Brandi comes back and hands Sean his beer, though it’s clear he doesn’t need it. She sets the rest of our drinks on the table. “Did I scare everyone away?”
I shake my head. “Nah, they’re coming back.”
She looks confused, eyes moving between us. “Then why the long faces.”
“The guest of honor isn’t here yet.” My gaze flicks to Sean’s, and we have some sort of stare off.
Brandi shuffles her feet. “I see.” She glances behind her toward a table of rowdy customers. “Well I’m… gonna go check on my other tables. Give me a holler if you need anything,” then she scurries away.
Sean’s eyes follow the back of her, which isn’t a surprise. “How do you know her?”
It takes a moment to answer. “Why do you care?” What does Reese see in you anyway?
“Just making conversation.”
“I saw the way you looked at her.”
Bringing his mug to his lips, he pauses. “Last time I checked, there was nothing wrong with looking, my friend.” He takes a sip. “Don’t pretend like you haven’t.” A wry smirk spreads over his face. I imagine rearranging it. He’s lucky we’re in public.
I lean into the table, locking my fingers, “I’m going to speak very clearly, so you understand. You and I aren’t friends.”
“Well, I appreciate you clearing that up.”
“I’ll clear up something else. If you do anything to hurt Reese—if there’s one single hair on her head out of place, I’ll knock out all your teeth and wear them as a necklace.”
He spits out a bitter laugh. “Let me remind you: she came to me. She doesn’t want you anymore. You’re making yourself look pathetic.”
“Call it whatever you want, but I’m taking back what you stole from me.”
Logan strides over. “Look who decided to show up!”
After five attempts to reach Sean, I give up and shoot him a quick text: GRRR… BE THERE IN TEN.
I’d pulled over in the grocery store parking lot, afraid of breaking down again. It’s not the battery. The noise is different—more like a grinding instead of a click. The thing is falling apart on me.
Gia and I had planned to get the men together before our trip, in hopes that they’d bond so things aren’t awkward between them. My mother had called before I stepped into the shower, which is why I’m running behind.
“Heartland’s Brewery,” I tell the driver, having no choice but to call a cab. The place is right down the street, but I didn’t plan on walking in these stilettos. I’m already feeling out of my element, having originally planned to wear jeans, until Gia intervened, laying one of her outfits out on my bed.
“Wear this. You’ll look gorgeous!” she says, beaming.
I am too busy noticing how stunning she looks in her lipstick red dress. Her hair is pulled back in an elegant fashion, showing off her high cheekbones and glowing features.
My eyes drop to my jeans. “Wow, you look—”
“Thank you. It’s new … and I don’t plan on changing,” she replies seriously. “Don’t even think about wearing those jeans. You’re dressing up tonight.” Her heels click on my bathroom floor, then she disappears into my closet.
I glance down on my bed, finding a plum bohemian top that falls off the shoulder, and a short, black fitted skirt. “Gia, you’re crazy! I can’t fit into your clothes!”
She prances through the bathroom, dangling my black strappy stilettos from her fingers, then sets them down in front of me. “These will go perfect! Wear your hair down, and make it wavy. I told Logan I want to leave early to beat the crowd.”
“I still need to shower.”
“We’ll drive separate. I don’t want to be stuck without a table. See you up there.” She waves, closing my door.
I inhale a long, slow breath, wondering how the rest of the night will play out. Sean’s insecurity has been putting a wrench in our relationship. He’s distant, drowning himself in work. The only way I can explain it is that neither of us are happy. I’m just hanging on to the chance that things will get better between us, and he’ll eventually get off my case about Luke.
And therein lies the problem.
Luke.
I’m not ready to let him go, and, truthfully, I don’t know if I’ll ever be—not completely. There’s too much history between us. I’m realizing that. Regardless of his hurtful choices, the good outweighs the bad, and he’s been a part of my life for too many years to just write him off. I don’t think I’m capable.