Page 31 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“You got fired!”

I flinch. “Thanks for assuming the worst. No. I quit.” I hold my head high and square my shoulders. Act confident. He’ll believe I know what I’m doing.

“So you have another job lined up?”

“No. But I had a good reason.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “What the hell, Eve? You quit and came here. Then what?”

I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t know, but I’ll figure something out.”

“You need to do something with your life. I know you got the shit end of the deal with your business, but you need to pick yourself up and start again.”

My blood boils. Yes, I made a couple of poor decisions, but they don’t define me. “We all can’t have a bar given to us when we hit rock bottom.” Jake’s shoulders slump. I sucker punched him in the gut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. My life is floundering, and coming here seemed like the best option.” My head drops forward, and I stare at my hands in my lap. “I quit because my boyfriend, who was also my boss, is married, and I just found out.”

Silence fills the room.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” His once angry scowl morphs into a slightly less angry one.

Heat creeps up my neck and floods my cheeks. Being vulnerable is not in my nature. Deflection is more in my wheelhouse, but it’s Jake. He deserves the truth. “Because I’m embarrassed. Who doesn’t know their boyfriend is married?”

“Eve. Look at me.”

I lift my head and meet his gaze. Tears prick the corner of my eyes.

“It’s not your fault.”

I blow out a breath. “Truth be told, there’s nothing keeping me in Knoxville anymore.”

“I always have a room at my house for you.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “I’d hate to cramp your style.”

“It’s fine.”

“If you have a girl over, just tell me and I’ll disappear. Maybe put a sock on the doorknob.” I smirk.

“That won’t be necessary,” he deadpans.

“Just in case. Keep that info in your pocket.” I slide my hand over an imaginary shirt pocket.

“I’ll make room in the garage for your car so you can have somewhere to park.”

A humorless laugh bubbles out of me. “Well, about that… I don’t have a car anymore.” I hunch my shoulders and roll my lips together.

He glares at me. “Spill it, Eve.”

“It was about a month back I got rear-ended. I’m fine. But the car, not so much. Insurance totaled it because of the expense to replace all the sensors and electronics. I’ve been able to get around with rides with friends or Uber. Grocery delivery has become my new best friend.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Alright, so no car. I’ll find you one because I’m certainly not playing chauffeur.”

“But I could get you one of those cute little golf hats.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Fine. No hat. But will you come with me to move all my stuff?”

“Oh. Um.” He rubs the back of his neck. “That’s a tough ask. I have the bar.”

“Maybe a few days away from the bar?—”

A knock on the door interrupts us.

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