Page 54 of Outlaw Heartstrings
She slaps his shoulder. “My prodigal bestie’s back in town after a million years. This is a big deal.”
“Chloe! You were in the middle of something,” a sternvoice booms from behind the bar. The big, bearded bartender doesn’t seem to be pleased to be deserted by his helper.
She loops an arm through Oliver’s and calls out over her shoulder. “Sorry, Boss. The peanut butter to my jelly just walked into the building. I quit.” She turns to Oliver, grabbing his arm, her eyes alight with amusement. “Oh shit, Oli. Remember that marriage pact we made when we were 15? Please tell me you’re here to whisk me off my feet and marry me. Because this job sucks.”
Her long, braided hair cascades around her bronzed shoulders when she throws her head back, giggling. She giggles so hard, like marrying my brother is the silliest idea in the world.
Meanwhile, Oliver watches her in fascination, his jaw clenching tight. My guess is, he’s trying to restrain a ‘will you marry me?’ from shooting right out of his mouth.
The bar owner shakes his head as he fills a pint glass for Chloe’s neglected customer. “Your break is fifteen minutes, Chloe. Not a second longer. I’m gonna fire you this time. I mean it.”
She rolls her eyes, shoulders dropping. “Got it, Dad. Fifteen minutes. Promise.” And then she drags Oliver to the farthest end of the counter, chatting with excitement.
I chuckle as I follow Lincoln and Rocco to a row of empty stools. The tavern is relatively crowded tonight, and there’s a baseball game on the flat screen above the bar again.
Beside me, Chloe is talking Oliver’s ear off, asking him questions and catching him up on everything he’s missed over the years. When I try to join the conversation, Oliver gives me a dirty look over his shoulder, telepathically warning me to back off. He scoots his stool away from mine,putting distance between us. He clearly wants to keep Chloe’s attention all to himself.
I can take a hint.
I’m back to watching the ball game when some woman leans in right next to me to get the barman’s attention. Not wanting to be rude—but also not wanting to be felt up by some stranger—I start to scoot my stool over a few inches.
But then I notice how familiar she looks.
“Jules?” As in Alba’s best friend, Jules?
Her eyes widen when she turns and spots me. But then she gives me a stiff, little wave. “Hey, Easton. Heard you were back in town.”
“We are.” I turn to my brothers. “Hey. You guys remember Jules, right? She graduated in my class.”
Rocco perks up and says hello. Lincoln offers Jules a fleeting nod before his eyes track down to her chest. He does a double-take.
That’s when I notice Jules’s bright red shirt and the words printed across the front:A LITTLE MORNING WOOD MAKES THE MORNING GOOD.
There’s a weird moment between Jules and Lincoln, where they stare each other down for a beat too long. Then Lincoln just rolls his eyes and turns away from her. Probably dismissing her for her ‘inappropriate attire’.
I huff out an amused laugh. Lincoln is annoyingly boring and mature like that.That’s precisely why he hasn’t gotten so much as a handjob since his divorce two years ago.
Jules turns to me with an awkward smile. “Um, I know it’s none of my business, but Alba told me what’s been going on with you and Jagger. Congratulations. Finding out you’re a dad must be…huge.”
A grin erupts across my face. “Life-changing,” I say. “In the best possible way.” I do my best to sound earnest,hoping Jules will relay the interaction to her friend. I’ll earn brownie points with Alba anyway I can get ‘em.
“He’s a great kid.” She lays a hand over her heart. “I’d bet he’s so excited to get to know you.”
“I’m excited to get to know him, too,” I say, meaning it wholeheartedly.
I offer to pay for her drink and we chat a bit more about Jagger. I’m so proud to brag about my son. But I also have so many questions about Alba, and with Jules standing here, I sense an opportunity.
My eyes swing toward the television screen and I try to sound casual. “So, I’m guessing you’ve been playing babysitter for Alba over the years? Whenever she goes on dates and stuff, I mean.” I make the comment lightly. Not like I’m trying to fish for more information about her best friend.
Jules has a reputation for being a bit of a grenade. Being nosy about Alba might blow up in my face.
The woman’s guard instantly goes up. “Um, what?” she asks me suspiciously.
I clear my throat. “I just mean, I bet dating must be a bit difficult for Alba, seeing that she has a kid to think about all the time.”
Julissa lets out a little snort, but she doesn’t look amused. “Sure.”
I go on, even though I’m starting to get a sense that I’m not getting very far.
