Page 4 of Crossing the Line

Luckily, she gives a casual wave, dismissing the thought. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

No, it doesn’t. I should take the out she just gave me and turn back to the TV, but the way she nervously takes another long sip of her drink tells me she’s not okay. I finish off my beer, and like clockwork, Jasmine walks over to me again.

I’m grateful for the break from Claire. She’s upset, and even though I should run the other way, I keep feeling the need to look at her. Talking to Jasmine is easy. I don’t have to think about what I say to her because, ultimately, I don’t give a shit what she thinks of me.

But I shouldn’t give a shit what Claire thinks of me either.

And I don’t.

I glance at the two guys Jasmine was just dangling herself in front of. The assholes are clearly still talking about her. They’re probably listing off all the things they want to do to her—all the things I probably will end up doing to her later. “So, who thinks they’re getting some tonight?” I ask with a nod.

She swats my arm with a rag. “Don’t be gross.” When I keep staring at her, she huffs and rolls her eyes. “The one in the hat.”

Looking down, I laugh and shake my head.

“Hey,” she says in a warning tone. “I came over here to be nice and get you another beer. Don’t make me regret it.”

I’m sure I’ve made her regret worse. My eyes fall on Claire next to me. She’s still staring straight down at her drink, so I look back at Jasmine and say, “Yeah, I’ll have one more.”

She follows my gaze to Claire and lowers her voice. “Do you know her or something?”

I knew she wouldn’t remember her newest patron from school, so I shrug and hand her my empty cup. “No.”

As soon as Jasmine’s back is turned, filling my beer, I glance at Claire to see if she’s offended, but she doesn’t even look like she’s heard me.

“The Boys are Back in Town” plays throughout the bar louder than it needs to. The music is always too loud in this dump. It’s like the manager assumes the place will be packed and wants to make sure people can hear the music over the crowd.

Well, the crowd consists of less than ten people including the staff, and we can fucking hear it.

It’s always the same playlist, too. After this, it’ll be “Born to be Wild,” then “Closing Time”, and then “Sweet Caroline.”

I come here too much.

I should find relief in the fact that I’m listening to music and not Claire talking my ear off, but there’s something unsettling about the way she’s just sitting there. It isn’t until Jasmine hands me my beer and walks over to her that she seems to even remember where she is. “You doing okay, honey?”

Claire’s eyes snap up, her head nodding quickly, and I find it funny that she doesn’t bite off Jasmine’s head for the pet name.

My phone lights up on the bar top, showing another message from Mike.

Mike: Remind me why I’m not dating Cindy.

I stifle an eye roll as I text him back.

Me: Because you got a text from your sister, and she started throwing your shit out the window thinking you were talking to another girl.

There’s always a fatal flaw. Cindy’s happens to be unprovoked, borderline insane jealousy.

It doesn’t take long for him to answer, but I don’t bother looking because I can feel Claire’s eyes burning into me.

And for whatever reason, I can’t ignore it.

4

Claire

Aiden’s phone lights up, and I wonder if he’s meeting people here. I’m not sure I want a full high school reunion with Aiden and his friends, so I ask, “Why are you here alone?”

He pockets his phone. “I could ask you the same thing.”

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