Page 38 of Very Special Forces

"I don'tknow. I didn't ask. Anyway, it's not like she could ever get rid ofme. Bryce and I have been friends since high school."

"Andscrewing every few years in between his relationships andyours."

My eyeswidened. I pushed up as far as I could go, holding onto the shelffor support.

"Yeah...well... and sometimes during." They laughed again. "All I can sayis he was mine first and if she doesn't hold onto him, we both knowhe'll waltz right back to me. It wouldn't be the first time. Hecan't keep his hands off me."

"Oh! Didyou and he..."

Igripped the shelf, alarmed at what I heard. Two fat books tumbledoff the shelf and crashed to the floor. Outside, the voicesstopped, then there was some whispering and a door opened andclosed, the hinges squeaking. Any moment now, they would walk pastthe office on their way to the bar. I edged over to the door,easing it open as two sets of footsteps hurried past. I pulled thedoor open but all I had time to see was a flash of blond hair andblack cocktail dresses, which narrowed down the women to at leastthirty percent of the guests. I couldn't deny what I'd heard. Bothof them knew Bryce was a cheater but was he cheating on Julianow?

ChapterTen

"Hey,are you okay?" asked Ruby when I returned. Instead of immediatelygrabbing a tray and circulating among the guests, I slipped behindthe bar alongside her. She poured the last of the champagne into aglass and tossed the bottle into the trashcan hidden behind thebar, then reached for another. "We need to circulate with thesebecause there's going to be a toast soon. I know Lily said youwanted to talk to the guests and I don't mind handing out thedrinks if you need to be hands-free."

"I'mfine."

"Youlook a little pale."

"Youknow when you hear something you're not supposed to hear and itsurprises you?"

"Ahh.All the time." She nodded knowingly.

"Hey, doyou remember when Bryce helped you out with a creepy customer?" Isaid, moving my eyes from Ruby to his direction. She discreetlyfollowed my glance.

"Sure,he's a regular."

"What doyou think of him?"

Rubybeamed. "He's the sweetest! He comes in with three of his buddies,those two guys in the corner with the blue shirts," she added,nodding towards two men of slightly shorter heights but similarbuilds to Bryce. "I haven't seen the other guy they hang out withbut I think I heard he's going through something with his wife andcouldn't make it."

"Whatare Bryce and his buddies like when they're here? Have you everseen him with another woman?"

"Hetalks to women and he's a good tipper so all the bartenders likeserving him. I don't think I've ever seen him hitting on anyonethough, if that's what you mean."

That wasexactly what I meant. "Never?"

"No. Hisdark-haired buddy however — the one on the left — now he's got noproblem chatting up the ladies. Bryce and the other guys just lethim get on with it or act as his wingmen occasionally. You know, wewere all really pleased when Bryce and his fiancée gottogether."

"Why'sthat?"

"He hadsuch a rough relationship before. I overheard him talking with theguys once when they were sitting at the bar and he was discussinghis ex. They'd been together two years or something and she justthrew him out of the house one day. No warning or anything! He wastelling his friends that he never really noticed how she wasgetting crazier and crazier about even the littlest things so heshould have seen that kind of behavior coming, but he loved her somuch, he just hoped she would seek help for her problems instead ofblaming them on him."

"Youremember all of that?" I asked, wondering exactly how long shelistened in.

"Well,sure. It was a quiet night, they were seated at the bar, and heseemed so upset."

"Do youremember who the girl was?"

Rubywrinkled her nose. "Jessica something, or Jessie, maybe. I don'tremember her at all so I doubt I ever met her."

"Do youknow if she could be here tonight?" I asked, thinking about theconversation I overheard. Was one of the women in black dressesJessica or Jessie? Or was the woman who so casually detailed herflings with Bryce someone else?

"No, Idon't think so. I don't think I'd recognize her anyway. Like Isaid, I don't recall her ever coming into the bar with him. Anyway,who would invite the crazy ex?"

"Did hetell you anything else?"

"Well,he wasn't exactly telling me, but I could hear so... he said shestarted accusing him of stuff and it was like she believed all thecrap she made up. Then one of his buddies — I don't remember whichone — said he noticed she was getting cold and had stoppedbothering with them all; he said it was disappointing but Bryce wasbetter off not dealing with that shit. I agreed withhim."

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