Page 22 of Cowboy Crush
“You know it,” I tell her because that’s what we always do.
She nods and turns to leave, but he stops her.
“Actually, I think I’ll have a Jack and Coke tonight.”
“Oh, okay,” she says, looking at me. “And for you?”
I’m speechless as my mouth drops open. “Oh, ummm. Just a beer, I guess.”
She presses her lips into a line and leaves to get our drinks.
I lean forward and study his face. He’s not looking at me. He’s looking at the TV that hangs by the door. His brows are drawn together, creating two little lines between them. His jaw is cocked, back stiff. I’ve seen this look before. He had the same stance the night I burned dinner and came in here to order food for the girls and me. He wanted nothing to do with me. He was mean and closed off.
I reach out and take his hand in mine. That makes his blue eyes lock on mine. “What’s wrong?”
He shakes his head, appearing indifferent. “Nothing. Why?”
I shrug. “You seem angry. We didn’t have to come out if you didn’t want. We could’ve stayed home, just you and me.”
“You wanted to come out, so we’re out,” he says flatly.
It feels like he’s slapped me across the face. He hasn’t looked at me or spoken to me like this since we got together. “But we didn’t have to, that’s what I’m saying. I’m more than happy to spend a quiet evening at home.”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a rush. “Jesus, Hannah. You made a big stink about coming out tonight, and now you don’t want to be here?”
My mouth drops open. “I didn’t say that.” My tone of voice is off. I feel like I’m being attacked, and I’m being defensive without even meaning to.
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that if you didn’t feel like coming out tonight, then we should’ve stayed home. There’s no point in being angry.”
“I’m not angry. Who says I’m angry?” he asks, holding his hand out and letting it fall back to the table with a thunk.
I lean back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest. I can’t believe he’s doing this. It’s our last night together, and he wants to spend it being an ass? Ohhhhh, it’s our last night together. He’s back to trying to push me away and pick a fight so it makes it easier to part. Well, I hate to tell him, but I’m not going to let things end badly between us. Not after the amazing summer we’ve had. I’ll just have to try a little harder to get him to lighten up, just like I did before. Jack should do the trick.
The server is back with our drinks, and I wave off the menu, no longer having an appetite to eat. I take a sip of my beer, and he sucks down a long drink. I look around the bar for something to do as I wait for his drink to kick in and loosen him up. That’s when I see the man I met all those months ago from the hardware store. He smiles and waves. I smile and nod as a silent hello. Jameson sees the exchange, and he scoffs.
I jerk my head back in his direction.
“Flirting with your boyfriend now?”
He was jealous on our first night together, and he kept referring to him as my boyfriend. It didn’t bother me then, but now…it bothers me. “Jameson, don’t do this.”
“Do what? Get jealous when I see another man openly flirt with you right in front of me?”
“No. He wasn’t flirting. He said hello. And I know exactly what you’re doing. You’re trying to start a fight, so it’s easier to go our separate ways tomorrow. Wouldn’t you rather enjoy our last night together?”
“I’m not trying to do anything, and yes, he was flirting with you. That’s all he’s done since the day he laid eyes on you. If he asks you to dance in front of me again, I swear I’m going to teach him a lesson tonight.” His hands turn to fists on the table, and he shakes his head slightly while grinding his teeth.
“That’s it. Take me home,” I say, standing.
He looks up at me, confused. “What?”
“Take me home. This isn’t you. This isn’t the Jameson I like spending time with. And if I can’t have him, I don’t want whatever this is.” I motion toward him. “Take me home.”
“Fine,” he says, picking up his drink and throwing the rest of it back. He stands, pulls out some cash, and tosses it down on the table.
The two of us practically stomp out of the bar and to the truck.
