Page 36 of When It Reins
I know exactly what business he has here, but he doesn’t need to know that. Plus, I have plans to thwart his business at every opportunity.
“We’re not over,” David says, softening his voice and looking at me with the same expression that caught my attention the first time. Love, adoration, kindness.
But he’s not those things, and if I really look back, if I paid attention to the signs, I would have seen that long ago. I feel stupid for letting it go on for so long, for throwing myself into something that I never wanted in the first place because I couldn’t have what I really wanted.
I glance to Mitch, whose jaw is clenched tight, his eyes not leaving David’s. For whatever reason, in that moment, I have something of an epiphany, and I hate where it leads.
The only reason Mitch is doing any of this is to keep me away from David. He already told me to stay away from thedevelopment, to stay out of it, so this has to be his way of keeping me away from whatever is going on.
I feel myself realizing what a puppet I was being. And maybe Mitch doesn’t have malicious intentions, maybe David didn’t either, but either way I look at it, I was altering my feelings, my actions, based on what each person was telling me to do.
“You have nothing to say? After everything we talked about? Our plans?” David’s voice draws me back in, and I blink, looking between them both.
Reluctantly, I pull my hand from Mitch’s and take a step away. He looks confused and maybe a little hurt, but I turn my attention to David. “No, David. I have nothing to say except what I already have. I don’t want to see you anymore.”
Then I take a step around them both and move toward the bar.
I hear Mitch’s footsteps behind me, and for the first time in months, I wish he didn’t work here so I could have some space.
“What’s with Mr. Brooding over there?” Shelly nudges my shoulder, wiping out another glass, and I don’t dare lift my head to look at who she’s indicating. I already know. I’ve been feeling his stare all night.
He didn’t say anything to me when we entered the place, and that was probably because we were immediately bombarded by my sisters and unable to have a private minute. But for once, I was grateful.
My mind is in a tailspin, and I can’t figure out which way was up. What is right, what is wrong. I’m completely confused, and don’t even have the right words to explain it.
So I buried myself in work. I chatted with every patron. I helped the band who was playing tonight set up. I even went into the kitchen and cleaned up the dishes. Anything to hide myself from the inevitable.
“No idea,” I finally answer Shelly, who’s been staring at me expectantly.
“Really? He came in right behind you. I assumed you two were together.”
I feel a weird heat gathering behind my eyes and chuckle at my ridiculousness. Really, Juniper? Crying at the memory of sleeping on a couch with the man?
I am pathetic.
“I don’t know why he’s in a mood. It’s not like he’s a chatterbox.” I was only half-lying. I have a pretty good feeling that I know what’s going on. I’m just not about to spill the beans to Shelly.
“Okay, I won’t pry.” I give her a wry look, and she chuckles, throwing her hair up in a clip. “I won’t! I swear. I’m just curious, is all. He hasn’t stopped watching you all night.”
I turn to her, place a hand on my hip, and finally confront something. “Doesn’t he always watch me all night?”
She tilts her head, spinning around to fill a draft before sliding it to the customer. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“So why hasn’t he ever asked me out?” I say outright, wishing immediately that I hadn’t when Annmarie and Thea join the chat.
“Who hasn’t asked you out?” Thea’s concerned oldest sister, mother hen voice says from behind me, making me tense. I love Thea, but I am not in the right frame of mind to be talking about this right now.
“Mitch,” Annmarie supplies, reaching under the bar for her water. I take a moment to glance out at the late-night crowd and wish we’d have an influx of customers.
No such luck.
“Aw, are you ready for that?” Thea asks, smiling softly. She is the sweet, protective sister who would do anything for us, and normally I appreciate that more than Annmarie’s blunt attitude, Tori’s blasé attitude, or even Ophelia’s naivete.
But I am feeling fiery. I am feeling a little frustrated and pissed and ready to confront the world.
“I was ready for it months ago,” I snap, feeling my breath pick up. Man, what was happening to me? I place a hand on Thea’s shoulder and give her an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, girl,” Annmarie says, and I realize they’re surrounding me in a circle. “It’s fine to be frustrated. He hasn’t made it easy.”
