Page 20 of Break Me Like a Promise (Oak Valley)

Colton’s face burned. “What the fuck’s your problem?”

“Did you see Ruby?” Caleb’s voice was barely loud enough to hear, but Colton caught the sting. Caleb had never cared for Ruby when they dated and found their break-up as justification to actively make it known.

Colton clenched his teeth, hating how transparent he was. “What does it matter?”

Caleb sipped his rum and Coke. “Just curious.”

“Did you?” Archer asked, leaning over the scarred pool table for his turn. Dragan snickered over in the corner and Colton stabbed him with his pool cue.

“Yeah. And?”

“How was it?” Archer hit the ball, narrowly missing the intended pocket. For an ex-military, current firefighter, his pool aim was shit.

“Fine.” Colton eyed the bar, thinking his next drink should be something a bit harder. One of the best parts of having money — and his well-off friends would agree — was being able to afford top shelf without thinking too hard about it.

“Just fine?” Dean finished his whiskey ginger, glancing at the bar. Although Colton knew it was the group of women that was next on the menu, not what he’d be drinking next.

“Yep. Who needs another?” Colton asked while Liam took his turn. Everyone raised their hands, stacking empty glasses and handing them off to Colton and Dragan. Dean tagged along, eyeing the girls at the bar. Colton snickered, choosing the space next to them. They were clearly being bothered by a couple of guys, two of the four girls sitting and facing the bar while the other two leaned against their friends and as away from the guys as possible. Colton placed their order, Dragan standing silent beside him. The girls kept eyeing his giant friend, but quickly turned their attention to Dean when he flashed them his pearly whites.

“Hey, ladies.” Colton heard Dean start his charm, turning his back to give full attention the women. Colton thought he vaguely recognized one or two of them from high school. They were all beautiful, there was no denying that.

But none of them had a shock of red curls and a sweet gap-toothed smile that made his heart ache.

As if reading his thoughts, Dragan leaned against the bar. “So how was seeing Ruby?”

“It’s bullshit, D.”

“Remember your deep breathing.” His friend gave a low chuckle, broad shoulders pushing between Colton and Dean, who was listening intently to something one of the brunettes was saying.

“Which part is bullshit?”

“All of it. She’s pissing me off but I — She’s just pissing me off. How’s June? Could’ve sworn I interrupted something the other day.” Colton didn’t want to admit Ruby still affected him, and instead smirked at Dragan, who’d always had a thing for the sweet blonde. Even if he couldn’t admit it to anyone — let alone to himself.

Dragan kept a straight face but couldn’t keep the color from rising in his cheeks. The bartender lined their drinks on the bar. “Thanks, man, you can put it on my tab.” Colton glanced at his friend while he and Dragan gathered the glasses. They left Dean’s on the bar and balanced the other five through the crowd.

“There was nothing to interrupt,” Dragan yelled.

“Your delayed response says otherwise.”

They reached the guys and a cloud of tension. Handing off the drinks, Colton looked between them. Caleb was sulking, Archer and Liam scrolling their phones.

“Everything good?” Dragan asked. “Who’s turn is it?”

“Colt’s,” Archer said.

Colton tried to dismiss the slight head shake Arch gave to Dragan but he couldn’t leave it. “Did we miss something?”

Liam shook his head. “Nope, all good. Your turn.”

“Look who I found!” Dean’s voice came up behind Colton, followed by the giggles of four somewhat-drunk girls. Dean had his arm around two of them, his hand holding an almost empty glass, the other girls dancing their way to the pool table. “It’s Izzie from Chem with Mr. Shapiro!” Dean gave the brunette under his arm a squeeze and made introductions.

Colton didn’t give a shit about Izzie from Mr. Shapiro’s 9th grade Chemistry class, but he did care about whatever was going on between the guys. And the way Caleb avoided him, the way Liam and Archer hung beside Dragan, made it obvious enough it had to do with Colton.

Or, more likely, it had to do with Ruby.

20

AC/DCafe was a newer addition to Oak Valley, and a much needed one. Ruby looked around the expansive coffee shop, filled with large tables, outlets, overstuffed chairs and sofas. For a Monday morning, it was less crowded than she expected. It was the perfect worker’s retreat, complete with the delicious smell of coffee and a large milkshake menu. There was a large glass case with baked goods from For Goodness Cakes. When Ruby first walked into the cafe, she had to stop herself from checking the case for one of Colton’s signature bakes.

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