Knocking Boots - Willow Winters Page 0,67

it,” he says, already moving.

I know I have a rep with these customers. All of them really. But right now, I need time with Grace. Something’s not right and I’m not waiting on closing time to put that smile on her face.

I pass Diane the beer and then set Grace’s in front of her, but I don’t let go. When she tries to grab it, I pull it away, making her tilt her head and smile softly.

I let her have the bottle the second time she reaches for it, mostly because it brings a little happiness to those does eyes of hers. “How’s work?” I ask her, and she finally lightens up some.

“I got a promotion,” she answers me with a bit of giddiness that makes the nerves settle.

“That’s fantastic,” I tell her as I toss the caps to the beer in the trash can. “Congrats, sweetheart.”

She takes a sip of her beer, still looking a bit nervous.

“You okay-” I start to ask her, but Diane chips in.

“It’s really crazy, too. We were sure one of our other coworkers was going to take that job,” Diane shakes her head, a look of bewilderment on her face before taking a drink.

My gaze moves to Grace, who’s watching Diane with a small frown.

“I have go to the bathroom real quick,” Grace doesn’t look me in the eyes as she slips off the stool. The air between us is thick and it makes my stomach stir with unease. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but I’ll find out tonight once everyone leaves. Whatever it is, I’ll make it better for her. A sick feeling in my gut is telling me that it’s me. Us. But I ignore it. We’re going to be fine.

I pick up one of the tumblers from the rack and wipe it down before setting it in the clean section and moving to the next glass as Diane switches seats, moving to the stool Grace was just in.

My eyes flick up to her, and I give her a tight smile. I think about asking her if everything’s alright with Grace, but I keep my mouth shut, just listening to the sounds of the busy bar.

“So what are you doing tonight?” Diane asks, twirling her hair around her finger. She gives me a seductive smile, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. She knows I’m with Grace. My brows pinch as I think about what to tell her.

Grace. My intentions are to be doing Grace tonight. All night long, if I have any say in the matter.

“Just going home,” I answer her tightly. I decide to stay neutral and I assume it’s because Diane’s drunk that she’s acting like this.

“You need company?” she asks.

“I have Grace for that,” I bite out the response although I try to keep my voice even and make a move to leave, not liking that I’m in this position at all, but she grabs my hand.

“Not anymore,” she says and her answer makes my heart pound. I turn to look at her, not saying a damn thing or changing my expression.

“I mean, she told me it was all fake and she was never really into you like that… it was just for fun,” Diane says in a low voice, her hand at the neck of the bottle, tilting it on the bar top. She whispers, leaning in closer. “I get it. You got what you needed from her, and she went slumming for a minute.” She pulls back to take a swig of her beer.

My heart feels like a knife’s gone through it, slowly twisting and then being pulled out. She was never into me. That’s all I keep thinking.

No fucking way. Of course she was into me. She wouldn’t lie to me. Would she? I move slowly, grabbing a rag from under the bar and wiping down the lacquered wood mindlessly.

“So I was thinking, if you’re looking for something tonight-”

“I’m good,” my words come out hard and maybe harsh. I don’t care though. Diane says something else, but I can’t hear anything over the sound of the blood rushing in my ears as I walk away, right to the back of the bar.

My heart’s hammering, my blood’s boiling. I feel tense and ready to break.

It was fake. Just like my last relationship.

I’m a fucking fool.

Grace

I slip onto the barstool next to Diane, deciding to woman up. I want Charlie, and at the very least I can put my heart on the line. Diane