Page 36 of Restart & New Revenge
Archer just shook his head and turned to me. “Yougood?” he asked, putting his hand on the small of my back.Thattouch felt like it was searing through my skin.
I jumped away, closer to the other ladies, and nodded, likely way more enthusiastically thanIneeded to.Hegrinned at me, clearly recognizing that his touch had earned that reaction, and then walked away.
“Hey,Anna,”Ruthiesaid, drawing my attention back to her and the other women. “Goodto see you again.ThisisCat,Vince’swife.Andthis isEllie,Wade’swife, andJack’ssister.”
I shook everyone’s hands and introduced myself just as a woman behind the bar walked up to us.
“Oh, and this isTammy—she runs the bar, gives the best advice, and is an all-around badass,”Ruthiesaid. “Tammy, this isArcher’sex-wife,Anna.”
Why did she have to say it that way?
Tammy smiled at me, butIcould tell she was sizing me up.Shelikely had no idea whyIwas here, and if she wasArcher’sfriend, she was automatically going to be on his side if she felt there was a need to take sides.
“Word of advice,”Tammysaid to me. “Thisone can’t hold her liquor, so don’t ever let her talk you into drinking.”Shepointed atElliethen turned and pointed atCat. “Andthis one tells her sister everything, and her sister can’t keep a secret to save her life, so don’t tell them anything you need to keep quiet.”
Okay, that was good to know.
“And this one,”Tammysaid, pointing atRuthie. “Donot, under any circumstances, let her drive you anywhere.Ever.”
The rest of the women all chuckled around me.
“Hey!”Ruthiedisputed defensively. “I’mnotthatbad.”
Ellie leaned over, pointing atRuthie, and announced for all to hear, “Youdamaged three cars while trying to parallel park because your favoriteUshersong came on the radio.”
Oh wow.Okay, no riding withRuthie.Gotit.
“Look, it wasn’t my finest moment, okay,”Ruthiegrumbled.
“She has a lot of those, but we still love her,”Tammynoted.
“Wow.Thanks, friends,”Ruthiegrumbled before turning back to the bar. “Okay,Tammy, what’s the dumbest thingyou’veever done?”
“Awfully bold of you to assumeI’vepeaked,”Tammyresponded, andIfound myself trying to contain my laugh.Notbecause her comment wasn’t funny—it was.Ijust didn’t want to appear rude, laughing at her expense.
“What canIget you to drink, hon?”Tammyasked me kindly.
“Umm,I’lljust take a root beer orCokeif you’ve got one,”Ireplied.
“Comin’ right up,” she responded and moved down to the other side of the bar.
“How are you holding up?”Ellieasked me.
What did she mean by that?Didshe know about the death threat, or did she mean it another way?
“In what sense?”Iasked, not wanting to tell them more thanArcherwanted them to know.
“Jack andArcherpretty much tell me everything that involves the company in any way sinceIwork there,”Ruthiesaid, which made sense.
“I don’t work for the company, butIdo work in the building, soVincedoes the same for me,”Catadded.
“These two can’t keep a secret, soIknow everything because they tell me,”Ellieannounced, which made me chuckle at her honesty.
“Last year,Iwas attacked, andVincestruggled with having a career that would put me in danger,”Catsaid, her voice laced with concern and empathy. “Hesaid it wasArcherwho ultimately got through to him.”
The smile on my face slid away at her comment. “Youwere attacked?”Iasked becauseArcherhadn’t mentioned anything, though it wasn’t my business.
“Yes,”Catreplied. “I’lltell you about it if you really want to know—it isn’t a huge secret—but my point was that sometimes these guys get it into their heads that they are here as our protectors, and when they can’t do that, it somehow makes their value less.”
