Page 46 of Fly Back to Me
No shit.
My eyes flick to the throng of people, heart tearing a little when there’s no trace of Cade. I suppose there will be other days when I can try to mold this little rapport of ours, but now there’s a threshold.
A harsh limit.
He has a girlfriend, Liv. The buck stops here.
I gulp the last of my ale, setting the empty glass down before standing from my seat. My fingers bury into my belt bag, snatching a couple dollar bills to leave on the bar top. Once I shrug my coat on, I sling my bag across my chest before traveling to the other end of the bar where Jake is serving customers.
My throat rolls with the mocking friction of the bobble chain between my boot and ankle.
What a joke.
Chucking the bite of the insult away, I snake between a few bodies to reach the bar counter. Jake’s head jerks my way, honey-colored brows arched in surprise. “You’re leaving already? No sour?”
I purse my lips, remorsefully shaking my head. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s about that time for me to curl up in a ball on the couch.”
“It was great to see you again. Come back, yeah?”
Eh … survey is still out on that one.
I nod instead of dousing him in my ridiculous problems, only to say, “I kind of wanted to ask a favor if you don’t mind.”
He swipes a credit card from a patron’s hand. “What’s up?”
“Could you walk me to my car whenever you have a chance?” I half-turn, pointing toward the tall window beside the front door. “I’m only a few rows back.”
His gaze follows my gesture, brows dipping for a moment before he nods. “Sure,” he says as he hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “Let me just run this card through and I’ll be right out.”
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
I spin around to park against the wall between the window and the door. I drop my head, adjusting my half-tucked brown sweater before retrieving my keys from my bag.
My palm glues to the pink can, temple leaning on the brick as I stare aimlessly at the dim bathroom corridor. The high-pitched chuckles of a couple girls ring through the restroom door when it opens, their bodies hugging each other in glee. They have to be around my age, give or take a few years, and there’s a strand of envy that rears its ugly head inside me.
I miss the carefree nights. The nights when I only had to think about the moment I was living in and not the “what ifs.” Sometimes it’s exciting to think about those parts too, but on evenings like this, all you want to do is take advantage of the time you’re granted.
I miss livinginthe moment.
“How was the ale?”
My head whips to Cade’s tenor, his body drawing closer as he rolls his leather jacket over his shoulders. His thick, short waves are on full display at the top of his head, the snapback now hooked around one of the belt loops of his jeans.
Anxiety clenches my lungs, but I’m not sure of the source. Is it his presence? The fear that he’ll walk past me and through these doors without a care in the world? The awkwardness when he sees Jake walking me to my car, thinking that I’m hitting on every man I see.
As if that would matter to him.
Before I can answer him, Jake’s stationing himself beside Cade. “You ready?”
Cade’s face gently folds with confusion, hands disappearing into his pockets as he looks over at Jake. “Aren’t you here ‘til closing?”
“Yeah, but I’m just walking her to her car.”
I mumble an “Oh god” under my breath, planting my temple on the brick again. Shutting my eyes, I will this entire evening to erase itself at this point.
“I’m heading out now. I’ll walk her,” Cade offers.
Great.
