I flip him off.
He laughs. “You fools coming out tonight?”
“No way,” Carolina answers around a yawn. “I’m beat, and I work the morning shift tomorrow.”
“Losers,” he teases, winking at Carolina.
I narrow my eyes at him and hold up the controller—a silent warning that it’ll hit him in the face if he continues his annoying-ass flirting.
I turn my attention to Carolina. “Looks like it’s you and me tonight.”
Josh jumps up from his chair, snaps his fingers, and pings his finger back and forth between me and Carolina. “Good. You two kids do something bad.”
I flip him off again as he walks away, his laughter booming through the apartment.
15
Carolina
I tug my phone from my apron when it vibrates, and my heart sinks when I read the text from the last person I want to talk to. He’s the man I hate and who’s made my life a living hell.
James: You can’t keep ignoring me.
My fingers are close to shaking as I hit the reply button.
Me: I’m not ignoring you.
James: Let me correct myself. You can’t keep avoiding me.
I roll my eyes. He didn’t correct himself. Avoiding and ignoring are the same thing.
Me: Whatever. What do you want?
James: Don’t forget who has the upper hand here.
My jaw hurts as I grit my teeth at his threat, and I wish I were brave enough to do something. Call me weak … a coward … but fighting him on this will lead to serious consequences.
I’ve found there are two ways to appease him:
Agree.
Stroke his ego.
My phone beeps again.
James: I want to see you.
Me: I’ve been swamped with work.
James: Yet you had time to fly to Texas.
Me: Are you following me?
I glance around my surroundings in the diner’s kitchen even though there’s no way he’s in here. From now on, I’ll be looking over my shoulder with every move I make. I came home with the thought he’d never make the drive here. Hopefully, I wasn’t wrong.
James: No. I saw your little boyfriend posted it on Instagram.
He’s following Rex?
He hates Rex.
Me.
That’s why he’s following Rex.
To follow me since I blocked him.
Just as I’m about to reply with expletives that’ll piss him off more, I’m saved by a text from Rex.
My Main Man: Going to Down Home tonight. Come with?
Me: Sounds good to me.
My problems slip from my thoughts when I’m with Rex. I also feel safe with him.
My Main Man: You want me to scoop you up?
Me: 9:00?
My Main Man: See you then.
I untie my apron, drop my phone into my purse, and head back to the loft without replying to James’s message. My guess is he’s drinking, in a mood and feeling sorry for himself, or having girl problems. He reaches out whenever one of those problems happens, bugs me for a day, and then disappears for a while … and then the cycle starts over a few weeks later.
Whenever possible, I have Rex pick me up when we go out—because I’m selfish. That way, he can’t bring another woman home with him. Sure, she could always go to his house after, but I tend to invite myself over and hang out with him. Not that he’s ever said no. Not once has he ever brought home a woman when he’s with me.
Rex is seen around town as the rebellious, rich kid.
His reputation always makes me laugh. Hell, I believed it, too, before we became friends.
He’s considered rebellious because he does what he wants, he has never had a serious girlfriend, nor has he been interested in one, and he defies his father with every move.
Rex doesn’t care about that rep and hardly shows anyone who he really is. We’ve learned each other’s secrets, flaws, skeletons, and secret traits.
Which is why we’re in love with each other.
Rex knows this.
I know it.
It’s just easier for us to play pretend.
“Damn, Lina,” Rex says, strolling into my living room. “You look hot.”
I lower my gaze to my white summer dress and strappy brown sandals. Summer dresses are my go-to outfit. They’re comfy, cute, and effortless to pull together—my style. I’ve never been one to keep up with trends, and my parents were strict with what I wore growing up.
My contacts are in, my hair halfway up, halfway down, and I have a hint of makeup on.
I shyly grin.
Rex complimenting me isn’t new.
My dress could be a paper bag, and he’d still flatter me.
Having a best friend who pumps up your ego on the regular is fun.
