Page 67 of Just the Tipsy
“Oh.” I get a ridiculous rush of happiness. She wants me to go? We’re friendly but I wasn’t sure if she cared enough to invite me to something. “Sure, I’d love that.”
“Awesome, I’ll text you the details.” She grabs her phone and starts tapping out a text. “I’m heading to the bar after work too, if you want to grab a drink. Waylon can come too.”
‘Yeah, I’d love to.”
I shoot him a text to ask. We’ve been texting back and forth more, just day-to-day chat and funny animal memes. Even though his responses are sporadic because of his work, I still like talking. Thankfully he responds with a yes right away so I don’t have to overthink it.
I look forward to drinks throughout the rest of the day, then follow Rose to the bar. It’s not too busy, so we sit closer to the front, near the big floor to ceiling windows.
“I’ve got the first round. What do you want to drink?” Rose asks, putting her purse in her seat. “I can put in an order for some food next door too.”
“Anything as long as it’s not too strong. And fries would be amazing.”
“Gotcha.”
I watch her head to the bar. Wes spots her immediately, his face lighting up. Rose goes on her tiptoes and he leans over the bar to give her a deep kiss. The brightness in his eyes makes my heart ache, and I’m sure Rose’s expression is the same. They’re so cute together.
Duke gets to the table a few moments before Waylon, and I put Sadie down so they can hang out.
“Hey,” Waylon says with a soft smile. My heart flips in my chest and I give him a little wave.
He’s wearing his glasses again, and a dark green t-shirt of a similar color. His hair is damp, a dark curl falling into his forehead.
“Hey,” I finally say. He kisses me on the temple, just for show, and slips into the seat next to me. “Want me to grab us drinks?”
“Rose has the first round.” I nod in her direction.
Waylon stands and catches Wes’s attention over Rose’s shoulder. Wes just nods in understanding and grabs another glass.
“Was your day okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just wondering. We’ve never grabbed drinks after work so I was worried it was a ‘I need a drink’ kind of day.” He presses his knee to mine, and just that tiny point of contact makes me stupidly giddy.
“Has it been a day like that for you?” I ask.
“It hasn’t been the best day, but it hasn’t been the worst day either.” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
He glances over his shoulder. Wes and Rose are clearly still flirting it up while Wes makes us a pitcher of something.
“I was thinking of going up to this good stargazing spot. If you want to come for your bucket list,” he says. “We’d be camping overnight, though. Wes and Rose can watch Sadie.”
“I’d love that.” Curling up with Waylon in a tent, stargazing, feels romantic as hell, though.
I guess I can delude myself into thinking it’s real, even for a night.
“Okay, we’ve got mango moonshine margaritas,” Rose says, putting a pitcher and glasses on the table. “And food’ll be ready in fifteen-ish.”
“Thanks.” Waylon pours a drink for each of us, sliding one to me first.
I lift the glass to my lips to take a sip, glancing out the window, and nearly choke. Kyler is standing outside, looking around and at his phone. How did he find me here? Then again, Jepsen’s not very big. But one of the few times I come into town, we run into each other?
I freeze, hoping he doesn’t look inside.
“What?” Waylon asks, following my gaze.
“My ex,” I say softly. “Don’t look.”
