Page 28 of Shattered Veil

Instead, panic at my decision to verbally cross a line constricted my lungs, and I replied succinctly, “Yeah.” Her response visibly churned in her mind, but it didn’t get a chance to leave her lips because I wouldn’t allow it. I pulled her wrist that was still in my grasp sharply to the left, she blindly followed my insistence to move, and I grabbed the knob as I dropped my hold on her. I ordered, “Stay here for a few minutes so no one asks questions, okay?”

I opened the door with a gusto that made Cassie take a large step back, and she called to me:

“What? Jay, wait—”

Her eyes were wide as the door shut, and I moved to distance myself from the bathroom as quickly as possible.

Chapter 6

Shawn stood at the bar, smiling at Garrett, who was sliding him a freshly poured stout across the countertop. I wasn’t sure why he had chosen to make his way to the bar rather than have Garrett bring his next drink to the table, but I didn’t care—and I don’t think my facial expression showed that I was in the mood for conversation, either. Shawn took a sip, the foam from the head frothing his upper lip, and as he began to lick it away, he caught my eye and attempted to subdue his flinch.

“Ah—hey,” he tentatively greeted me, glancing to Garrett on his left and the table on his right where the remainder of our group sat. “What’s wrong?”

“Finish your beer.”

His brow furrowed. “Do I ask questions now, or—”

“Shawn!”

My interrupting chastise of his name nearly came out in a snarl, and he replied:

“Got it, got it—yes, sir.”

He began to chug, and I turned to see Luke giving me a quizzical expression. Claire looked to him, to me, and tilted her head in curiosity. Zoey and Liam were, thankfully, lost in their own conversation.

“What’s up, Jay?” Luke inquired.

“Work emergency, we have to go,” I lied. “Long story, catch you up later—I don’t have any cash. Think all these can go on a tab for me?”

“I got you. I’ll keep track for later,” Garrett spoke from behind, and Luke threw him a thankful wave. I again twisted back to Garrett, and he clarified, “Double Basil, Double Jack, two stouts?”

“The Jack was Cassie’s,” I replied.

His brow pinched together. “You took it from her, though?”

“She steals my drinks all the time, and I still pay for those,” I remarked. “It’s a thing—she takes my drink, she buys my next one.”

Garrett glanced upward. “So…flip the cards, you’re buying the second Jack I brought her? Which is the same thing?”

“I, ah…” I had intended to leave before Cassie managed to exit the bathroom, and the ticking clock in my mind had drowned out any remains of my common sense. “I don’t—I don’t know, just put them all on there.”

“All? You want to buy all of her drinks?”

“I don’t care, Garrett—yes. Sure.”

“Mmkay,” he replied. “You got it.” Shawn set his empty glass down, panting for breath for a moment before covering his mouth as he belched, and Garrett remarked, “I do not envy you…feels like you downed a milkshake, huh?”

“Yes, yes—sorry, Brooks,” I spoke up before Shawn could respond, turning him toward the exit and murmuring in his ear, “Leaving now.”

He waved weakly toward the table. “Nice to meet you guys.”

Luke and Claire returned his wave, but Zoey and Liam looked up in confusion.

She voiced, “Why are you—”

“Work emergency,” I repeated, for she clearly hadn’t heard me previously.

“Can’t you just…do your math later?” Liam asked with a tilt of his head that made him look particularly dog-like.

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