Page 24 of Give Me Love

“You know there is,” she replies. “His family had money. He’s out by now. He could be here.”

“But seriously, how random would that be? I mean, why would he go through all the trouble of buying a restaurant, and what are the odds you would even apply there?” I put my lip balm down.

“Don’t you find it funny the flyer for the job just ended up in our mailbox downstairs?”

“It’s a new business. They were trying to get employees. I bet it was in everyone’s mailbox.”

She exhales, worry lines creasing as her eyes scan my bedroom floor. I walk back over and sit down beside her, trying to think of what to say to ease her mind.

I grab her hand and link my fingers through hers. “He’s gone. You have a restraining order. He’d be a fool to come back around.”

She nods, trying to let it sink in. “Yeah,” she says, looking over at me. “You’re right. I’m just being paranoid.”

I study her expression, knowing she doesn’t fully believe it. I hate she even has to worry about this. I give her hand a squeeze. “I don’t think you’re being paranoid. It’s good to be cautious and smart. If at any time you feel something isn’t right, you call me. I’ll drop whatever I’m doing and come to you.”

“Okay,” she says.

“Okay?” I reply, making sure she understands.

“Yes. I’ll call you.”

“Good.” I nod and kiss her hand quickly. “Now let’s go get trashed.”

She blows out a lungful of air before she stands. Her ankle goes sideways. “Shit. I might need to sit down most of the night in these heels.”

I laugh. “Please don’t break your ankle. I can’t deal with waiting on you hand and foot.”

“Oh, I think that would be nice.” She grins mischievously, and I’m glad to see it reaches her eyes.

“Wait. Did you eat?” I ask, stopping her in the hallway.

She pats her stomach. “Girl, if I would have eaten anymore, I wouldn’t have been able to fit in this dress. My Spanx are squishing all the fat.”

I snort. “Good. Here’s to not throwing up.”

“And to saying we’re never drinking again.”

I laugh. “Yeah. That, too.”

__________

Anxiousness and excitement fill my lungs when I take in a deep breath. My eyes keep darting to the upstairs, wondering if that’s where he is again. He was a complete dick to me at the shop, but for some reason, I feel like that was a front. It’s that look in his eyes I can’t forget because I’ve seen it in my own.

Only people who’ve gone through some serious shit can have that look. Hard pasts result in high walls.

I look back in front of me at the busy bar, wondering if I’ll ever get a drink. I’ve been standing here forever. Where are those waitresses, anyway?

I peer over at Claire and Austin who sit by the wall, laughing at something one of them said, and it pulls at my heartstrings.

I’ve missed them.

My life was so different only a short time ago. Boy, what a blind fool I’ve been. You’d think someone like me, a girl who comes from such a broken home, would be smarter. Would know when she’s in a relationship that wasn’t working. I puff out my cheeks and stand on my tiptoes to look for the bartender who has yet again disappeared to the other end.

“Harrison!”

I turn to look when I hear my last name being yelled and see none other than cute, easygoing Jace coming my way.

“Hey.” I smile.

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