after-party.
I can’t make this shit up. That was his defense.
After he chased after me, I kicked him in the balls and told him to lose my number.
He called every day for the next six months, long after I’d left for college, and I ignored him. He’d finally given up, but now, every time I ran into him, he acted like I’d broken his heart.
“Mr. Blue Balls is here,” Peyton whispered against my ear as the smell of whiskey wafted around me.
“Well, looky here,” Blane said as he pushed to his feet. “The girl who got away in the very flesh.” His words slurred as he wrapped his arms around me, and I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me.
“Hey, Blane. Good to see you.”
“Yeah. I’m just in town for the weekend. It’s my grandmother’s ninetieth birthday. I was going to come by the coffee shop tomorrow. I heard you’re killing it.”
“I don’t know about that, but it’s going well so far,” I said, as I pulled away and made my way around the group, giving everyone a hug and trying to put some distance between me and Blane. I sat on one of the chairs across from him and made small talk with everyone.
Of course, Blane shoved Scotty out of his chair and settled right beside me.
His best friend, Brayden, gave me an apologetic look.
Blane was clearly heavily intoxicated. We ordered a round of shots and beers, and I tipped my head back after we all clinked our glasses together.
I could feel the booze as it hit my system.
I reached for my beer and felt some sort of pull.
My head turned to see Romeo Knight holding what looked like a glass of water, surrounded by his best friends and a bunch of women I didn’t recognize.
Dark eyes locked with mine as his tongue slipped out and ran along his bottom lip.
I smiled, and he looked away when someone beside him laughed.
I forced my attention back to the table as Scotty told us that he was going to propose to Brynn next weekend.
They dated all through high school, and I was surprised he hadn’t already done it.
Peyton shouted when our favorite song by the Zach Brown Band, “Chicken Fried,” started playing through the speakers, and most of the bar moved to their feet.
I hurried out to the dance floor with the girls, raised my hands over my head, and swayed my hips.
We were singing along to the lyrics when Blane stumbled out to the dance floor.
He was harmless but a little annoying in the way he kept leaning in to talk to me and spitting all over me.
I pressed my hands against his shoulders to push him back a little, just as Romeo appeared out of nowhere. He wasn’t dancing. He wasn’t singing.
He looked pissed off, per usual.
He twisted Blane’s arm behind his back as he leaned down and whispered something in his ear, and my ex-boyfriend winced. Before I knew it, Scotty and Brayden were helping Blane off the dance floor. When I turned around, Romeo was gone.
“Looks like you’ve got yourself a sexy protector!” Peyton shouted in my ear as she continued jumping up and down and having a good time.
I watched as Blane left the bar with his friends, and my eyes locked with Romeo’s again. He hadn’t left. He was back in his seat, and no one there seemed aware of what he’d just done. His eyes were hard, and he looked pissed.
What the hell is his problem?
I tried to shake it off and danced to a few more songs before returning to our table to sip my beer. My phone vibrated, and I looked down to see a text that had my shoulders stiffening and my back going ramrod straight.
Unknown Number
Hey, D. Long time no chat. I was hoping we could talk sometime soon. Clear up this misunderstanding.
I got these random texts every once in a while, from unknown numbers, and I knew exactly who it was. I’d blocked Ronny’s number when I got the restraining order against him. I blocked the number before tucking my phone into my back pocket and pushing to my feet.
Nothing would sober you up quicker than a text message from a guy who scared the shit out of you.
I leaned into the table where my girlfriends were taking another shot. “I’m going to head home. I’ve got to be up early.”
“What?” Peyton whined. “We got you another shot.”
“You drink it.” I kissed her cheek. “I had a lot of fun.”
“I’ll be coming in for a nice, hot latte in the morning,” Roxy said as she wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re living back home now.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll come see you tomorrow,” Taylor said, as she reached for my shot glass and tipped her head back, downing the liquid. “I have a hunch we’ll all need one of those special concoctions you keep telling us about.”
“Yes! We love the magic hangover juice,” Peyton said. “Are you fine walking home alone?”
“Of course. It’s less than two blocks away, and we’re in Magnolia Falls.” I gave them each a hug goodbye before heading for the door.
The temperature had dropped, and I definitely regretted wearing my short skirt now. A sound behind me had my head whipping around.
Romeo.
My stomach dipped with excitement, but I raised a brow and feigned irritation. This man was so hot and cold. I couldn’t read him at all. “Are you following me?”
“Well, we do live next door to one another, Beans.” His voice was all tease as he moved in stride beside me.
My cheeks heated that he’d used the nickname.
I still couldn’t believe I shared that story with him.
If I’m being honest, I couldn’t believe he actually remembered the name.
“The timing seems strange, though, right?” I chuckled. “You happened to be heading home at the exact same time that I am?”
“Don’t read into it. I’m leaving. You’re leaving. Don’t you keep reminding me that we’re neighbors when you push those endless free drinks at me?”
Romeo Knight has a sense of humor. Who knew?
“The one free drink you passed on?”
“Maybe I’ll cash in on it someday.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept his eyes in front of him.
“You also managed to run Blane Johnson off, too. Were you just being neighborly?”
“Blane is an asshole. He was hanging all over you, and I could tell you didn’t like it. If that makes me neighborly, so fucking be it.”
He paused when we turned down the alley, and I stopped to fish my keys out of my purse. “I’ve seen you running every morning. Looks like you’re training hard already.”
He nodded, and his eyes settled on my mouth before they snapped back up to meet my gaze. “Get inside. It’s cold.”
Like I said. The guy was giving me a bad case of whiplash.
I rolled my eyes and put the key into the door and stepped inside without another word.