Page 70 of Break My Heart
‘That looks good,’ Aria says, peeking over my shoulder on her way to deliver the beer. When she’s back, she whispers to me, ‘What did he say to you when he was here? Did he think Ryder’s your boyfriend?’
‘I’m guessing he did. I told him Ryder was my ex, but I don’t think he believed me. And now he knows I lied to him about why I couldn’t come to dinner.’
‘Go talk to him.’
‘Now?’ I shake my head. ‘He’s working. And I don’t know what to say.’
‘Just explain what happened.’
‘I tried to and he didn’t believe me.’
‘Then try again. He’s had time to cool off. He’ll be better able to listen now.’
‘Why do I even need to explain? Sawyer and I aren’t dating. I can go out with whoever I want. He shouldn’t be getting mad about it.’
‘I’ll take the Dirty Blonde,’ a guy says as he sits down at the bar.
‘Coming right up,’ Aria says, giving him a smile.
‘I’ll be in the back,’ I tell her.
‘Go talk to him. I can handle things here.’
I take the plate of food and go to my office. The food looks great, but I’m not hungry. I put it in the small fridge that’s next to my desk, then check my phone.
My pulse races when I see a text from Sawyer.Yeah, we can talk.
That’s all he wrote. What does that mean? Like now? Later?
Instead of asking him in a text, I grab my keys and go back to the bar. Aria’s talking to the guy who just ordered the beer.
‘Hey,’ I say. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but I need to leave for a few minutes.’
Aria smiles. ‘Go ahead.’
She goes back to talking to the guy as I race out to my truck.
When I get to Sawyer’s place, I see him working behind the bar. This was a bad idea. He’s busy. His place has twice as many customers as mine, probably because of all the giant TVs. Maybe Ryder is right and I need to switch mine out for bigger screens.
‘I’ll have the stout,’ I say, taking the last open seat at the bar.
‘Coming right up,’ Sawyer says, his back to me. He fills the glass, then turns to give it me. ‘Gina. Hey.’
‘You’re busy tonight.’
‘Yeah. Football.’ He nods toward the TV behind him. ‘You a fan?’
‘You really have to ask? I grew up in Green Bay.’
He smiles a little as he grabs a bar mop from the counter. ‘How’d you like the dinner? My mom will ask.’
‘I didn’t eat it yet, but it looks really good.’
‘It was. Too bad you couldn’t make it.’
‘About that. I need to explain.’
He shakes his head as he wipes the counter. ‘Forget it. You don’t need to.’
