Until Then (Cape Harbor #2) - Heidi McLaughlin Page 0,118

the bar, whose head was down, and his hand held a tumbler of light-colored liquid.

Graham knew who it was instantly. “What’s he drinking?”

“Water, with a touch of scotch. I wasn’t going to add to his level of intoxication.”

“I’ll talk to him, but we don’t let him leave unless he has a ride.” Graham already had what could be a costly lawsuit dangling in front of him because someone had accused him of not watching his patrons—he didn’t want another one, and he definitely didn’t want one from Rennie’s ex.

Graham went over to the bar, picked up a dishrag, and cleaned the counter in front of Theo. “Can I get you something to eat?” he asked the man.

Theo’s head rose slowly, his red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes barely open. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week, which Graham understood. When he and Monica broke up, he cried the entire way back to Cape Harbor and then vowed to let it go.

“How about I put an order in for a cheeseburger and some fries? Would you like that?” Graham didn’t wait around for a response. He went to his kiosk and placed the order. He then filled a large glass with ice water and added coffee grounds to a filter to brew a pot of coffee. It was late, and no one would drink it except Theo.

“I don’t like you,” Theo said when Graham slid the glass of water toward him.

“It’s okay; I can’t stand you, so I guess we’re even.” Graham walked away. He wasn’t going to get into a tit for tat with a drunk guy, let alone Rennie’s ex. He had nothing to gain by engaging in conversation with the man. Because the bar was busy, he found things to do. He refilled Krista’s orders, collected her tips for her, and filled drink requests.

When Theo’s burger and fries were ready, Krista handed them to him and then stood next to Graham. “Who is he?”

“Rennie’s ex.”

“Damn, he’s taking it hard.”

“Hey,” Theo shouted over the crowd. Graham turned and smiled.

“What can I get for ya?”

“You can tell Renee to take me back,” Theo said. “She’ll listen to you. You’re the only one she seems to listen to.”

While Graham would love to think the same, it wasn’t true. “Rennie”—Graham drew her name out, knowing how much it bothered her that Theo called her Renee—“is a very independent woman. You should know this after spending the last year and however many months you’ve been together. She makes her own decisions.”

“I love her, and she won’t see me. I can’t call her, because she changed her number.”

“Sorry, man. I can’t help you.” Graham turned to walk away, but Theo grabbed his arm and held him in place.

“Do you know until last summer, I had never been here? I had never heard of Cape Harbor, and then all of a sudden, she’s up here every weekend we’re not together, and all I hear are stories about these people she grew up with but hadn’t seen in years. They’re a priority for her. They’re butting into our lives. Interrupting our plans.”

Graham pulled his arm free. “Again, I can’t help you.”

“I know you’re the one who came and got her in Canada. I saw you. I recognized you right away. She didn’t call her friend; she called you.”

Graham stood there. He had nothing to say to the man in front of him. No, that wasn’t exactly true. He wanted to scold him for cheating on his wife and for hurting Rennie.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Eat your burger. I’ll call you a cab.”

He left Theo there and walked to the back room, where he pulled out his phone and dialed Rennie’s number.

“Hey,” she said after the second ring.

“Hey, Theo’s in the bar. He’s drunk. He’s upset. Kind of blaming all of us for ruining your relationship.”

“He came and saw me the other day at work—”

Graham interrupted her, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rennie was silent for a moment. “Not really anything to tell. He came and left right before you called me. He apologized. I told him how he made me feel, and I sent him on his way. I don’t know why he’s there now. He’s the past and not really worth our time.”

He thought her answer was dismissive and felt she should’ve called and told him Theo had gone to see her. Days into their relationship, and he was already upset with her. He shouldn’t feel this way. “I think he’s looking for someone to blame. He knows