“I hope so, too.” I drop two wings onto my plate. “I can’t believe your sister and I are fighting over the same man.”
She crosses her legs. “Technically, you’re not. Maliki doesn’t even see Jessa because he loves you.”
The problem is, he has to see her.
“Hey, honey.”
I smile up at my father from my chair and stand to hug him.
He wraps me tight, patting my back, and straightens his suit before taking the chair across from me.
“I’m searching for an apartment for you,” he says, diving straight in with no good-morning chat. “I offered the last guy nearly double in rent, but he said no. When you sign a lease, it’s hard to back out.”
He pauses when the waitress comes to take our order.
“I can look outside town,” he continues when she leaves. “Leaving Blue Beech for a while might help you.”
I nod, taking a sip of my orange juice. “You’re right.”
He frowns. “I hate seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
His face creases in concern. “Sad. Heartbroken. It seems it keeps happening to you.”
“There’s nothing—”
He cuts me off, “I know when something is wrong with my daughter. Is this about Devin or Maliki?”
My cheeks blush. “There’s no way I’m discussing my love life with you.”
He holds up his hand. “Tell me what they did, and I’ll offer my opinion. I’m the epitome of a bad man. I’ll let you know if they stack up or if there’s reason behind their actions.”
“It’s Maliki. He has a secret kid … just like you.”
I recoil in my chair, my appetite disappearing, and notice the change in my father as well. He holds his hand to his lips, shuts his eyes, and then slowly opens them back up.
My situation is so similar to my mom’s.
Maliki has a child and kept it a secret.
Sure, there are a lot more differences than similarities, but my broken heart can’t stop comparing the two.
He raises a brow, finally speaking, “Maliki has a kid?”
I nod. “A daughter.”
“Did he know about her?”
“No.”
“That changes things. Our situations aren’t similar.”
Thirty-Three
Sierra
Two weeks have passed since my fallout with Maliki.
“Your brother and I totally understand if you don’t want to come,” Chloe says. “It won’t hurt our feelings.”
Her engagement party is tonight.
At Down Home.
I wave off her offer. “No, it’s fine. I’ll avoid Maliki. Everything will be good.”
Yeah, right.
I fake a smile.
“What’s going on with the bar’s remodel?” she asks.
“All the hard work is done. We already selected flooring and paint. The contractors were scheduled, and I sent copies to Liz. The contractors will show up, do their job, and I’ll check on them while Maliki is gone from the bar. Liz has agreed for me to come in on his days off.”
“Maliki is okay with that?”
I shrug. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”
Lies.
Chloe whistles. “Oh Lordy, your life is becoming more interesting than mine.”
“Why the frown, new roomie?”
Josh, Rex’s and my roommate, crashes next to me on the couch, a wild grin on his face.
Rex glances up from his video game—a video game he’s developing. “Boy problems.” He pauses his game, tosses the controller to the side, and turns to face us. “Maliki problems.”
I wince, just hearing his name.
It possesses so many good and bad memories.
“You going to the party tonight?” Rex asks.
I nod.
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
It’s stupid, but as I have for so many years, I’m going there even though it’s a bad idea. I’ve become a professional at ignoring warnings to steer clear of Down Home Pub.
“I can’t miss my brother’s engagement party because of boy problems, and it’s not like I hate Maliki.” I wrinkle my nose. “We just aren’t right for each other.”
Wrong.
We are right for each other.
You can be right for someone and it still not work out.
Romeo and Juliet.
Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
Minus the whole dying thing.
“Maliki,” Josh says, breaking me away from my thoughts. “He’s the bartender at Down Home, right?”
“Yep,” Rex answers for me.
He didn’t ask questions when I texted him that I was moving into his spare bedroom, nor did he when I asked him to pick up my stuff from Maliki’s. All he did was tell me he was here if I needed to talk.
That’s the thing with my brother. He puts up this funny, not-give-a-shit act, but deep down, he’s one of the most caring men I know.
Josh props his feet onto the coffee table, his eyes cutting to me. “Want to know of a good way to get your mind off him?”
Yes, please. “Nope,” is what I answer though.
Josh drinks cheap beer, pisses with the bathroom door open, and has an obsession with The Sopranos. Not taking relationship advice from him.
He thrusts his thumbs into his chest. “This guy.”
I swat my hand through the air. “Go away before I call your mother.”
“Shit, if I bagged a girl like you, my mother would be a very happy woman.”
“And mine would have a heart attack.”
“Shut up. That’s my sister,” Rex says in agitation.
Josh ignores Rex. “What did Maliki do? Want me to beat him up?”
A smile tugs at my lips at the same time Rex snorts and says, “Maliki would squash you, dude.”
Again, Josh ignores Rex. “You’ve had an older man. A guy your age. Why not try a younger one this time around?”