“Thank you.” I snatch my pink sweater from the edge of the couch and drag it over my shoulders. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
His walnut-colored hair is messy. Envy hits me of how simple his hair routine is. All he does is run gel through it, spiking it up, and he’s all set. A gray moto jacket fits his muscular shoulders perfectly, a thin white tee underneath it, and his black jeans have rips down the front.
He playfully pops the collar of his jacket. “Yeah, I know.”
I snort and smack his stomach on my way to grab my crossbody bag. “Geesh, how has your head not exploded from all that ego you carry in there? Must be because your brain is so puny.”
“Weird.” He chuckles. “You sure have no problem taking compliments that boost your ego.”
“That’s different.”
“Do explain how it’s different.”
“I don’t pop my collar like a 2002 rap song and say, ‘I know.’” I mimic his collar-popping gesture. “I politely say thanks without letting it go to my fat, smug head.”
He’s laughing as he opens the door, and he follows me down the outside stairs to the driveway.
This week was a rough one. A drink will help dim my problems … dim my secrets. I duck into his car after he opens the door for me, and then he goes to his side. The ride to Down Home is short, and the parking lot is packed when we pull in. The pub is the place to go for a good time and to relax. Even when it’s a full house, the setting unwinds you. Sierra remodeled the bar and made it her goal for the customers to feel like they’re at home, sharing drinks with friends.
Music playing from the live band hits us when we walk in, and Rex’s hand finds mine before he leads us to a crowded table in the center of the room. He steals two unoccupied stools from another table and brings them to ours, gesturing for me to sit in one while taking the other. When I sit, he tugs me closer, and I settle back while doing a once-over of our table.
Rex’s brother, Kyle, is across from me with his arm slung over his girlfriend, Chloe’s, shoulders while he sips on a beer. Their history has always fascinated me. They hated each other in high school, became neighbors, and are now in a serious relationship. It’s been a rough ride for them with Chloe being involved in their family drama. I’ll never forget the night Rex called me, ignited with a fury I’d never heard from him before, when he found Chloe’s secret. It was some soap-opera, Jerry Springer drama.
Chloe is chatting it up with Lauren Barnes, who’s sitting next to her. I’ve admired Lauren for years. Her family has never failed to help me with any charity or benefit dinner I bring to them. The Barnes family is one of the kindest families in Blue Beech. Her fiancé and Kyle’s best friend, Gage, is next to her. They were high school sweethearts, and everyone was waiting for their marriage announcement, but instead, Lauren broke his heart. He returned a few years later with no intention of rekindling with Lauren. That didn’t last long, considering they have a baby girl together.
Lately, Rex prefers to hang out with his family and brother’s friends than the people we went to school with. Since they’re chill and always accepting of me, I have no issue with that.
“Hey, Carolina,” Sier
ra greets from the other side of me, a friendly smirk on her face.
I smile at her. “Hey!” I signal to the crowd. “It’s a full house tonight.”
She nods. “Sure is.”
“No hey for your little bro?” Rex asks her.
Sierra wiggles her fingers in an exaggerated wave. “Hello, my pain-in-the-ass brother.”
“Carolina,” Kyle says, setting his beer down. The resemblance between him and Rex is crazy. “I love when you come with my brother. You tame him.”
“Fake news,” Rex argues. “I tame her.”
Kyle snorts. Sierra scoffs. Gage laughs.
I pat Rex’s head. “I keep him in line like a good little boy.”
The waitress stopping by to take our order interrupts our conversation. Rex and I order two Jack and Cokes, and he adds in an order of nachos supreme for us to share—my favorite.
“You’re not working tonight?” I ask Sierra.
She shakes her head. “Nope. I’ve been overloaded with work, so Maliki hired a part-time bartender to cover for me.”
She shoves a hand through her blonde hair before pulling it into a high ponytail.
