Jace said exactly what I was thinking. “After ten years with zero contact? She doesn’t need those bastards to heal.”
Elise rolled her eyes. “People change.”
“Not people that kill people,” Ian smirked while he took a swig from his beer.
“We kill people,” Darren laughed.
Elise rolled her eyes. “Not the same.”
“Totes the same,” Ian mocked in a girlie voice.
I hated these losers. A smile split my lips and Ian spit his drink across the table. “DUDE CAN ACTUALLY SMILE!”
Elise patted my arm affectionately and Jace grinned. “She’s good for you.”
“We aren’t dating.”
Ian made a crude gester with his hands. I took the rest of his beer and an excited look exploded on his face. He hoped I was going to drink it but instead I dumped it over his head. To his relief, there were only a few drops in the bottom. I was annoyed that there wasn’t more. Elise squeaked and pressed her hands to her lips.
I looked down at my phone. It was pretty late here but the time difference worked in my favor. She wouldn’t be sleeping yet or at least, I hoped. I clicked her name and walked to the alley. I ignored the whooping and hollering behind me as I went. This was the most personality they got out of me on a good day, they had no idea how to deal with it. Hell, I didn’t know how to deal with it either.
“Hey,” Her voice sounded breathy and kind of pissed.
“How is it going? Do I need to come bail you out yet?”
“Is that a joke? Are you joking now?” She laughed.
“Apparently I know how to smile, too.” I chuckled into the speaker. “Ian got a real good kick out of that.”
“Oh, are you with the guys?” She sounded slightly disappointed.
“Yes and no. I’m in the alley behind the bar.”
“You’re such a creep.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I replied.
“How is the bar doing without me?” I closed my eyes and could picture her worried face.
“Awful, the bartender that replaced you caught the kitchen on fire. The drinks taste like shit and I think we are going to have to find a new place to frequent.” I don’t know how I managed to say all of that without laughing.
“WHAT!? Mikey and Vince didn’t call me!” I waited a breath for her to catch on to my awful joke. “You’re so full of crap.”
“You’re the one with the brown eyes,” I smirked.
“I can change them whenever I want.” She taunted me.
“I like them brown. I hate those colored contacts.”
Then she surprised me. “Me too. I don’t think I’m going to wear them anymore when I come home.”
“They haven’t convinced you to stay yet?” It was a joke but only partly. I was afraid that she wouldn’t ever want to come home again if they accepted her like she wanted.
She sighed. “Far from it. I blew up at dinner and then left.”
“You’re just a spitfire, ain’t you?” I worked my bottom lip between my teeth. “What’d they do to make you so mad?”
“Lied. Or rather my sister-in-law tried to stir the pot on a lie she knew my brother told me. I don’t know. They are different and I’m having a hard time fitting in.”
