Page 23 of Waiting for Redemption

“TUCKER!” We all shout in unison.

“Honestly, you’d have to be blind not to see it,” Leah says accusingly. Taylor rolls her eyes and begins walking towards the bridal suite.

“You guys are crazy. Tucker and I are just friends, and he’s always been flirty like that. It doesn’t mean anything.” She places her hand on the doorknob but Lauren stops her from going in.

“I say this because I love you. Everything you need to know about how a man feels can be found in the way he looks at you, you just have to be paying attention—and I don’t think you have been.” Taylor’s face twists momentarily, but she doesn’t say anything else.

After fixing the buttons that popped off of Shane’s dress, the reception is back in action as if nothing ever happened. Shane and Max are back on the dance floor, getting lost in each other’s eyes. Hendrix is passed outonone of the reception tables, and I can’t help but notice the way Tucker is storming the dance floor to get to Taylor as she and Zander are dancing.

Damn, Leah and Lauren weren’t kidding, with the way he’s looking at her right now, there’s not a single person who would question the way he feels about her—except maybe Taylor.

“You look absolutely stunning tonight.” The deep swagger of Tank’s voice sends shivers down my spine, and I quickly straighten my posture to try and hide any indication.

“Thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself.” I look him up and down and damn if his tux isn’t doing the Lord’s work. Every bulging muscle this man has is poured into perfectly tailored polyester.

“May I have this dance?” He extends his hand and much to my surprise, a petty part of me I hardly recognize comes out to play.

“Are you sure you don’t want to steal Taylor away for another dance?” I raise a brow and his gaze slightly narrows.

“No.” His tone is sure as his eyes narrow on me. “Thatwas just a necessary precaution. My brother is hopelessly in love with that girl and I knew if someone didn’t step in during whatever was happening earlier, the guy she invited as her date would have been leaving a little more broken than the way he arrived,” he explains. I’m slightly embarrassed by the relief I feel hearing he isn’t interested in Taylor.

“However, dancing withyouis something I’ve been wanting to do all evening.” The corner of his lips turns up in a grin, and I can’t help but smile back.

“Is that so?” I take his hand and we begin swaying on the dance floor.

“Come on, Honey. Don’t pretend you don’t know you’re my favorite person to be around. Makes me feel like I don’t do a good enough job showing ya.” Tank winks at me and without warning, I feel a flutter in my stomach.

Tank has easily become one of my best friends since he showed up a little over a year ago, but an established friendship doesn’t mean I never wonder if those winks or comments likeyou’re my favorite personmean something more.

* * *

While Shane and Max have been on their extended honeymoon, things have been a little more chaotic than normal at the bar. Them both being gone meant having one and a half employeeslessthan we’re used to and making schedules to accommodate everyone has almost killed me. Tank and I are closing together tonight, and things havefinallybegun to slow down.

“Woooo hoooo. Bar crawl, bitches!”I turn around from mixing a drink to see a large bachelorette party walk through the door.

Damn, spoke too soon.

I immediately glance over at Tank who already looks annoyed. I don’t even have to wonder what he’s thinking because every time a group like this one it’s the same thing.Why do they come here? This is not their kind of bar.We get more bachelorette parties through here than anyone would ever believe.

“Why do they always come here? There are plenty of flashy bars that have karaoke and shit that they could torment instead,” he grumbles under his breath, making me smile at how accurate I was.

“I have no idea. But they can’t stay forever, it’s almost time for the last call anyway. It’ll be fine,” I assure him before I go over to the table to take their order. When I reach the group I am shocked to see who the bride is.

“Bethany?” I question, getting her attention. She stops her assessment of the bar and looks in my direction before her mouth pops open.

“Ruby?Shut up!” she screams, standing up to hug me. “What are youdoinghere?” she asks, her eyes comically wide.

“I work here,” I say, pointing at my shirt.

“Get out of town! I would have never pictured you in a place likethis,” she says, not hiding the judgment in her tone in the slightest.

“And yet, here I am,” I answer with a forced smile.

“You know I thought you were studying something super brainy when we were in college?” she asks, popping her hip out as she takes a slow evaluation of me.

“I was a psychology major. I actuallygraduatedwith that degree,” I remind her.

“Right. I guess thedancinggot you a little derailed, huh?” she says with a sinister grin.

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