6. David #2
So, I give him a minute to think over what I just said.
Finally, he nods. “That could be complicated.”
“Right.”
I’ve been thinking about it ever since Mia and I left Tim’s basement the other night.
I just don’t see a way to date Mia without it being awkward.
Scott and I would have to see each other eventually.
We would have to address our past. I’d have to be willing to forgive him for keeping me off the police force, for not caring about me—a kid who really needed help from an authority figure—back when he could have made a difference.
Should I be over it by now? Should I realize that even Scott Hansen is human and just move on? Maybe. But I’ve pushed Scott and my feelings about him to the side and ignored them so that I can live and work in this town. I don’t know if I want to dig around in there again.
My brothers don’t know every nuance of every feeling I have toward Scott. My therapist is the only one who’s really heard it all.
And Mia.
But they know that I don’t like Scott and vice versa.
“So, I should probably go,” I say, setting my beer down and getting up.
It’s stupid, but it feels too hard to be here tonight with her here, looking amazing, and tempting, and already on my mind far too much.
I don’t come to the bar every night or even three times a week, but I’m a regular. Mia isn’t. I can only hope that she and her friends are here tonight because of the band and that I won’t run into her a lot in the future.
“No, come on,” Charlie protests. “The band is going on soon. Just stay. This is a night out for us. It’s not about them.”
He casts a glance in that direction. Whitney is looking over. I see her arch her eyebrows. My brother quickly turns back to our table.
I might not be a “real “cop, but I’ve got training. And I’m still out making sure people are following the rules and doing things right.
Often, they’re not.
I’m lied to a lot.
I have a very good sense for when people are trying to pull something over on me.
“Charlie,” I say.
He looks at Carver. Carver shakes his head.
“ Charlie ,” I repeat.
He sighs and meets my eyes. “Yes, I knew the ladies would be here tonight,” he says, already knowing what I’m going to ask.
“You conspired with Carver and Kaelyn to get me here?”
“Conspired is kind of an ugly word,” Charlie says. “We just agreed to all come to the same place at the same time on the same day.”
“You’re trying to set me and Mia up,” I say.
“Not exactly. We’re helping a friend set you and Mia up,” Carver says.
I narrow my eyes at my brother. “You’re helping Kaelyn set me and Mia up?”
Carver and Charlie exchange a look again. “Well…”
“You guys.” I sigh.
“Does it matter?” Carver asks.
“Yes. I don’t want people to be disappointed when this doesn’t work out. I’ll talk to whoever it is.”
Carver and Charlie look at each other again. I sigh.
“You should definitely talk to this person,” Charlie says. “But, somewhere quiet. Private. So you don’t, you know, involve everyone in it. You know how this town can be.”
“Fine. Is it Kaelyn or Whitney?”
“It’s Mia.”
I look at my brother. His grin is huge.
“What?”
“It was Mia’s idea,” Charlie clarifies. “She wanted us all to meet down here so she had a chance to see you.”
I look over at the woman I’ve been unable to stop thinking about.
She is not looking at me. In fact, her back is to me.
Are these guys fucking with me?
Possible.
But then Sloan catches me looking and nudges Mia. Mia sits up straighter but doesn’t look over at me.
What is she doing? Why did she think this was a good idea? I told her we can’t see each other. She’s an intelligent, nice, respectable woman. How is she not taking ‘no’ for an answer? Who would have thought Mia Hansen would be persistent and stubborn? And so hot about it?
Well…me.
She wasn’t exactly cooperative the night of the tornado. At least at first.
But I suppose this is a loophole. We’re both just out at the Come Again. We’re hanging out with our friends. Scott can’t be upset if we run into each other in public places. He’s not unreasonable.
And if we talk or dance while here, that’s just something that happens at bars with live bands.
And if she has a few too many drinks and needs a ride home, I’m just doing a good thing. Something an officer of the law should do. And walking her to her door is just nice. And kissing her…
I blow out a breath. Yes, fuck, it’s kind of hot that she’s pursuing this. That she’s pursuing me . I’m not sure I’ve ever had a woman chase me.
She actually wants to see me again and is willing to come up with ways to make that happen.
The band launches into their first song of the night, and they’re smart—it’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, the perfect sing-along song. Everyone cheers and Mia and her friends lift their drinks, clink them together over the table, then start singing and swaying.
Her definitely-not-in-a-bun hair sways against her back, her sweet ass wiggles on the stool, and I realize that just watching Mia in this environment could be a lot of fun. Maybe they’ll all get up and dance eventually.
I’m going to have a hot as fuck sex dream about her tonight anyway, I’m sure. Why not give my dirty subconscious some hair-swaying and ass-wiggling to work with too?
Plus, I now need to make sure she has a sober ride home.
And that the four guys at the table on the other side of the bar who are watching Mia’s group don’t get too friendly.
“Fine,” I say, re-claiming my seat. “Maybe I’ll stay for a little bit.”
I can’t take Mia somewhere and talk with her privately. God knows what would happen in that private space.
But I can stick around and see what she does now that she’s got me here.
Scott can’t blame me for this. I’m just a guy, sitting in a bar, having a beer with his brothers.
Whatever comes next is all his daughter’s fault.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.