Page 21 of Final Goodbye
I reached down to quickly adjust myself when she asked, “What’s for dinner tonight, Cooper?” And there she was with that flirty tone, greeting me by my last name again. No one called me by my last name, but when it slipped from her mouth it sent another rush of heat straight to my groin.
What was her question again? ?Oh, dinner. That’s right.
Clearing my throat, I responded, “Just a cheeseburger tonight.”
“Anything for you.” She lowered her voice to a whisper that sounded all too seductive. Walking away to put my order in and tend to the other customers, it gave me a minute to composemyself and focus on the trash that was sitting a few seats down from me.
I almost forgot that Logan was sitting right there since I was lost in conversation and mindless flirting with Paige. She was every type of distraction I needed to get over my anger. Although it may have been fake for her, it felt real as fuck for me.
Suddenly, my rage was back with the realization that I needed to handle Logan. But I refused to show it with Paige around. Looking straight ahead, not bothering to turn his direction, I took a sip from my beer and addressed him in a low tone.
“Let me guess… You’re hanging around here to bother my girl again?” I liked the way that sounded.
My girl.
Letting out a drunken chuckle, he talked with his words strung together in a slur, “You, my guy, may think she’syourgirl, but she always belonged to me. Before she left town, I was the one fuckin’ her every night and hearing my name on her lips.”
His choice of words brought that feeling of wrath back inside of me. The urge to break a bottle of whiskey over his head was growing by the minute. My grip tightened around my glass so hard, I’m surprised it didn’t break. I didn’t have to look in the mirror to tell you my face was beet red.
I felt like one of those angry cartoon characters that had steam blowing out of their ears and a deep furrow pinched between my brows.
This job was the one thing keeping Paige in Alpine Peak. I didn’t want something I did to change that, so I took a moment to compose myself before I stood up and walked over a few seats where he sat. Feeling a little ballsy and towering over him, I grabbed a hold of his arm. I wasn’t going to get into a fight tonight, but I was going to give him a piece of my mind.?
Clearly angry, I whispered in a low voice through clenched teeth,?“You will forget there was ever anything between the two of you. You will grow the fuck up and get over a fucking high school relationship and move on from her. She’s not a piece of meat that you’ll sit here and gawk at while she’s working. You will get it out of your stupid fucking head that you will ever have a chance with her again,” I looked around before adding the last part, not wanting Paige to overhear, “and it’smyname she screams in bed when she comes so hard that she doesn’t even remember who the fuck you are.” The disgust that laced my voice was evident.
“You twolove birdsare on l-l-limited time, trust me on that.” He made air quotes as he tripped over his words.
I wasn’t sure what kind of game he thought he had to win back the attention of Paige, but I’d never met anyone who despised someone as much as Paige did Logan.
My grip grew tighter when I added, “You’re the one on limited time here, man. If I ever find out that you put your fucking hands on her again, I’ll make sure you never have the opportunity to breathe in the same air as her.”
Logan shrugged his arm out of my firm hold and mumbled something I couldn’t understand. I didn’t take the moment to care since what I said had clearly gotten under his skin. At least for now.
He threw cash onto the bar and stumbled out with his head down, not saying a word as he left. My adrenaline was pumping after my interaction with that asshole. The only thing stopping me from slamming his head into the bar was Paige being right there. I was desperate not to show her that side of me.
Starved, I chugged the rest of my beer and scarfed down the burger that had been sitting there waiting for me. I decided I was going to wait around for Paige to get off work. Although I watched Logan stumble out of here, I didn’t want to take anychances of him still lurking around. With him gone, we no longer needed to put on a show and pretend. I was glad he left, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed I couldn’t touch her freely.
Paige was closing up since the bar was starting to empty. I began to flip the chairs up on the bar and tables to help her out so she could be out of here quicker.
“You don’t need to help me, Declan. I’m sure you’re exhausted after today.” She hadn’t said much since Logan left. Mostly because she was busy finishing up, but I didn’t want this night to end even if I was exhausted from a long day.?Selfishly, I needed her company to help me come down from the rage that was flowing through my body earlier.
“I may not need to help you, but I want to make your life easier. Are you busy after this?” I asked in the most confident way I could manage. Deep down, I was nervous, and my palms were sweating. It felt like I was asking her on a date, knowing we would be alone together one on one. The only times we had hung out together just happened without either of us initiating it.
“I haven’t had any plans in a while. It’s home and work for me right now. Is that joyride rain check still up for grabs?”
You mean, I asked her if she was busy after work and now, she was the one making my life easier by suggesting what we did? A smile broke out across my face. “I know the perfect place for a night drive if you’re down.”?
Nodding her head up and down, she looked at me with a grin, appearing excited for whatever plans I had up my sleeve.
I had to remember this wasn’t real. We were just friends, and I was helping her out. I kept reminding myself not to get too attached, but somehow, I knew I’d probably be the heartbroken one in this situation when she went back to Phoenix or decided she didn’t need my help avoiding Logan anymore.
Spinning my keys around my finger, I nodded my head toward the door.
“Lock up and let’s get out of there.”
I leftmy rental car at the bar, assuming Declan would drive me back for it later. The night was quiet on High Street and the October breeze in the air felt refreshing after a long day at work. Windows down, we headed around the curves of the mountain roads. A chill broke out across my skin, and out of habit, I rubbed my hands along my arms to warm myself up.?
Being the most observant person I knew, Declan caught on to the fact that I was cold. Rolling up the windows to the old pick-up truck, he reached for something in the back seat as he kept his eyes on the road. Finding what he needed, he handed me a gray hoodie.?
