Page 2 of Wasted Memories
I held up the jean jacket. “It’s not like I didn’t bring a coat.”
“I don’t think too many people wear denim jackets for warmth. I think they’re more so just for looks.” She held a dark drink out to me. “Here, I got you an espresso martini.”
I sat down on the stool and grabbed the drink from her, taking a sip. Jett walked in, heading to the pool table where Brendt was racking balls and Luke was grabbing cues off the wall.
Jett worked construction, which meant some weeks he wasn’t home. Though initially it wasn’t planned, we would always end up at this same bar every Friday when he got off work, so eventually it became our meet up spot with the guys and Stella.
I ordered three beers and brought them over to the table next to where Jett, Luke, and Brendt were beginning their game of pool. Jett kissed the side of my head and grabbed one of the beers, “Thanks, baby.”
“Kind of a habit.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned my head on his chest. He took a sip of his beer, resting his other hand on my head to stroke my hair. I inhaled, the smell of whiskey filling my nose. I lifted my head to look at him. “I didn’t realize you started with whiskey at the house. Do you want me to get you one instead?”
He shook his head and swallowed the gulp of beer, setting it back down on the table and grabbing his pool cue. “I wanted to switch to beer anyway. You read my mind.”
He bent down to kiss me, tangling his fingers in my wavy hair as he lightly gripped the back of my head to pull me closer. I kept my arms around his waist, fisting his shirt in my hands.
“C’mon, guys. How many times do we need to tell you to get a room?” Luke grumbled, rolling his eyes as he grabbed a beer off the table.
Jett pulled away, dropping his hand as he turned to Luke. “I think you’re just jealous, Luke, always wishing you had a girl to kiss like this.”
Luke laughed and took a long pull from his beer. “That’s your problem man, always thinking everyone’s jealous of you.”
The three of them were always trying to get a rise out of each other, so much so that I didn’t think I’d ever seen them be serious together.
I made my way back to the bar, sliding into my seat next to Stella. Leaning my elbow on the bar, I faced her.
“How’s work been going? Your boss still giving you shit?” Stella asked, nursing her drink.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Always. I don’t know what his problem is. I handle my tables, keep customers' drinks filled, and smiles on their faces. He probably hates how I bring in double everyone else’s tips and wishes he had a cut. He’s just an ass, no other way to put it.”
“Amen to that,” she said, raising her glass to clink against mine. “But seriously, I’m glad you try not to let it get to you. Don’t waste your breath on some small towner like him. He’s just upset that the furthest he could go in his boring little life was to manage a restaurant.”
“Stella, we’re small towners,” I pointed out.
“That’s not the point, Em! He’s lame, you’re not. You’ve got a smokin’ hot boyfriend, a house, everything you could want.”
“I don’t have a car.” Jett would pick me up or dropped me off at work if he was home and I asked, but most of the time, I'd walk the short distance.
“You’ll get one eventually, especially with all those tips you’ve been racking up.”
The bell on the door dinged and Stella swiveled in her chair to see who was coming in.
“Speaking of smoking hot..” She nudged my arm.
I gazed over my shoulder at the door. Filling the entrance to the bar was probably the most attractive man I’d ever seen. No, not probably, hedefinitelywas. He had shaggy cinnamon colored hair that was swept back from his forehead with dark scruff on his face, accentuating his jaw line. His lips were pressed in a firm line as he shrugged off his brown coat, revealing tattooed arms and biceps that stretched the sleeves of his dark gray t-shirt.
I had to make sure my jaw hadn’t fallen open.
I could see the green in his eyes from across the room, reminding me of pine trees in the spring. His gaze landed on me and I quickly turned back to my drink, seeming disinterested. Stella, on the other hand, continued to stare.
Seconds later, a stool was pulled out from the bar. I glanced over and saw him sitting a few seats over, noticing he wore broken down cowboy boots, probably as his everyday footwear.
Could that even be comfortable?
I elbowed Stella in the arm. “You’re staring.”
“How could you not?” She smiled and turned back to me, leaning to whisper in my ear, “But seriously, Em, do youseehim?”
“I do, and I also see my boyfriend behind me playing pool with our friends. You, however, have my permission to do as you please.”
