Page 6 of Yearn

“Landon!” I laughed at her shriek. Coop’s proud face told me I’d nailed it. They’d totally had sex last week in the ladies room.

“Dude, tonight was intense,” Max said, shaking his head. “Do you know how many times I was asked for a mojito? I fucking hate making those. I barely had time to take a piss and my fingers smell like mint.”

We all laughed. Max was a great bartender but lazy. I always told him he’d never make a full night as a server. “Well, Elle and I busted past our last record. We made over 1K tonight in tips.”

Noah whistled. “Daisy, you sure you don’t want to quit taking care of the old people and work at Red?”

Daisy wanted to specialize in elder care, another thing that blew my mind. “When you’re old and I’m wiping your butt, you’ll be glad I chose my profession,” she teased back. My laugh fell a bit short when I saw the flicker of unease in Noah’s eyes. Yeah, he was definitely not liking a reference to them having a future. My heart twinged. I wanted Daisy and Noah to work out—I thought she was perfect for him. Maybe he just needed more time together.

Noah cleared his throat. “Hey, Elle, I wanted to know if you’d be interested in singing on a track I’m putting together? It may be good exposure.”

Elle pursed her lips in thought. “Depends on when. I’m booked with auditions this upcoming week. Plus, I’m not the pop singer type. You may do better with someone else.”

I was about to interrupt to say her voice was gorgeous but Noah had already beat me. “Actually, you’re perfect,” he said lightly. “I need a unique voice who can bring some emotion to the song. It’s not poppy at all.”

Her brow arched with interest. “A ballad?”

Daisy jumped in. “Yes! He’s been working with Adam on mixing a ballad with a rock song, kind of like the 80’s. Right, babe?”

“Think old school Guns n Roses or even Meatloaf,” Adam added.

“Surprised you didn’t want to steal that for your own,” I muttered under my breath.

Unfortunately, Adam heard me. “Don’t need to steal. I have enough talent to write my own songs. Why don’t you take a pic of your face and post? That’s your job, right?”

I seethed. “Don’t mock what you can’t do and know nothing about. If you have all these amazing songs written, how come no one ever hears them?”

A slight red flushed his cheek.Score. He liked to talk a big game and disappear into his writing cave, but he hadn’t performed anywhere I could hear him in a while. Perfect Adam had his own fear issues. He was just an expert at hiding him.

One recognized the other.

Elle shook her head at our antics but ignored us. “I’ll take a look at the song. I can meet tomorrow morning if we’re sober.”

Noah smiled, obviously pumped to get her on board. He was always saying Elle’s voice was gold but she was stubborn about making it in acting, not singing. “Text me.”

I stopped trading glares with Adam and focused on other chats. We drank and shared stories and gossip. Max and Adam disappeared by the bar, and the girls got up to dance. I downed tequila and soda, sang to the music, and let my troubles go. At one point, Max disappeared with Adam and I lost sight of them for a while. As time passed, I began to survey the crowds to find Max. I was ready to leave early and spend some alone time with my boyfriend. Some time together in bed, talking and snacking, maybe some sex, all of it would beat away these sudden doubts that were beginning to crop up about us.

As if I was missing out on something. Something I couldn’t place, or name, or even imagine. Something…bigger.

“Be right back,” I said into Elle’s ear. She nodded and began dancing with Cooper, who was pretty smashed. I winced. Elle hated when Coop got sloppy, same as I did with Max. Drunken fun was good, but I’d witnessed other behavior from Max that needed to be shut down quick. Like flirting with other women when we were apart. I’d warned Max early on I wouldn’t accept theI don’t rememberexcuse as he blamed alcohol for his bad decision.

Screw that.

Fanning the back of my neck, I eased my way to the corner of the bar, then froze.

Oh, hell, no.

Fury pumped through my veins as I watched Max throw his head back and laugh. His arm was resting on her hip, and she held her phone up, as if taking a selfie of them together. Adam flanked her other side, a half grin tugging at his lips, probably from the amazing view of her cleavage in her tight, low-cut shirt.Shots were lined up in front of them and I noticed the number right away.

Three shots. Not two.

He’d bought her a damn shot while I was a few feet away. After I specifically asked him to respect my wishes and not mingle with the trash.

I swayed on my feet, caught between walking out and leaving his ass here, or facing both of them head on.

There was only one option, because I was no coward and no man was going to disrespect me.

I headed over to Max, Adam, and Gabriella.

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