“Why because it’s reservation business?” My eyes flew to his.
“What do you know about that?” My heart hammered in my chest.
“I don’t work for people unless I have a background on them.” Vince’s eyes pierced through mine. He could see through me and for a moment I worried that he was the one giving me away. “You don’t have to do this alone. I know you ran away but you don’t have to let them continue to harass you.”
“There is nothing that can be done. Please, just leave it.” I pleaded.
During our conversation, I hadn’t noticed the door opening and Derek walking in. He was quiet in a chilling, scary kind of way. His eyes found mine and held them. Vince shot me a warning glance and I shook my head.
“What can I get you?” It was early but I never turned away business.
“A listening ear?” His voice sounded defeated. I knew the feeling. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Vince disappeared out the side door.
I popped a top on a Coke and slid it to him. He smiled at me and took a sip. “I’m going to be a dad.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Are you excited?” He didn’t sound excited.
“No,”
I didn’t know what to say. I waited for him to continue.
“There was a time where I wanted nothing more. I wanted a family. I was in love. I had the perfect life.” It was like a train wreck, I desperately wanted to stop listening but I couldn’t stop. It had to unfold in front of me. “But then that part of me died with them.”
His words floored me. He pushed the sleeves up on his shirt and showed me his tattoos. There were trees and wildlife, a few names, and blackness marked into his skin. Every inch from his fingers to his shoulders.
“Are you and Ian dating?”
His question took me by surprise. “What?”
“I saw the way he held onto you the other night, I shouldn’t have assumed.” He took another sip from the bottle and I realized he was wearing workout gear. Had he run all the way here from his apartment?
I laughed and pulled a Sprite from under the counter. We had fountain drinks at the other end of the bar but I had always preferred bottled drinks instead. “No, he asked me to be his wingman and then didn’t let go of me the whole night. I think it was to get at you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like Ian. All he wants to do is get under my skin and get a reaction out of me.”
“You seemed pretty pissed the other night.” I took a swig from my bottle. The bubbles were strong and made my eyes water.
He looked away from me. “We’re leaving again.”
I didn’t know why but his words hurt. I didn’t want him to leave and I was sure his future baby momma didn’t want him to go either, but there was no choice in the matter. It was his job. I had expected the conversation to continue, but it didn’t. He grunted once, dropped a few bills on the counter, and finished off his Coke. He was out the door in seconds. My shoulders dropped but what could I do? I wasn’t his girlfriend and we weren’t even romantically involved.We simply existed in each-other’s universes. But that thought didn’t help me feel any better.
It was late and the bar was busy that night. At each passing hour, more people would flood through the doors. Derek had left without much more said between us and I had sat there wondering what had happened while people filed in. I checked my watch and yawned. It was about my bedtime and we had enough staff to cover all the people coming in and out. I spotted Alex walking through the door and turned to make my escape. The girls around her were regulars and I recognized a few of them. I hoped she hadn’t spotted me as I slipped out.
Vince grabbed my wrist. “If you need anything, let me know.”
I nodded and fled to my car. But something told me I needed to turn on my cameras to take a peek at the newest momma. I flicked the surveillance app on and zoomed in on the party of girls. Alex ordered a double shot. She was about to knock it back when I clickedrecordandexporton the phone. Her redheaded friend stopped her as she raised the glass to her lips. “Aren’t you pregnant?”
I frowned but I was so thankful I had installed mics close to the bar. I had done it when I suspected the employees were stealing alcohol in the previous years and now as I listened, I was beyond overjoyed I had left them.
Alex rolled her eyes. “No, do you know how easy it is to buy a positive pregnancy test online?”
“You aren’t worried about him or his guys coming in tonight?” The redhead looked around the bar nervously.
She waved her hand dismissively. “No, they deploy tomorrow.”
“What happens when he comes back and you’re not pregnant?” the girl hissed at her.
Alex rolled her eyes. “That’s when you make a sob story about a miscarriage. It’s what all the military girlfriends are doing to keep them around. It keeps them around till they get back and when you break the news, they can’t leave you because who dumps their girlfriend after a miscarriage?”
