Page 73 of Accidental Baby Daddy

Gillian hugged me before she dropped me off, and I dragged myself inside to the bar, which was already hopping with activity.

I wasn’t sure I was up for this much running around, but I had to be. I sipped a soda, just enough caffeine to perk me up, the carbonation always a soothing welcome for my belly. I then got started cleaning the bar and setting up.

Krista walked up behind me. “You look great tonight, Lex.”

I looked down at myself then back at her sceptically. I was wearing a black pair of slacks that hid the slight pooch of my belly and a purple, button-up blouse, along with my comfortable,black ballerina flats.

“I didn’t dress up much,” I admitted.

She put a few beads over my head, and I smiled. “There. Now you’re ready for Mardi Gras night.”

“It’s Fat Tuesday!” someone yelled from the crowd, and everyone else cheered, making my ears ache.

I plastered on a smile, taking drink orders and running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Tonight was going to be a long shift.

Chapter 22

Oliver

Fat Tuesday was going to be one for the books, that was for sure. We’d already cleared a hundred patrons by the time seven p.m. rolled around, and I was seeing dollar signs. I was also seeing Lexie waning, though, so I pulled Krista into my office during a rare dry spell.

“What's up, boss?”

“Keep an eye on Lex,” I said, and she frowned.

“What do you mean? She’s been doing great.”

“I know, but she hasn’t been feeling well,” I mumbled. “Just… watch out for her.”

Krista grinned. “You know, I heard you were sweet on her back in high school, but I didn’t know you still were.”

“I’m not,” I argued, but Krista just shook her head, laughing, and walked back out to the bar.

Great. Now my head bartender knew how crazy I was about Lexie Tripp. Was it that obvious?

Clayton came in through the back, smiling broadly when he saw me. I greeted him with a half-hug, but he pulled me into a full one, a bearhug, really, nearly pickingme up off my feet. Which wasn’t easy considering I was six-foot-three.

But Clayton was a big man. Theresa was with him, wearing beads and a little flapper dress, already appearing slightly intoxicated.

“You’re doing such a great job, Oliver,” she said, smiling brightly at me. “The place is absolutely booming.”

“I’m doing my best,” I said, smiling back at her. Clayton took her by the hand and led her to the bar. I hailed Krista to tell her anything for them would be on the house. She nodded in understanding, but Clayton ended up tipping her and Lexie generously regardless.

It was nice to see Clayton out and about, having a good time. He’d always been working whenever I’d seen him before, and I’d never seen him out with his wife.

They seemed happy, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. I’d wanted that, once upon a time. I guess I still did. And I also knew who I wanted it with—Lexie Tripp.

I knew that I’d forgiven her for what happened when we were teens, or at least I told myself I had. We were young and stupid, and maybe I’d overreacted. I’d never gotten absolute proof, although I knew my father wouldn’t lie to me.

There had to be a way to find our way back to each other, even if she did want out of Wagontown. Hell, maybe I’d even go with her. All I knew was that I needed to talk to her so badly my heart ached.

She’d been avoiding me, and it hurt not to be around her even though we worked together and lived next door to each other.

I was waiting for a break in the business to talk to her, but it didn’t seem to be letting up. Every time I saw Lexie, she was making a drink or talking to a customer. I wasstarting to get dizzy, watching her flit around, so I finally started taking drink orders for her, repeating them to Krista to put into the computer.

“Thanks,” Lexie said breathlessly as she walked by, hurrying to make a tray of drinks. I helped her carry them, and within a few hours, we’d finally gotten somewhat caught up, despite the way the bar was packed to the gills.

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