“Seems the only logical conclusion. If she’s mad that you haven’t kissed her, you should kiss her.”
I let out a frustrated groan. “It’s not that simple, man.”
“Or maybe itisthat simple and you’re overthinking it like you always do because you’re afraid of the consequences.”
“What consequences?”
“If you kiss her, you have to admit that this thing between you two isn’t casual. Be honest with yourself, Liam. Could you walk away right now if you had to? If she asked you to?”
I drape my forearms over my knees and hang my head, staring at the hardwood like it holds all the answers. It doesn’t, but it doesn’t have to, because I knew it the moment Connor asked the question. There’s no walking away for me. Not now, not ever.
I glance across the room at my brother with his shit-eating grin. “Go. I’ll look after Aiden.”
I pull into the employee lot about an hour after Ruby left, parking beside Cade’s SUV. Knowing he was likely already here when Ruby arrived makes me feel better about letting her leave.
Years of memories come rushing back when I step inside the all-too-familiar bar. I worked countless shifts behind that bar and met some of my closest friends here. I love working full-time at the station, but being back almost makes me miss slinging drinks.
I search the room for luscious curves and golden hair, but I come up empty.
Cade spots me from his position behind the bar and waves me over. “Come crawling back?”
“Nope. Just here as a patron.”
“That’s new.”
“Yeah. Feels weird to be on the other side.”
“Beer?” he asks.
I nod, and he grabs a Guinness from the cooler. Cade places my drink on the coaster and leans his elbow on the bar.
“You seen Ruby?” I ask.
He points toward the far corner of the dimly lit room. Beneath a pink neon sign, I catch a glimpse of a white cowboy hat. At first glance, it looks like Ruby’s at a table surrounded by a small crowd of adoring fans. Upon closer inspection, I recognize each one of them—Paige, Ivy, Maggie, and Olivia.
“She sent out a distress signal, and the cavalry responded,” Cade says. “What’d you do?”
“Why does everyone just assume I did something?”
“The jukebox played Ivy’s feminine rage playlist for an hour before you showed up. If that’s not a sign that someone fucked up, I don’t know what is.”
“You sure it wasn’t you?”
“Nah, I had my head between Paige’s thighs when she got the text.”
“Ok. Could be Miles. His track record wouldn't hold up in court.”
“Wow. Fuck me, I guess,” Miles says sarcastically as he slides into the empty seat beside me. “You the reason I’m not in bed with my wife right now?”
I throw up my hands and release a groan. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
Miles chuckles and spins on his stool, taking a long pull of his beer. “The first step is admitting it. Oh shit…”
I follow his line of sight to the back of the bar where the women are seated, only they’re not alone anymore. Ruby has her back to the table, elbows propped on the surface, and there’s a man standing in front of her. He’s not someone I recognize, but theway he’s looking at Ruby tells me he knowsexactlywho she is. She laughs in his face and stares up at him, that one dimple appearing in the left cheek. I lock eyes with Paige, and she shakes her head.
The man’s hand moves to Ruby’s thigh and I see red. I down my drink and start to stand, but Cade stops me with a hand on my shoulder.
“Let her handle it,” he says. “You don’t want to do something you’ll regret.”
