I shot him a look. “What about Joe?”
He lost it, laughing. “Joe Miller? You’re kidding, right? Shit, they dated off and on but even I could tell there was nothing there, much to Joe’s disappointment. I’m sure he was happy as hell you took off. Remember how he liked Paxton in high school?”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“Who’s the guy she’s dancing with?”
“Accountant from San Antonio.”
“Oh fuck. That spells boring.”
I laughed, and Todd hit me on the back. “Let me buy you a drink.”
“Sure, why not.” I followed Todd to the bar. Trevor glanced up and almost had a look of relief on his face. He’d called me almost an hour ago and said Mike had been feeding shots to Paxton, and she was willingly taking them. One quick call to mom to ask her to come sit at the house while I went out, and I was out the fucking door and speeding to get here. I’d imagined the different ways I was going to pound my fist into Mike’s face. Then I remembered how things went with Joe, and I simmered my ass down.
I glanced over my shoulder and searched the dance floor until I saw them. The ache in my chest grew. Clearly Paxton was enjoying herself with Mike. Maybe she was over me. Maybe I read too much into that kiss and what she said in her kitchen. She said she never stopped loving me…but was she in love with me?
“Hey, Todd. What can I do ya?” Cord asked, pulling my attention back to the bar.
Todd reached his hand out for Cord’s. “Sup, Cord. I’ll take a Bud.
Trevor set a shot of whiskey in front of me as his eyes met mine. I reached for it, lifted it, and smiled. Damn, I’d missed my brothers. I didn’t even have to say a word, and Trevor knew what I was thinking. He also knew I needed something to take the edge off.
It was good to be home.
“Thanks for calling,” I said after the shot burned down my throat.
He nodded and went off to help someone else. Cord was talking to Todd, but he looked over and gave me a warning.
I grinned. I wasn’t about to start any trouble in his bar. Yes, I was only here because Trevor told me some asshole was all up in what was mine, but I wasn’t going to make a repeat of what I did the other night at Paxton’s house.
Todd hit me on the side of the arm. “Hey, let’s get together sometime. Catch up. I’d love for you to meet my wife. She’s expecting our first baby in a few months.”
I stood and shook Todd’s hand. “I’d like that.”
We exchanged numbers and Todd headed back over to the guys he was here with. I knew a few of them from high school, but we never hung out. Todd had worked during the summers at the ranch and that’s how we had become friends.
“Don’t start any shit, Steed.”
Dragging my eyes back across the dance floor, I caught sight of Paxton and Mike before focusing in on Cord.
“I’m not here to make problems. Trevor was worried and gave me a call. I’m only here to keep my eye on her.”
He lifted a brow. “And if he goes home with her?”
The thought made me sick to my stomach. I didn’t answer. If Paxton did indeed leave with the fucker, I’d let it go. It would kill me, but I couldn’t and wouldn’t force myself on her.
“Then it will be her choice, right?”
Cord’s eyes grew sad. “She might, Steed. They’ve been pretty flirty with each other. Her friend Corina’s been dancing all night with Mitchell, pretty much.”
I didn’t want to look back out in the crowd. The last time I did, Mike had his hand on Paxton’s ass.
Pointing to the shot glass, Cord smiled. “I’m not letting you get drunk.”
Laughing, I replied, “I don’t want to get drunk. Only want one more shot then I’m going to leave.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “What?”
I shrugged. “She survived before I was here, right?”
A small line appeared between his eyes. “Yeah, well, she was never in here when you were gone. I’ve seen her in the bar more now that you’re back than I have in the five years it’s been open.”
“I’m not her babysitter, Cord.”
He pulled his head back and studied me. “So this is how you’re going to handle it, huh?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re going to give up?”
Sliding my shot glass over to him, I said, “I’ll take one more, then I’m leaving.”
He lifted his hands in surrender. Everyone thought they had all the answers. Well, they fucking didn’t. Paxton still hated me. She wanted nothing to do with me and that was pretty damn clear.
I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see her laughing as Mike spun her around. She didn’t look too torn up to me. I was the one sitting at home reliving our entire conversation over and over. Seeing her cry about gutted me. Hearing the pain and hurt in her voice killed me. And where was she? Out fucking dancing with some douche motherfucker who probably didn’t even know how to jack himself off let alone take care of her needs.