Page 120 of Always You

We used to share our entire life with each other, and now I don’t even know why she’s back in her hometown. When she cut me out, I was pissed. It felt like she was abandoning me when things got hard, confused, like everyone else. It wasn’t until later that I realized she was right, and how we're trying too hard to keep something that we’d never get back. At least not while we’re on different coasts. But it didn’t change the fact that I felt something was missing. And standing in front of her, I wonder if she’s still the thing I’ve been missing all this time.

“Are you working all night?” I bite my lip, knowing it’s a dumb idea to go down this road, but I can’t help myself. Now that she’s here, walking back into my life like a fucking hurricane from the past… I want—no, Ineed—to talk to her.

She shakes her head with fire sparking in her gaze. “I’m not doing this with you.”

“Doing what, Charls?” I step into her space, pinning her down with my lips pursed in annoyance. There’s no way in hell I’ll walk out here tonight without having a normal conversation with her. Whatever the fuck normal is for us nowadays.

“This.” She waves her finger in the small space between our torsos. “You and me. We’re not friends. Don’t pretend like we are.”

She turns, but I catch her arm as my thumb brushes her skin in soft strokes. Her eyes drop down to where we connect, parting her lips before she flicks her haze back up at me.

Those blue-green eyes will be haunting me tonight.

“We could,” I argue.

“That would require for you to know what a friendship is.”

“Shut—” I swallow the word, treading carefully. Goddamn, the girl is already testing my patience and it’s both annoying as it is exhilarating. “I know we didn’t end things well, but have a drink with me. Catch up. I want to know how you’ve been. How you’vereallybeen.” I give her a pleading look while my eyes move back and forth, looking for an answer. She glances at Jason behind me, and I press my lips together, praying she’ll say yes.

Her eyes radiate conflict, igniting hope in my chest.

“Come on, Charls,” I coax. “I’m an asshole, you already know that. But aren’t you at least a little tempted to have a drink together?”

“I’m tempted to hit you over the head.”Liar.

“You can do that.” I shrug, then flash her a cocky grin. “Afterwe have a couple of drinks.”

Her eyes narrow, her puckered lips pinched, as if she’s trying to hold back the smile that’s lingering in the corners.

“I’m only agreeing to this because I was planning to stay back for a drink anyway,” she says, then presses her finger against my chest with a reprimanding look. “But no flirting.”

Another lie, but regardless, I bring my hands up in a placating gesture, chuckling. “Fine.”

“Cool. Don’t bother me, though. I still have to work.” She gives me another death glare as she walks off to the next table, and I can’t help staring at her peach ass walking away from me.

“Was her ass always that sexy?” I mumble to no one in particular.

“Nah, it’s definitely grown.” Jason’s arms are folded in front of his body, a look filled with approval plastered on his face.

“Stop looking at my girl.” Slapping him on the chest, I break his gaze, and walk toward the bar, suddenly feeling a lot lighter than I have in a long time.

“She ain’t your girl,” he reprimands.

We both take a seat on the stools as he gives me a mocking look filled with judgement, and my eyes roll to the back of my fucking head, praying he’s not going to make a big deal out of this.

“You know what I mean,” I huff.

“Oh, I know what you mean. It’s these moments when I wonder ifyouknow what you mean.”

“What are you blabbering about, shithead?”

Jason chuckles with an amused grin that I want to smack off his face, before he shakes his head, signaling the bartender. “Never mind.”

I can’t help but glance behind me, looking for Charlotte, watching how she’s charming her way around the room with her beaming smile.

“I guess it’s a blessing in disguise that old witch broke her leg, ain’t it?” He places my beer in front of me with a knowing wink, and we clink our bottles together while I give him a wide grin.

“Cheers to that old witch.” I’ll never fucking admit whatever Jason’s got in his head at seeing me and Charls together again, but I’m sure as hell thanking my mother for giving me a reason to be here tonight.

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