Southern Secrets (Southern #7) - Natasha Madison Page 0,26
jam-packed as I see the lights coming out from the windows. The walk to the bar is the longest, and even though I told myself coming here wasn’t a good idea, I still got dressed, and here I am.
The whole week I’ve avoided seeing her. I mean, not that I had the time not to avoid her. I spent the week helping Billy repair fences. The man was doing it himself when I found him. When I got home, I had enough energy for a shower. I fell asleep, but I would listen for her and only fully fall asleep when I heard her come in.
In the morning, I tried to make the least amount of noise I could so I didn’t wake her. But I was hoping she would come out. The only thing I’ve heard from her is a text about the clothes her grandmother bought me.
I pull open the door, and the heat from all the people in there hits me right away. I take one step in and stop in awe. The bar is jam-packed. I mean, it usually is on a Saturday, but it’s more so today. All you see is a sea of people. I move through the crowd toward the bar and stop when I see Ethan and Emily standing by a table talking.
"Hey," I say to them and look around. "This is crazy."
"Yeah, my sister got one of the popular bands to come and play tonight," Ethan says, looking around and smiling. "She should have charged a cover."
"Nah," I say, looking around and seeing that people are crowded on the dance floor, and the band hasn’t even started yet. "This is better. They will buy drinks instead of paying for the cover."
"Exactly what she said to us." Emily smiles and steps closer to Ethan when someone tries to walk past her.
I take a second to look over at the pool tables part of the bar and see at least forty people around the two tables. I look toward the sports section and see the door opening and closing every second as someone goes in and leaves. I can tell that even that part of the bar is jam-packed, but there are some games on tonight. I do know that some of the men who come with their wives or girlfriends leave them to dance and go watch the game. Something for everyone.
"Are you here with anyone?" Emily asks, and I look at her.
"Not that I know of," I say, laughing. "I’m going to go get something to drink. You guys want something?"
"A beer," Ethan says right away, and someone bumps into Emily, pushing her into him. She smiles at him as she wraps an arm around his shoulder.
"I’m good," Emily says, and they share a smile, and he bends to kiss her. I walk away from them and zigzag my way toward the bar.
I can’t even get close enough to order, but I’m close enough to see her. She throws her head back at something and laughs. Her hair is down today, and she curled the ends, parting it down the middle. Her eyes shine so blue they look crystal from here. She is wearing a green tank top with a black vest, showing off her tanned, toned arms. She holds her hand up, pointing at someone to grab their drink order.
She turns, and I see it’s just her and someone else behind the bar, which is unusual on a Saturday. Usually, she has three people. She doesn’t need your help, my head screams at me at the same time as my feet move to the side.
"Excuse me," I say as I make my way around the bar, and I stop when I see she’s wearing jean shorts with a thick brown cowboy belt. Her long, lean, tanned legs are fully exposed with short cowboy boots. My heart goes up to my throat as I watch her walking back to the guy and getting the money from him.
She turns around, and she sees me and stops moving, my feet walking toward her. "Hey," she says, a smile filling her face, and the heart that has risen to my throat feels like it’s going to come out. "Fancy seeing you here, roomie."
"Figured this was the only place I could see you," I finally say. "I’m assuming if I try to offer you help, you will say no." She rolls her eyes. "That’s what I thought."