Page 59 of Rare Blend
He must be fucking hilarious because her head tips back as she giggles. My veins ignite with a rush of heat. It’s like a slow burn that starts in my chest and spreads out to my fingertips, which clench into fists at my sides.
I can’t take my eyes off them. Marisa’s smile is radiant, her eyes sparkling in a way that makes me wish I was the reason they shined. And Cole—damn him—leans in closer, his hand resting casually on the bar, inches from hers.
A wave of jealousy crashes over me, almost knocking me off balance. I have no right to feel this way. Marisa and I are friends, barely. And we need to stay just friends, because she’ll be back to Seattle in no time and I’ll still be here. But with the way my heart is hammering in my chest, you’d think it’s a different story.
I force myself to look away, trying to focus on anything else. Gavin abandoned his beer for another whiskey, and even though it’s lukewarm and flat now, I drink it down.
I told myself I wouldn’t keep watching her, but I’m unable to resist. I feel more and more like a stalker the longer I watch. Eventually, she leaves Cole and returns to my sisters. I almost relax enough to look away, but then my sisters take her from group to group around the bar, introducing her to the whole damn town.
She doesn’t realize it, but she’s the center of attention tonight. Like the little social butterfly she is, she’s been giving them her cheerful smile and warm laugh, and I slowly watch everyone fall in love with her.
It’s going to be a long night.
I tried so hard to dislike her, tried to avoid her. Maybe because I scare easily around a beautiful woman, or maybe because some primal part of me knew she was different. That from the moment I laid eyes on her, I was done for.
Forcing my gaze straight ahead, I try to pay attention to the story one of Gavin’s friends is telling, but my periphery follows Marisa’s every movement. My ears are so trained on her laugh, it seems to overpower all other sounds, even the blaring music. All I hear is her. All I see is her. I’m an absolute masochist for coming tonight.
The waitress comes by, and instead of continuing to drink my sorrows away, I opt for a water so I can sober up and get the hell out of here.
“Fuck,” Gavin grumbles, his eyes on the bar.
“What is it?” I ask, following his line of vision.
I’m about to ask him what I should be looking for when my eyes pause on a familiar golden-blonde mane. It’s Laura. And she’s not alone. She’s ordering at the bar, and Travis has his arms wrapped around her from behind, his hands resting low on her torso. They look right together, comfortable. It reminds me of a time when it was my arms she was in. The unwelcome image hits me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing it out as quickly as it popped in. That was someone else entirely. It wasn’t me. At least not the person I am today. I wait for the stabbing pain to start in my chest, but it never comes. The jealousy I should feel at seeing them standing intimately with each other never surfaces.
“Oh, shit.” Gavin dashes out of his seat.
It takes me a brief moment to catch on, but then I’m seconds behind him. Elyse has spotted Laura, and she’s making a beeline straight for her.
We practically sprint to get there before her, but we’re too late. Elyse reaches Laura first.
“You fucking bitch! I can’t believe you have the balls to show your face around here!”
Elyse screams in Laura’s face, and rather than Laura looking angry or scared, she’s smiling, which in turn only riles up Elyse more.
“Get over it already.” Laura laughs her perfected, condescending laugh.
Elyse stiffens, and her eyes narrow into thin, darkening slits. She’s about to lose her shit. “You dumb fucking whore?—”
Gavin swoops between the two women, picking up Elyse mid-insult and hauling her away.
“Come on. One hit!” Elyse screams, trying to wiggle out of Gavin’s hold. “Just one really good one. You know she deserves it!”
Gavin, unrelenting, continues walking with her in his hold until they’re both outside, leaving me behind to deal with the aftermath. The crowd that had gathered due to the commotion disperses, uninterested now that there won’t be a fight. The bartender shakes her head at me, as if I’m to blame, and then returns to wiping down the counter.
Laura’s amused eyes meet mine, and Travis awkwardly coughs. Her mouth quirks up in what I think is supposed to be a smile, but it looks fake as shit. “Ethan. So nice to see you. Looks like Elyse still hates me, huh?”
Her voice is like the high-pitched whistle on a teakettle. Fucking annoying.
“Laura,” I say, tipping my head slightly.
She frowns at my dismissive greeting. What was she expecting? Me to beg for her back?
“Good to see you,” Travis says.
Fuck, this is uncomfortable as hell. Gavin should’ve let Elyse get one hit in. At least that would have saved me from having to interact with these two at all.
A tingle of heat singes my shoulder as someone taps on it.
