Page 46 of Forgotten Pieces

Rae skips around the counter and gives me a hug. “I’m so sorry, Tacoma. I have been so busy with workin’. I’ve barely spent any time with you.”

She knows I’m depressed but I don’t want her thinking it’s her fault. “I’ve been working too, sis. I just woke up early and was bored. Kinda lonely. Now that I am in that apartment, it’s so quiet. I don’t hear a screaming baby and Easton and Harper speaking in love tongues to each other.”

“Love tongues?” Rae asks.

“Yeah, like when someone speaks in tongues. Except this is sappy love shit and it makes me want to gouge my eyes out.”

Summer and Rae both crack up. “I really ain’t any better,” Summer says.

“Yeah, but I don’t live with you.”

Rae looks over at me. “Well, you are out of that place. It’s for the best. Best move I ever made.”

I roll my eyes at her. “Yeah because moving to this place is how you met your husband.”

“Thank you very much,” Summer chimes in.

“Don’t take the credit, Summer. I am sure Brooks and I woulda ended up together either way.”

“Maybe,” she says casually. “But now that Tacoma is here let’s stop workin’, make some margaritas, and sit by the pool.”

I nod in agreement since that is the exact reason I drove all the way over here. And it works. I feel so much better spending an early afternoon with my sister and a few cocktails. I love hearing how Summer’s business is going and Rae’s drive to open the best bakery in Tennessee.

The day goes by quickly and makes me feel light again. All the qualms that were bugging me earlier disappear.

* * *

I walk into the bar right on time and only slightly tipsy from the margaritas. But I am sure the feeling will help me face Trace when he gives me shit for walking in on him and Ivy.

I’m not expecting to see Ryder at the bar.

But he’s here.

His face is in his phone when I walk behind the bar. I put my keys in the drawer under the register and place my phone on the back of the bar. Johnnie is at the other end of the bar washing dishes. I walk over to him and he passes off to me, letting me know what customers need help and who is cashing out. I start checking on people nearest to me before heading down to the other end of the bar.

It’s odd that Ryder is here alone in the middle of the day. Hell, the only time I ever saw him alone here was when he was torn apart on the anniversary of losing his team. I hope he isn’t here to talk to me. I mean I wouldn’t mind if he was but we are a secret. We always were. Our alone time together was more precious than anything. Maybe I am looking for that again. Maybe I want him to be a secret because if I were friends with him in public our relationship would lose its magic.

“I think that beer is full,” I hear Trace say next to me.

I tear my gaze away from Ryder and notice a huge mess in front of the taps. I probably poured enough for three glasses. I look at Trace and shrug, wipe the glass down, and serve it to the guy who ordered it.

I smile at Trace who is standing in front of me with a scowl on his face and slide past him. I glance at Ryder again and see him laughing, he undoubtedly saw me make a huge mess.

I ask for an order from the next two customers at the bar and put their food order into the computers before pouring their drinks.

“Tacoma,” Trace says sternly.

“What’s up?” I say nonchalantly.

“You know.”

I put a straw in the gin and tonic I made and pop the cap on a beer bottle and set them down in front of the customers. “Oh yeah, sorry about earlier. I was just spacing out. Didn’t mean to overpour the tap.”

“That’s not what—”

“What can I get you?” I ask Ryder as I finish my round at the bar.

“Tacoma.”

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