Sierra is gorgeous. She was nicknamed the Pageant Queen of Blue Beech, growing up. Okay, the rebellious Pageant Queen of Blue Beech, since she acted out like it was her job. After becoming single, she took a job working at the pub with Maliki before starting her own interior design business.
Her gaze moves past my shoulders, and I shift in my chair, following her attention to Maliki pouring a beer behind the bar. Maliki is hot—there’s no denying that—with his dark hair, muscles, and facial scruff. He’s older, in his thirties, and he was known as a ladies’ man who’d never settle down. Word was, he swore serious relationships weren’t his thing, but Sierra came into his life. He changed for her, going from a ladies’ man to one of the best boyfriends I’ve seen.
I love their love, but it also scares the shit out of me.
It proves people who think they’re not capable of love are.
What happens when Rex finds the woman to change him?
His heart is big enough for commitment, for him to be someone’s everything and make her his everything. That fear just needs to be broken.
“Is it hard for him to relax when he owns the place?” I ask, turning back to Sierra.
“Definitely,” she answers. “It’s better now that we don’t live above the bar anymore. It’s not as easy as running downstairs to check on things.”
She sips on her pink cocktail. Down Home was never big on cocktails. It was more of a beer and hard liquor establishment until Sierra came into the picture.
I nod in understanding. “I get that. It was difficult for my father to separate family and work with us living next door to the church.”
We spent more time there than at home since my father was the preacher and my mother ran the after-school program.
The waitress comes back with our nachos and drinks, and Rex has her start a tab for us. Rex was a huge partier since high school, and it only worsened his first year of college, but now that he’s doing so well with his game, he’s cut down on the drinking. A hungover brain isn’t a productive brain. It’s frustrating that people don’t notice the change in him—the maturity evolution is what I’ve named it, to which he always responds with an eye roll.
One of those people being his father, Michael Lane. He lives his life with the belief that all Rex does is party and waste his life away. Since Rex avoids as much contact with him as possible, he doesn’t bother correcting him. Michael has always been friendly with me, but he’s a jackass to Rex, which pisses me off. I force smiles but never go out of my way to start a conversation with him when I attend dinners at Rex’s house.
Call it rude. Whatever.
Anyone who treats Rex like crap is a sucky person in my book.
Rex takes a swig of his beer before peering at me. “I’mma run to the restroom. Save me some nachos.” His hand brushes along my shoulders as he walks away.
Chloe updates everyone on her and Kyle’s adoption journey and reveals they’re considering becoming foster parents while waiting for approval.
I’m mid-nacho-chomp when Rex is walking back from the restroom, and I nearly choke on the chip when a woman stands in front of him, blocking his way. I pinch my lips together, nausea swirling inside my stomach, and shove the nacho basket up the table.
“Don’t worry about her,” Sierra comments, bumping her shoulder against mine as I painfully gawk at Rex and Blockzilla. “He doesn’t want her.”
My eyes narrow when the girl slides her hand up his arm. “Rex wants any woman who looks in his direction.”
Flirty women are a constant when we go out. They attempt to force themselves onto him while I play indifferent and fake that it doesn’t hurt my heart. Rex never entertains it, but that still doesn’t stop my envy.
“No, babe, he wants you.” Sierra releases a heavy sigh. “He’s scared. Maliki was like that. He just needed a little convincing.”
I transfer my attention to Sierra. “Convincing how?”
I halfway know the answer to my question. She and Maliki played a cat-and-mouse game for years, ever since she was eighteen and snuck into his bar.
She nudges her head toward where Rex is standing, but I stop myself from looking back. “Call him out on his bullshit. Call him a chickenshit until he stops acting like a chickenshit. And if all else fails, date someone else. Scare him into getting his head out of his ass.”
“You and Maliki are different than me and Rex. We’ve been friends for years. Plus, you’re bolder than I am. I’m pretty much a chickenshit, too.”
“You’re a total badass, and my brother is head over heels for you. He’s just too stupid to admit it.”