“I wish I could tell you to go home,” I tell him.
He scoots closer to curve an arm around my shoulders. “I am home, babe.”
I roll my eyes and shove him away.
Josh looks at Rex. “It sucks you can’t go out tonight, man. We need to score you a fake.”
Rex shrugs. “It’s all good. I have plans with Carolina.”
“Ah, sweet Carolina,” Josh sings. “That’s my girl right there.”
“She’s not shit to you,” Rex growls with a glare.
Josh glances at me. “I warned Rex if he doesn’t make his move on her in six months, I’m asking her out.”
Rex tenses. “You’ll be smothered in your goddamn sleep.”
“Why aren’t you two a thing?” I ask, happy the attention is off me. “I’ve never understood that.”
“She’s my best friend, and I don’t do girlfriends well. I won’t ruin what we have because I’m a dumbass when it comes to relationships.”
“Yet you won’t let me ask her out,” Josh says. “You also don’t want anyone else to have her.”
“Yes, because none of you pricks deserve her.”
“Neither does someone afraid to ask her out.”
“Fuck off.” Rex turns around and goes back to his video game.
My father wasn’t happy when he found out Rex had swapped out his political science major to computer science, but I’m proud of him. He has a dorm at Iowa State, but since he only has classes three days a week, he commutes from his apartment. He hasn’t even graduated and already scored an internship at some huge tech company.
Josh twists to look at me. “If you need a make-him-jealous man, I’m your boy.”
Rex isn’t old enough to get into bars yet, but Josh is. They met each other at Iowa State, kicked it off, and became roommates. Josh is cool and flirtatious as hell but means no harm.
“Dude, be careful,” Rex says. “Maliki will kick your ass.”
Thirty-Four
Maliki
Saturdays are
the pub’s busiest nights.
I hoped the bustling crowd would hinder my thoughts of Sierra—and then I remembered her brother’s engagement party is here tonight.
I’ve been scanning the bar all night, unsure if Sierra is coming. I’ve spotted a few of Kyle’s friends and her cousin but no sign of her. She might sit this one out. I frown, hating my bullshit might prevent her from celebrating with her brother.
It’s been a tough week overall and a busy week for my phone, given how many times I’ve called and texted Sierra … and dodged Jessa’s phone calls. It pisses me off how damn quick Sierra threw us away when she’d fought for us for so long.
That’s not me placing all the blame on her.
This is all my fault.
I was stupid, and Sierra is afraid of getting hurt again.
Sierra hasn’t returned to the bar since she walked away from me. Although she’s talked to Liz. How the fuck that happened is beyond me, but Liz knows the schedule of the renovation, and she agreed to take all of Sierra’s shifts. Liz has taken Sierra’s side in our breakup.
I’m numb as I move around the bar, going about my regular routine.
A vodka and Sprite.
Bud Light.
Corona.
A guy from high school mentioning an old memory.
I yell out an order for a basket of hot wings to the kitchen.
Same shit, different shift.
Only Sierra isn’t here.
I got so used to us working together. The bar feels hollow without her.
My back goes straight, and I overpour the drink I’m making when I see her. I don’t move, nearly in shock, when she comes to the bar.
I walk away, ignoring a customer, and meet her, wishing the bar didn’t divide us.
She’s more anxious than she was the first time I busted her here.
“Hi,” she says, her voice nearly a whisper.
She looks damn gorgeous.
She also looks tired.
My chest caves in, as I know that tiredness is most likely from my dumbass actions.
I stare at her, tongue-tied for a moment, scrambling for the right words to not fuck this up.
“Are you ready to come home?” I decide to go with a playful tone. “Or are you here to get your job back?” I’m trying to stay composed, but my heart is heavy as it constricts in my chest.
“I’ll pass,” she says with unreadable eyes. “I’m here for the party, and I don’t want it to be weird between us. I’ll order all my drinks from Liz and steer clear of this side.” She gestures toward my area of the bar.
“Why did you come over here then?”
“To give you a heads-up.”
“I call bullshit.”
“Whatever, Maliki. Call bullshit all you want, but it’s the truth.”
I open my mouth to explain why I’m calling bullshit, but I’m cut off when she keeps talking.
“Also, I don’t know if Liz told you, but everything is scheduled for the remodel. I’m doing all my communication through her.” Her lips are pressed into a firm line.
Liz already shared this info with me.
I fix my stare on her. “Liz doesn’t own the bar. I do. Not communicating with your client is unprofessional.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Whatever. I’ll maintain a professional relationship until the remodel is over. I’ve appointed Liz as my assistant, so all communication will go through her. How’s that?”
“I’d much rather deal with the woman I hired.”
“Don’t make this difficult.”
