Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,33
they’ve been tight as blood since way before then.”
“A year? I mean, I’m not judging, but you said he’s you’re husband, right?” My hand trembles as I take a hefty gulp. Her loud laugh calms my nerves.
“I know it seems fast. He helped me work out a situation I was in, and I guess somewhere along the way we fell in love.” Her eyes take on a faraway look as she reflects about something. She laughs again. “I know it’s hard to believe he’s capable of loving anything, but beneath all that toughness is a sugar sweet core.”
“I’m glad he helped your situation,” I tell her. Coming from a complete stranger, I know it won’t mean much, but I don’t know what else to say.
Shelby’s eyes lose the brightness from moments before, and she squeezes my hand tightly when she whispers, “Me too.”
Silence engulfs us like our own personal bubble, and I can feel the tension begin to rise from my anxiety. “I’m out,” I say swirling the dregs in my empty glass. “Would you like me to bring you another?”
“Sure babe,” she replies. A moment away from the tense conversation is exactly what I need. I can feel a burst of relief as I leave the table and make my way to the bar. Luck strikes as I push through the crowd because a man and a woman leave the bar, and I squeeze into the spot they vacated. I lean over the polished top, trying to catch the eye of a bartender.
“What can I getchya?” The female bartender says as she stops in front of me.
“Two Honey Weiss. Tall please,” I add, realizing we may be here for a while. As I wait for her to fill our drinks, I glance around the bar and see Elias and Sin talking in the corner. They both look tense and talk with heated expressions on their faces. Where Elias looks annoyed, Sin looks like he could take out anyone who stands in his way.
It has to be exactly the moment I’m studying them when Sin lifts his eyes and locks on my gaze. You know that whole thing about feeling like someone is watching you? I’m certain it just happened in real time. He looks about to say something when our stare down is broken by the bartender placing two filled glasses in front of me with a thunk.
Thankful for the distraction, I take a long chug of my drink while raising the other one in a part salute, part wave, part I’m getting the hell out of here. Looking away, I rush back to the table without seeing his reaction.
“What you running from?” Shelby asks as I lower myself into the leather seat.
I laugh. “Do you miss anything?”
“Nope. I have eyes everywhere. Can’t be too careful.” She gives a little shrug of her slim shoulders and takes her own gratuitous pull. Her eyes dart side to side, and something about her words, and expression, seem off.
“Well, I wasn’t running. I saw the boys and didn’t want them to think I’m rushing them to finish. I may have powerwalked my way back here.”
“Don’t worry about it. Alex and I have somewhere to be pretty quickly so I’m sure they’re finishing up.” As if to prove her point, she takes another large swallow.
Following suit, I tip my own glass to my lips. “He lets you call him Alex?”
Shelby gives me a ‘what do you think’ look. “He’s my husband. I can call him whatever I want, babe. Don’t let his iciness fool you. I’m tellin’ you, he’ll warm up to you soon enough. Look, here they come.” The words barely leave her mouth the men are suddenly here.
“Finish up, blossom. Time to go.”
Shelby tips back the remainder of her drink, licking her upper lip when she’s finished. “Nice meeting you. I hope to see you again real soon. It’s nice to see this guy with one girl,” she teases Elias, but it makes my gut flip. Elias slings his arm around my shoulders.
“You too, Shelby. Sin.” I think he grunts in response, but I can’t be sure over the noise of the full bar.
“Let’s get you home too, babe. You have to work early.” Elias grabs my hand and begins to pull me out the door.
“Wait.” I stop us. “I want to say thanks for bringing me along tonight. It was really great to see where you spend your time and get to meet your friends.”