She throws her arm out, motioning toward Rex, and I brace myself to be upset as I peek over at him. He’s ditched the girl and dodging bodies while heading in our direction.
“See!” she cries out. “Y-O-U!”
Rex takes his place by my side again, interrupting our conversation, and Sierra glances up at Maliki with a grin when he joins us and says hi to everyone. He kisses Sierra, whispering words against her mouth, and they become disgustingly cute.
“Another one of your women?” I question Rex, a frown on my face before I shove a nacho into my mouth.
“Nope,” he replies with a straight face.
I narrow my eyes at him.
“What?” He shrugs. “She asked if I’d buy her a drink. I said no. She then asked if she could buy me a drink. I respectively declined like the gentleman I am and walked away.” He shrugs again. “No biggie.”
“I’m amazed you didn’t take her up on her offer,” I grumble.
“Not interested. I’d never ditch you for another chick.”
“Oh. My. Freaking. God!”
Her shrill voice hits me right before Candy comes into our view. She halts at our table, as if someone hit the brakes on her legs.
I dip my head down and cover half my face with my hand, fully aware she’s about to make a scene.
“If it’s not the happy couple making it official!” she shrieks. She pouts out her lower lip when her green eyes cut to Rex. “It sucks you’re off the market, but I’m happy someone nice like Carolina snagged you!” Her words come out in a slight slur. “She’s a keeper. Don’t you go breaking her heart, or I’ll break your thumbs! And it’s hard to play video games without thumbs.”
This is not happening.
Out of all places, she announces it in front of a crowd of people.
Every muscle in my body stiffens, my heart clamoring against my chest while I struggle not to freak the hell out. Rex’s hand sweeps underneath the table, settling on my thigh, and he tenderly squeezes it.
“What?” nearly everybody at the table asks in their own manner.
It takes me a moment to uncover my face, and my gaze swiftly darts around the table, taking in everyone’s response. Excitement. Happiness. Curiosity. Not one per
son appears pissed as their attention bounces back and forth from me to Rex.
“Whoa, did I miss something?” Kyle asks. “Is it finally happening?” He gestures between me and Rex. “Did you two finally get your heads out of your asses and admit you’re in love?”
“Sure did!” Candy answers for us with extra pep in her voice. “You should’ve seen them at the diner.” She folds her hands over her chest. “Swoon!”
We were so not swoon.
Sierra eagerly focuses on me. “Tell me everything.”
“Details!” Chloe adds.
“How’d this happen?” Lauren yelps.
I stare at Rex in horror.
Oh my God. Oh my God.
How are we getting out of this?
It’s not only my parents we have to create a breakup story for. It’s now pretty much the entire town. And when it happens, most of them will give Rex hell for it, placing all the blame on him.
Rex’s hand stays on my thigh as he speaks, “This is why we kept it on the down-low.” He motions toward the table. “We didn’t want this shit to happen—you clowns making a big deal about it.” His hand leaves my thigh, and he curves his arm around my shoulders, dragging me closer to him. “Yes, we’re trying something new.”
“I love it.” Sierra beams.
“Kiss!” Candy yells. “Now that the cat is out of the bag, you should totally kiss!”
I want to kill Candy.
No more picking up any extra shifts for her.
Her voice rises as she starts pumping her fist into the air. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Kyle joins in on her chanting … then Chloe … then Lauren … and then the rest of the damn bar.
My mind goes blank when Rex cups the back of my head.
“Might as well make the crowd happy.” His mouth crashes against mine.
Screams erupt across the bar, and clapping ensues.
Rex doesn’t give me a quick peck. No, his soft lips part, and his tongue plunges into my mouth, teasingly stroking against mine. He tastes like beer and salt. His hand knots into my hair, and he yanks me closer, his mouth claiming me as his girlfriend.
My cheeks are on fire.
Just Friends (Blue Beech) Page 13