Trust me, I’m trying hard not to.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I miss you, Sierra. We need to talk about this. I know you’re young, but—”
She inches up her hand, stopping me. “Nope, don’t blame this on my age. I’m smart enough to know not to get hurt again.”
“If you get hurt again, it won’t be by me.”
“You already have. I won’t take that risk again.”
I gulp in an exasperated breath. “Anytime you’re in a relationship with someone, you risk heartbreak. Have another relationship, but you can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. With me, you have a fucking guarantee I’ll do everything in my power to never hurt you again. I’ve never made you doubt my feelings for you. Never. Remember that.”
“Maliki—” Her eyes narrow as she stares over my shoulder.
“Hey, babe,” Jessa says behind me, and I shit you not, I’m shocked my back doesn’t break with how tense my spine goes. “Molly is knocked out. Do you want me to bring your dinner down?”
My pulse slams into my neck, and my eyes don’t leave Sierra.
“Wow,” Sierra snarls. “Never doubt you, huh?” Her fingers dig into the wood of the bar.
“It’s not what it looks like.” The words slowly leave my mouth.
She scoffs, “Piss off, Maliki.”
I hop over the bar when she turns to leave, knocking down napkins and baskets of food, and follow her. I call her name louder with every step through the bar. When we make it to a clearing, I snatch her wrist and whip her around to face me.
She smacks my hand and wriggles out of my hold. “Don’t. I’m here for my brother and Chloe. I won’t let our drama ruin their party. This isn’t happening tonight.”
“Well, well, look what we have here.” A hipster-looking dude comes up and slings an arm around her shoulders, blind to what he’s walked into. “My hot-ass roommate.”
What the hell?
My temples throb.
Sierra tenses before relaxing when he drags her into his scrawny-ass chest.
“Who the fuck is this?” My voice thunders through the bar, catching the attention of customers around us.
Luckily, there’s a band playing that covers some of my anger.
The dude has the balls to hold out his hand. “Josh.” He cocks his head toward Sierra. “New roommate. New friend. Hopefully, future boyfriend.”
My hands clench.
“Josh,” Sierra drags out in warning. “Now isn’t the time.”
The smirk on the dude’s face drops when he sees the temper in mine.
He pulls away, takes a glance at me, and squeezes her arm. “I’ll be at Kyle’s table.”
“Your new roommate?” I hiss when he walks away.
She nods. “I’m staying with Rex and him.” Her lips twitch into a smile, and I wince at her sudden mood change. “Will you make me a drink? Liz looks busy over there.”
My brows crinkle. “Sure.”
Her smile stays intact as we walk back to the bar. “Tequila.”
I pour her a shot.
She knocks it back. “Two more.”
I pour her two more.
Her smile turns cold. “Thanks. I can’t wait to take these with Josh.” She grabs one in each hand and smirks. “Enjoy Jessa’s gross dinner.”
My eyes stay pinned to her as she walks straight to Josh’s table and hands him the shot, and they take them together.
I march over to Liz. “I’m taking five.”
She nods, her eyes moving to Sierra.
Asshole’s arm is back around her.
Liz squeezes my shoulder. “She’s doing it to piss you off. She wants to hurt you like you did her.”
“I’m well aware.” It’s fucking working.
Molly is crashed out on the couch, and Jessa is in the kitchen, not making shit when I walk into the apartment.
“I warned you not to pull that shit,” I bite out.
My attorney hasn’t come through with the custody paperwork yet, so I’m still tortured by Jessa when I visit with Molly. She came over for pizza before my shift, Jessa’s annoying ass right behind her. We hung out, and she asked to stay and finish the movie we’d been watching. I figured they would’ve left by now.
“What shit?” she asks, playing coy.
“That stunt you pulled when you saw me talking to Sierra.”
She releases a hard laugh. “God, Maliki, it’s time for you to sa
y good-bye to your little sorority-girl fling. She won’t be with someone like you long-term. Stop wasting your time. She’s been friends with my sister since they were kids. I’ve seen the guys she dates, the ones she’s brought over for group dates in my parents’ basement. They aren’t you. You’re a rebound.”
“You need to leave,” I grit out.
She reaches out, brushing her hand over my arm, and I jerk away in disgust. Her face falls. She’s not used to being turned down.
“Come on, Maliki. We had something—good times, hot sex.”
“That was in the past. You were a fling. That’s it. I want a relationship with Molly, but you? I want nothing to do with. I’ve been nice, but you’ve played nothing but games. All I want from you is to be mature and co-parent with me.”
“Molly needs a stable home, and my grandparents are returning this weekend. There’s not enough room for the two of us there without being too cramped.” It’s as if she didn’t hear what I’d just told her.
“If you feel you can’t provide somewhere for Molly to stay, she can live with me. Only her. