Page 23 of Forgotten Pieces

She ponders that for a second, finger and thumb on her chin. Then a grin breaks out across her beautiful face. “Fair enough. See you ‘round,friend.” And with that, she staggers off to her real friends.

Chapter Nine

Tacoma

I stare in disbelief as I watch Ryder walk out of the bar. I never thought he would step foot in here. Especially after last weekend at the wedding and the few words we shared.

I turn toward Mac and scowl at him. “Why did you bring him here?”

Mac looks at me innocently. “I didn’t think we would be here when your shift started.”

Well, at least Mac was thinking somewhat straight. I had just gotten to work. And as any good bartender would do, I made my way down the entire bar to make sure I knew what everyone was drinking and that no one needed a drink.

“But it’s not like I know anything, Tacoma.”

I contemplate what to say. I never wanted anyone to know about me and Ryder. But since Mac seems to be the only one besides my brother that Ryder knows around here, I am sure he is going to find out eventually and probably from Laney. Ryder isn’t one to share secrets.

I grab a bottle of tequila from the rail and pour two shots for me and Mac. “There isn’t really anything to say.” I shoot the shot back and then continue. “But thanks for saving me the other night. It could have ended badly.”

Mac stares at me and sets his shot glass back down on the bar. “Be careful, please. I don’t know what happened between you two. Ryder says you were just friends. And I believe him. But you need to know he’s engaged. He’s off the market. Don’t go messin’ up other people’s lives.”

With that, he puts a few bills on the bar and heads out.Don’t worry, Mac, I’ve messed up enough lives the last few years, I won’t be messing up anymore.

I hang my head low as I walk back over to the other end of the bar and lean against it where Laney is sitting. I grab a beer along the way and twist the top of it and take a long sip.

“It’s a little early for you to be drinking, isn’t it?” Laney asks.

I shrug. I don’t really care.

“What happened?”

I sigh as I look over at her. “Ryder was here with Mac.”

“Oh,” she says.

“I didn’t tell him you were here. Sorry.”

“I don’t care. He’s been withdrawing more and more. I think I might finally be over him.”

This news perks my ears up. “Oh really?”

She drinks her margarita and sets it back down. “Yeah, I think I need to get over it. Three years of this back and forth is too much. But we were talking about you. Not me.”

I glance down at the bar and see a few empty drinks. “Well, looks like we will need to talk about me later. I need to go refill some drinks. You staying long?”

She shakes her head. “No, I need to get out of here soon.” My shoulders deflate a bit. I might not want to talk about me and Ryder, but it’s nice to have my friend around when the memories flood my brain. She must see my attitude change because she says, “On second thought, a night with you sounds more exciting than cleaning my house.”

I smile at her. “Your next drink is on me!”

She laughs as she answers, “The next few better be on you!”

After most of the patrons left the bar, I ended up getting wasted. Actually I was pretty drunk before they left. Trace wasn’t too mad at me considering I doubled the usual ring for a Friday night. Laney stayed with me all night and I am grateful. I don’t know why a few moments with Ryder caused so many emotions to come flooding back, but it happened.

Luckily no one saw through my overzealous demeanor. No one ever does. Except Laney. She could tell the whole time I was putting on an act. Trace might have known too. He was throwing weird looks at me all night but never said a word.

“How you gettin’ home, T?”

I don’t have many options. Laney and I are both shitfaced, but he knows we would go wherever we are going together. Easton is still on his honeymoon so I can’t even have him come get me. “You don’t want to drive two drunk girls home?”

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