Page 95 of Between the Blue
I feel my shoulders slump, understanding Rhett but also deflating at losing the chance to gain an ounce more of understanding as to why Ben is the way he is.
“Now,” Rhett says, parking the car and pulling the keys from the ignition, “enough of that mushy shit. Let’s drink.”
twenty-seven
HER
We both hop out of Rhett’s Range Rover and make our way through the front door of Randall’s.
As soon as we step across the threshold, I find my senses on red alert. I try my best to remain casual as I glance towards the area where the players usually gather.
I instantly relax some when Caroline is the first person I see. But my relief doesn’t last long when the large form of Luke Buckner steps to the side and Ben comes into view.
He is leaned over the table, a full whiskey glass in hand, on the outskirts of a conversation between John Wisneski and Ronan.
I tell myself to look away from him, but it doesn’t even take a second for his gaze to find me, almost like he can sense my presence. Even from across the bar, I can see the bruise forming below his left eye where Zanders got his singular hit in on him, and I find myself in my swirl of confusing emotions all over again.
A light tap against my shoulder shakes me awake, making me turn my head.
“Hey, I’ll grab us drinks,” Rhett says. “You can head to the table. I’ll be there in a few.”
“Okay, sure,” I nod, not going to say no to a drink at this stage. “Thanks.”
Rhett steps away, and I turn my attention back towards the table ahead.
I nearly have to stop myself from flinching when I find Ben now standing tall, a hard expression on his face.
I’m not sure what it’s about, but I don’t care to analyze Bennett James’s motives any further today, so I make a beeline for Caroline.
She’s excited to see me, which is always a welcome feeling. I focus on her, listening to the recap of her last few days and insights on tonight’s game that I only halfway understand, making sure to keep a certain someone perfectly out of my line of sight.
It feels like no time at all before I hear Rhett’s voice approaching. I spin around, finding that he brought back not only two handfuls of drinks with him to the table, but also two women. They’re both beyond gorgeous, and I start to reach out my hand to introduce myself to them, but am intercepted by Rhett dropping a flight of three shots down in front of me.
“Here you go.”
“Um, what kind of drink is this?” I question him.
“I call it an Addie Hatty,” he grins.
“An…Addie…what?”
Rhett leans on to the table next to me. “Well, you know, because your name is Addie.”
“That much I got,” I nod.
“And a hatty.”
I tilt my head at him.
“A hat trick,” Caroline supplies from behind me. “Three goals in one game.”
“Three shots in one go,” Rhett winks.
“Again, he thinks he’s clever,” Caroline says, rolling her eyes.
I burst out a chuckle. “You want me to take three shots at once?”
“I don’twantyou to do anything. I just love a good rhyme.”
