Page 36 of Final Goodbye
“I already moved my shit out of my old apartment in Phoenix and gave up my place I was renting. And it sounds exhausting to make the drive back just to have to do it all over again, so I figured I’d just stay here a little while.”?I shrugged, pretending like it was no big deal, I had essentially just made a life altering decision.
“You trying to convince me, or yourself? Or maybe a hot tattooed local that’s been spotted here almost every time you work?” She nudged me and winked as I let out a gasp.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Uh huh, sure. Word travels fast in a small town and I hear you two have been quite the pair when he’s hanging around here.”
“What do you mean? Declan is always here after work whether I’m here or not. He just likes the wings.” I blushed.
“I KNEW IT! You’re freaking blushing at the mention of his name. Girl, you’ve got it bad for him and I don’t blame you. He’s hot as fuck. I say to go for it,” she encouraged me.?
I didn’t know why I was trying to hide it. Sophie was the one person I could confide in lately, so I might as well let my guard down completely.
“Okay, fine,” I admitted, blurting out, “we kind of… hooked up last week.”
“Oh my God! Paige! I’m going to need all the details. How have you kept this in the vault for a whole week?!” she started rambling off a million questions while my attention was caught on the men walking through the door.?
I assumed she noticed them too when she snapped her mouth shut at lightning speed.
“Oh, speak of the devil. Looks like the other Cooper brother is with him today too,” she whispered, wiggling her eyebrows at me.?
I started pouring up two Coors Lights before they even approached the bar and sat down. Taking a moment to address Sophie, I said, “We will talk more about this later. But to answer a couple questions I know are burning in your brain right now… No, we did not have sex, but I did have an orgasm. He’s got a filthy mouth, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about him. And we, uh, we are sort of pretend dating…” I let everything slip out of my mouth before Declan and Myles walked up to the bar.
She silently mouthed, “OH MY GOD!” and slapped my ass. “We definitely need to have a conversation and go over how all that has already happened in the matter of a couple weeks,” she whispered as she walked away.?
Pretending I wasn’t just talking about the gorgeous man in front of me, I set down their beers with a smile.
Looking between the two of us, Declan pointed and said, “Did Sophie just slap your ass? In my place of work, that would be considered sexual harassment.” Hands on my hips, I looked at him and rolled my eyes.?
“Why, are you jealous, Cooper? Plus, you work in construction and already have the reputation of letting out cat calls and gawking as women walk by. So, it would be more pervy if you did that in your workplace.”
He slapped his hand on his chest and reared back. “Oh, someone woke up sassy this morning! I am appalled you thinkI’d be a pervy construction worker. But ifyouwalked by while I was working, that would be a different story,” he said with a wink.
This is how it had been over the last week. Fun, flirty conversation. Basically eye-fucking each other, but with no action. It was Saturday, so he hadn’t come straight from work in his dirty clothes. Instead, he wore a pair of dark blue jeans that made his ass look amazing, a fitted black tee under a blue and white flannel, and a backwards hat with wisps of his dirty blond hair sticking out from under it. I was a sucker for this whole get-up he wore; it would easily make me melt every time.
Looking between the two men sitting in front of me, I noticed Declan was casually sipping his beer while his brother's drink was practically gone.
“Looks like you’re thirsty, Myles. Should I grab you another beer?”
“Would love one. It’s Saturday night, and maybe if I’m lucky, I'll find a girl to join me on the dance floor.” He already seemed a bit buzzed, but then I remembered being twenty-one and what it was like going out every weekend to the bars.?
Pouring up another cold one, I placed it in front of him as he chugged the rest of his first beer. Declan wore a look of concern on his face when he asked, “Hey, Paige, mind grabbing us a basket of fries too?”
“Of course, carbs are alcohol's best friend.” I laughed.
Something about Declan seemed off. One minute, we were flirting, and the next, he seemed bothered by Myles. I had a gut feeling there was more to that story.
Another Saturday night atPeaks,hanging back and casually drinking as I watched Myles get fucked up. Would I rather be doing anything else? Usually. But Paige was working tonight, and while Myles was trying to score some ass on the dance floor, I was watching Paige work.
I hoped Myles would find someone to go home with so I didn’t have to drag his drunk ass into my parents’ house later tonight, so I could have a moment with Paige after she was off the clock.?
I loved watching the way she lit up when talking to the locals hanging around the bar. She was a natural. This was her element. You could tell the people in town have taken to her quickly with how they looked at her with adoration in their eyes. She was the most stunning woman in this bar, and maybe that was a big reason for the attention she received too.
Only a couple beers into the night and it was enough to have me feeling loose. Watching her across the bar, hips swaying back and forth, I couldn’t help but think about how those hips movedover me the other night. I wanted a moment alone with her, but it was busy, and it likely wouldn’t happen.?
Looking around the bar, I noticed Myles seemed to be hitting it off with some chick he’d been hanging around for a while tonight.Good, he was busy.It gave me the opportunity to try and make my move while the perfect song played throughout the bar. The cover band played their rendition of “Dirt On My Boots” by Jon Pardi when I hollered to grab Paige’s attention.?
“Paige!”
