Page 17 of Back To You

The lips that were inches away from mine last night.

“That’s not a saying,” I say to her because telling her about the conversation with my dad will just open up a conversation we’re in no shape to have.

Annie knows about my history with my parents, and she knows that it doesn’t really affect me much. It’s not something I talk about because it just isn’t worth it. I learned at a young age that family isn’t always just about blood.

But, there are about a dozen conversations she and I need to have before theorizing whether or not I have daddy issues and thesurprise-I-don't-want-to-be-a-lawyer-anymoreconversation.

“Yes, it is,” she argues with me, her lips pouting as she sits into her hip. “Drew said one of her students used to say it.”

“So we’re trusting the judgment of sixth-graders now?”

“Lukey-poo, that’s the same as trusting your judgment,” she replies without missing a beat, the familiar nickname always soaked with condescension.

I exhale. “Whatever you say.”

Annie sits down in front of me, the bar being mostly empty.

Lenny’s is dead for a Saturday night, most likely because of all the summer festivities happening, and it’s the worst night for it to be slow after that phone call with my dad.

I’ve been left to stir it around in my brain for hours while serving our regulars who keep asking me either when Annie is coming back or when we’re going to hire a “cute one” to replace Annie.

I am one more comment away from banging my head against the bar.

“So,” she starts, and I raise an eyebrow at her as I make her a gin and tonic. “Are you going to tell me why you look like someone kicked your puppy?”

I look up from putting a lime on the rim of her glass, pointing a finger at her. “Don’t be bringing Rosie into this,” I reply, holding back the smile threatening my lips.

She puts her hands up in mock-surrender. “Don’t get all pissy with me. I’m just trying to be nice,roomie.”

“Maybe I’m just mad thatsomeonedidn’t make their bed this morning. If we’re going to live together, you need to be less of a garbage can.”

Her eyes widen. “We need some ground rules if you think it’s okay to go intomybedroom.”

“I was just testing the waters, seeing if you put any spells to keep me out,” I explain, setting her drink down in front of her.

She shakes her head as she pulls the glass closer to her. “A witch joke? That’s just lazy, bartender.” She takes asip, her lips wrapping around the straw as she waits for my retort, and I let out a laugh.

“Is that why you’re here? To insult me and drink for free? It must be my lucky night.” I say it as a joke, but she can sit here and throw insults at me for the rest of my shift if it means I get to spend time with her.

“Hilarious,” she deadpans.

My shoulders lighten the more we go back and forth, and I think for a second that maybe I can talk to her about how the last thing I want to do with my life is work at my dad’s law firm. Maybe I can just say the words I’m afraid to admit aloud: that I wasted all this time trying to impress a man I used to idolize and now I don’t give one single fuck about him.

But then I see the contentment on her face, so different from last night, and I take a page out of her book and decide not to make my problems hers.

Not when I’m trying to win her back.

“I assume you’re waiting for one of the girls,” I prompt.

“It’s Movie Night,” she answers, and then I remember that it’s the second Saturday of the month, and this is one of the many long-standing dates the girls implemented once we all started getting busier over the years.

“Movie Night” is the second and fourth Saturday of every month, but the guys aren’t invited to it. We get to go to the monthly dinners on the first Sunday of every month and the bi-weekly Thursday happy hours.

“Whose turn is it?” I ask, knowing that I’ll be able to predict what movie she, Drew, and Mia will be watching by whose pick it is.

Annie smirks in response.

“So,Twilight?” I know that if it’s Annie’s choice, she’s picking her favoriteTwilightmovie which is the first one of the franchise.

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