Page 50 of Hello Handsome
I took a few deep breaths to steady myself and stepped closer to the wall, leaning up against the wood paneling. Five sights. Four sounds. Three feelings. Two things I could smell. One thing I could taste.
Along with calming me, it gave me a better feel for my surroundings.
Along one end was a bar serving a line of patrons. A big dance floor churned with couples. Farther into the bar was an area dedicated to pool tables and darts, with people playing over there. Then all along the walls and dance floor were a mix of standing tables and booths.
I scanned them, looking for my Aggie.
And finally, I found her, in the corner like Hayes had said, with a half-empty glass of pink wine in front of her. A black dress teased her thighs, making me ache at the memory of her touch.
She looked wistfully down at the liquid, spinning it with her fingers on the base of the glass. Her chin rested in her other hand, hair falling around her face. It looked so beautiful down. Why weren’t all the men in this place clambering for a seat at her table?
Rage built up in me, so I went to the bar, ordering a beer in hopes of the cool liquid easing my hot tempter.
Of course getting the drink took too damn long and cost twice as much as you could get it at the grocery store. Why did people come to these meat markets?
With my drink in hand, I turned away from the bar, scanning for Aggie again. She was still alone, her drink a little lower now.
Then I looked around, trying to find someone good enough for her. Someone tall, good-looking. Kind.
My mind ran over the words I would say to him if I saw him.Hey, you don’t know me, but I need you to talk to this woman. I’ll want to throttle you if you do, but she’s worth the trouble.
Blaring music swallowed my groan.
This was a terrible idea.
Then I caught movement at her table from the corner of my eye.
A guy close to her age slid into the booth across from her. I stalled in my tracks, nearly spilling my beer, and ducked to the side to watch.
He was shorter than me, a little stouter too, but dressed nicely and wearing a black cowboy hat. His jeans were starched and button-down clean, but his boots were scuffed up from work. Which meant he at least had a job.
It should have been a good sign, but my stomach was turning, watching it all unfold. My heart rate speeding up all over again.
Especially when she graced him with one of her special smiles. The kind that always made me feel like I was finally doing something right.
He returned it with a smile of his own.
My stomach soured, and I took a drink of beer, hoping that might settle it.
It didn’t.
Instead, I watched like my boots were glued to the ground as they talked. As she tucked a long lock of dark brown hair behind her ear. As he extended his hand and led her to the dance floor.
She smiled as he drew her to his chest and led her in a dance.
I watched long enough to know… Aggie wasn’t alone.
Not anymore.
I dumped my still-full beer in a trashcan and barely made it outside. My knees felt weak; the muscles in my calves were shaking. Pain unlike anything I’d experienced seared through my chest.
I stumbled through the parking lot, feeling every bit as incoherent as any of the drunks inside. And when I finally made it to my truck, my stomach was rolling, threatening to spill.
My phone felt heavy in my pocket, so I got it out and dialed Fletcher’s number. He picked up after a few rings, and I breathlessly said, “It’s happening again. A panic attack.”
“Do you have your pills nearby?” he asked, instantly in doctor mode.
“I’m in my truck.”
