She arched an eyebrow, playful but challenging. “Consistently bad?”
“You said it. I didn’t.” I raised my hands, feigning innocence. “It’s cute though. Definitely adds to your charm.”
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes darting from my eyes to my lips. “Are you flirting with me, Caleb?”
I leaned closer, lowering my voice. She was so goddamn alluring. “If you have to ask, I’m not doing it right.”
Her breath hitched and she leaned forward, almost unintentionally. “Maybe you should practice more, then.”
“I’m up for the challenge.”
CHAPTER 7
Grace
After two roundsof pool where I nearly damaged a certain appendage of Caleb’s, I came to the conclusion the game was not for me. The round of shots that Caleb had ordered certainly didn’t help my coordination.
“You’ll learn. It just takes time,” Caleb kept reassuring me, but something told me, it was not going to stick.
We did, on the other hand, have great banter and he made me laugh. I couldn’t even remember the last time I laughed. Really laughed.
Caleb leaned against the pool table, holding the pool stick thingy straight up. It was his turn to show me how it was done.
Just as he was about to take his shot, somebody called his name from behind us. “Caleb,” the woman repeated, which gave me time to give her a once-over. She was in her mid-twenties, with teal hair and a fake designer crossbody.
“Hey, Jena!” Caleb chimed, setting down the stick on the table as he went to hug the woman. They had to have been close, judging by the hug. There was a familiarity that was evidenced by the way she held on to him.
I never had experienced jealousy when it came to guys. If they left or were pulled in another direction, I brushed it off. Another one bit the dust, I’d say. So what was so different now? Why was I staring this lady down, furious she was talking to Caleb? I needed to get out of here before I lost my ever-loving mind. What were they putting in the drinks?
Caleb was funny, and not in the traditional sense. No, his was a more mature, nuanced humor, almost quirky. He was so real, wholesome, and charming. What you saw was definitely what you got with a man like him.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the bitch—I mean woman—Jena said as she giggled at Caleb. “Who’s your friend?” Jena looked at me, giving me a once-over of her own. I silently prayed that she wouldn’t recognize me and blow this whole thing apart.
My eyes narrowed and my lips turned down into a frown as my frustration grew. I had no control over my own actions when it came to this pull toward Mr. Bartender.
Caleb gestured to me and introduced us. “This is Grace. She’s new around here.”
“Hello, nice to meet you.” I tried to muster a smile despite the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head.
“I love your shoes!” Jena complimented. Her eyes went straight to my sparkly shoes.
At least she had good taste. Hopefully her affinity for attractive things didn’t transfer to ruggedly handsome men who were apparently good with their hands.
“Thank you! They are one of my favorite pairs,” I offered in an attempt to seem friendly.
I shifted my attention and glanced over at Caleb. “I think I’m going to head out.”
He came to my side and took my hand in his. “Please stay until I’m done mixing Jena’s drinks. She is mad at Nicky and won’t let him make them for her, and she thinks Maxis infantile.” He rolled his eyes and rubbed my hand with his thumb. “It shouldn’t take long. Promise you won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and sound convincing.
“Thank you.” He breathed and kissed my hand before he walked out of the pool room to the bar and began making drinks.
I followed but didn’t take a seat at the bar. Instead, I wandered around doing anything but sitting down and making small talk with Jena, knowing I would be stuck choosing between lying or laying all my cards out on the table. I wasn’t ready for either scenario.
Glancing back to see whether she was following me, I saw she’d moved across the room. It was a quieter corner of the bar with two high-top tables. She stealthily slipped into the empty chair across from the man who gave me a ride to The Grand earlier. Keith, the mayor. My eyebrows rose in surprise at the unlikely pair.
A little while passed, and I bit my fingernail, trying to figure out what I was still doing here. Normally, I would have cut and run already, but there was something about the soft way Caleb spoke, the tenderness in his expression when he asked me to stay, to wait for him, that I couldn’t say no to. Iwashaving a good time, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. And if I were being honest with myself, I was becoming attached. To Bar. To Caleb. To beingJustGrace.This wasn’t good. In fact, this was the opposite of good. But I couldn’t say it was bad because that man behind the bar was anything but bad.
