Page 256 of Banter & Blushes

I force a smile. “Just peachy! Let me know if you need anything else.”

Turning away, I nearly collide with a barstool. Catching it just in time, I offer an apologetic nod to its occupant and make a beeline for the bar. Clara leans against the counter, watching me with a smirk.

“You’re jumpy tonight,” she observes, tossing a lemon slice into a customer’s water.

Ifeign ignorance, busying myself by wiping down the counter. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

Clara arches an eyebrow. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with you not-so-subtly scanning the room all night? Looking for a certain newcomer, perhaps?”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “I have not been scanning!”

She chuckles, folding a stack of napkins. “Becky, you’ve checked the door more times than I’ve refilled the peanut bowls.”

I sigh, leaning on the counter. “Okay, fine. I might be a tad… concerned about Keigan showing up tonight.”

Clara’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “Concerned? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

I groan, resting my forehead on the cool surface of the bar. “It’s complicated.”

“Enlighten me.”

Lifting my head, I glance around to ensure no one is eavesdropping. “I overheard him on the beach yesterday. He was talking to some guy about studios, paparazzi, and a movie called Ryan Killshot. Clara, he’s not just some tourist. He’s a full-blown movie star.”

Clara’s eyes widen. “Seriously? And here I thought he just had a face for film.”

“Exactly! And I called him an ‘almost movie star’ to his face. I feel like an idiot.”

She stifles a laugh. “Well, that explains the skittishness. But why are you so worried about him showing up tonight?”

I chew on my bottom lip, searching for the right way to explain. “It’s just... now that I know who he is, it changes things. Or at least, it feels like it should. Like, do I still treat him like the guy who orders ginger ale and sweeps the floor? Or do I start acting like he’s... I don’t know,Ryan Killshotfamous action hero?”

I gesture vaguely, realizing too late that I’ve accidentally flung a napkin onto the counter. “Because I don’t want to be that person who suddenly freaks out just because someone’s been on a movie poster or something. But at the same time, I also don’t want to act like I’m completely unaffected and end up awkwardly calling him ‘sir.’”

Clara blinks at me, her smirk widening. “Sir?”

“I panicked!” I groan, throwing my hands up. “You know how bad I am at filtering things when I’m caught off guard. What if I accidentally say something ridiculous like, ‘Oh, how’s Hollywood?’ or, worse, ‘Nice hat, are you incognito?’”

I drop my head into my hands, groaning. “It’s like I’ve forgotten how to be a normal human being around him.”

Clara bursts out laughing, the kind of laugh that makes a few heads at the bar turn in our direction. “Becky, you’re overthinking this. Just be yourself. You’re great at being yourself. He obviously likes you for it, or he wouldn’t have kept showing up.”

I peek at her through my fingers. “But what if he doesn’t come tonight because he realized I’m the kind of person who says things like ‘almost movie star’ and makes drinks called Trust Issues?”

“That’s what makes you charming,” Clara says, still grinning. “If he can’t handle that, then he’s not worth the mental spiral you’re putting yourself through. You’re smart, funny, and gorgeous. If he can’t see that, it’s his loss.”

“Thanks, Clara,” I say with a smile.

“Anytime, hon. Now, how about you focus on your job and let things play out? If he shows up, he shows up.”

Nodding, I straighten up and grab the tray for my next round.

Clara’s right. I can’t let this throw me off my game.

The night wears on, and with each passing hour, my nerves settle. I’ve managed to avoid any major mishaps, and the bar is alive with its usual energy. As I’m clearing a table near the back, the door swings open, and a familiar figure steps inside.

Keigan.

My heart does a somersault, landing somewhere near my knees. He scans the room, his gaze landing on me almost instantly. A smile spreads across his face, and he starts toward me.

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