Page 20 of Love Is Ale You Need

Fuck. What do I say? Now, I’m just being a dick. I blow out a breath and motion my hand toward the basement.

He takes my cue and descends the stairs. I’m two steps behind him. When he steps off the last stair, he freezes. He peers left and then right, taking everything in. “This looks more like fully finished instead of a remodel in progress.”

“That’s because it is.” I slide past him and stroll behind the bar. I open the fridge and hold up a bottle. “Beer?”

He waves his hand. “No. I’m good.”

I’m not. I twist off the cap and take a long pull.

“It looks pretty awesome down here. You had a lot of work done.”

Maybe I’m in the clear. “Thanks. I’m happy with how everything turned out.”

“Why did you tell everyone the meeting was going to be at Porter’s again?” A stool scrapes across the floor as he pulls it out to sit.

Shit. This is what I was afraid of. I swallow another gulp of the cold amber liquid. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. How do I say this?

“It can’t be for their mini corn dogs. They’re good, but not that good.” He smirks.

I shake my head as my lips split into a half-smile. “They are good, though. But no, it’s not that. Would it be bad if I said it gives me an excuse to see Rylee every week?”

“Rylee?” His eyes widen when recognition hits. “The bartender?”

“I enjoy talking to her.” I shrug a shoulder in order to act nonchalant, but Miles sees right through me.

His mouth spreads into a full grin. “You like her.”

“I don’t like her. That’s preposterous. We’re just friends.” At least that’s what she keeps telling me, so it’s not a total lie.

“You’re totally smitten with her,” he teases.

Warmth rushes up to my cheeks. It’s an unfamiliar feeling. “I am not. Guys don’t get smitten.” Casually, I run my palm down my face to see if what I’m feeling is visible. If anything, maybe the short hairs of my two-day stubble will mask my blush. Shit. I am smitten.

“Just so you know, there’s nothing wrong with liking her. She seems cool.”

If I say the words out loud, I’m confessing my feelings, but I do like her. I enjoy talking to her. I like our verbal sparring and I genuinely want to get to know her more. “Okay. I may like her a little. I'm struggling on what to do. Every time I ask her out to dinner, she keeps turning me down.” Once I admit my feelings out loud, it’s like a floodgate that’s opened, and I can’t stop the verbal diarrhea that comes out. “She’s the one who put me in the friend zone. I’ve never been in this position before. It’s a little unnerving since I’m at a loss on what to do and that has never happened before. I need to convince her to have another night together.” I blow out a breath.

His eyebrows pull together. “Night together?”

“Not to kiss and tell, but we kissed, amongst other things.”

“Is that all you want? Another night together.”

“Yes. No. Fuck. This is my predicament. I won’t be able to stop at just one more night. I’ll want another and another.” It’s the complete opposite of what I’ve done for the past ten years, which makes it even more complicated.

“And now she’s shut you out?”

“She’s slammed the door and swallowed the key.”

“That’s brutal.” He glances up to meet my gaze. “But the Trey I know wouldn’t give up so easy. Defeat is not an option. If he wants something, he gets it. In fact, it was you who not only helped me with my date but also gave me the confidence to ask for a second one.” A cheesy grin takes over his face.

“Holy shit. Congratulations. You took her to The Boat House?”

“I did. They even set us up at the Chef’s Table, which I wasn’t expecting. I would have been happy for just any table, so the best table in the entire restaurant was a surprise. It really helped me score all the points with Melony.”

I square my shoulders and puff out my chest. “The Trey Wilson Special.”

He continues to tell me all about his date, from what he wore to what he ate, then what his date ordered, all the way to how the chef flambéed their dessert right in front of them. I fought hard to not tell him he didn’t need to give me every minute detail, but he seemed so excited, I didn’t have the heart to interrupt him.

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