Page 128 of Irons

An hour later, the bar was absolutely packed. We were lucky we arrived when we did to snag a table for all of us. There were people in lines at the bar and it was really loud, only made louder by the live band. Travis nursed his beer so that he could drive, while Magnus and I threw them back, one after another.

Tia dragged me out to the dance floor, which was also packed, because Cotton Eye Joe came on and it somehow became our tradition. As I did the line dance, I would glance at Travis who was ignoring the conversation between the men to watch me. I felt a heat in my face a few times, not just from blushing when I caught him watching, but the bar was getting hot. There were too many people in a small space.

I couldn’t help the smile on my face. The last time I was at that bar, I could only live in our memories, but now he was with me in the flesh. The amount I had missed him over the years wasn’t measurable. It was an everyday occurrence and a battle to stay in the present, not to allow myself to live in our memories.

I felt a jerk on my arm, and I spun around to come face to face with Matt. Jesus, not again.

“I need to talk to you!” He yelled over the music, but I noticed he wasn’t exactly sturdy on his feet.

“Are you drunk?” If he was, then he was completely out of sorts. He was never a drinker, more like the kind of guy that always drove to make sure everyone made it home at night. Well, that and his family were deeply religious, and drinking wasn’t their thing.

“Come on!” He grabbed my arm again, but I pulled from his grasp.

“Fuck off!” I yelled over the music and crowd. It was one thing to request we speak, but he had no right to grab my arm. He might have been a professional quarterback, but I could still take him. I gave him a warning look and he threw his hands up in surrender as he backed away.

He ruined my night. I always struggled when I saw him, but I didn’t know a Matt that drank alcohol. He brought my grief and guilt back up to the surface. After storming off the dance floor, I made my way to our table to pour myself another beer, but Travis pulled me down to his lap.

“You okay? I saw that out there and figured you had it handled.” He spoke loudly over all the noise.

“I’m fine, just need a beer!”

He gave me a nod and I poured one and practically sucked it down. I appreciated Travis staying out of it. He knew I could hold my own and had trust in my skills as an operative. I could take a man five times my size down and Travis knew it. He avoided a confrontation by letting me handle it. Plus, Matt wasn’t a violent man, and it was obvious something was wrong.

Brianna came with an entire tray full of shots and I was more than happy to shoot two of them back. Then Magnushanded me another one and we tapped our tiny glasses together and threw them back at the same time.

“I hope you don’t get white girl trashed, do you? You’re not going to start crying and picking a fight with me? Maybe fall over into some bushes and piss yourself?” Travis asked and I threw my head back and laughed.

“I’m not your typical white girl, Travis.”

He laughed. “Hope not, cause you’re lethal.”

“Damn straight I am!” I threw back my beer then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand before I burped, and Travis laughed.

“Still gorgeous!”

I nodded my head then burped again. “Yep, sexy as fuck too! Ten out of ten!”

Travis was bellowing out a laugh then I noticed Magnus and Steve were too. Travis stopped laughing and I noticed he was looking up at someone. I turned my head to look and saw Matt again. He swayed as he looked down at me with dark drunk eyes.

“Why?” Matt pointed at Travis with the hand that was holding a beer. Everyone at the table got quiet since everyone but Magnus knew of my past with Matt.

“Don’t you have a wife around here somewhere?” I asked.

He pointed at me. “You, it’s supposed to be you. What the hell are you doing here with him?”

Travis didn’t say a word, he just let me handle it myself.

“Who are you here with, Matt? I think they need to take you home, I’m sure your wife is worried.” I didn’t know how tohandle a drunk Matt Trenton. His family were devout Baptists, and I never thought Matt would ever get drunk.

“My wife?” Matt let out a drunk sarcastic laugh. “What wife? The one that fucked my friend? Or the one that was supposed to marry me, gave me a son, then ran off to be a goddamn Marine?” He swayed.

“Oh Matt, I’m so sorry about your wife.” I did feel bad that his wife cheated, but I was caught off guard by his language and the drinking.

He leaned forward. “It’s all your fault.” He spoke through gritted teeth. I couldn’t quite hear him at first, it was too loud.

“I don’t want to listen to this, Matt. Who are you here with so we can find them to take you home?” I asked.

Matt shook his head. “No…you’re going to fucking listen to me!” He swayed.

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