Page 3 of Where You Left Me

I hold up my palms. “No worries, not planning on it. I’m working.”

Grace eyes me skeptically.

Sure, I’m still a playboy who hooks up with women any chance I get. But I’ve changed since last fall. I’m a business owner now. And I don’t drink while I’m working.

Though when I’m off the clock; that’s an entirely different story.

While I quickly fill shot glasses with tequila, I almost don’t notice when the door of The Pines opens. But even though it’s been eight years since Mia and I were together, we haven’t lost the connection we once had. I sense her presence as if it’s the wind. It sends a shiver dancing across my skin. And when I glance up in the direction of the door, and we make eye contact, I suck in a breath.

The sight of her, after all these years, in my bar is almost enough to send me into a panic. Mia is gorgeous in such an effortless way. Her long, dark hair falls down her back, and her sparkling green eyes can be spotted from across the room.

She drags her attention away before I do.Of course she does. She shrugs off a black jacket and reveals bare, tan shoulders. Shoulders I used to kiss. And massage. And rest my head on.

Fucking hell.

I groan too loudly, and it doesn’t take Maverick long to figure out why.

Mia isn’t alone. She’s accompanied by my little sister, Cammie—Maverick’s girlfriend—and Cammie’s best friend, Rosie. There was a time back in the day when the three women were inseparable.

“You’re a real fucking asshole, ya know that?” I grumble. “You knew they were coming here, and you couldn’t have at least warned me?”

Maverick shrugs his shoulder nonchalantly. “Sure, I knew. But I had nothing to do with this. The girls planned it. And something tells me, this has nothing to do with you, either.”

“The hell it does.”

“You weren’t the only one Mia walked out on,” he reminds me and instantly I feel like a dick.

I slide the tray of tequila shots across the bar. “Here, enjoy.” I wink at the blonde, and I’m fairly certain that if Mia hadn’t just walked in that door, I’d be takingherhome with me tonight.

But Miaishere.

It’s not as if I feel like I need to be loyal to her. It’s just that she brings with her a whole hell of a lot of baggage. And memories. Some good. Some bad. And every single one in between.

They’re all crashing into me like waves, each one bigger than the last. Mia was my first. My first real kiss. The first girl I said I love you to. The one I lost my virginity to.

She was supposed to be my last of all those things too.

But then there was the baby.

It shouldn’t surprise me when it’s Cammie who approaches the bar. She passes me a sympathetic smile before slinging her arms around Maverick’s neck from behind. He grips her forearms and brings her in close.

I suppress a groan and try not to think about my best friend groping my little sister. Even though it’s been a year since they started dating, I’m still trying to get used to it.

“Hey, Jones,” Cammie says, the pity evident in her voice.

I hate pity. It reflects weakness. And I’m not weak.

“You couldn’t have brought her somewhere else?” I bite out.

“Sorry, big bro, it’s Wine Wednesday. And you know Rosie’s on a budget.”

My jaw pops as I clench my teeth together. “And I bet she’s enjoying this all too much.”

Cammie shuffles around and drops onto Maverick’s lap. “Don’t do that. You know she wouldn’t intentionally hurt you. Especially not when it comes to Mia.”

She’s right. I do know. I nod and release a shaky sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

“Besides, we all thought you weren’t going to be here. You’re supposed to be off Wednesdays.”

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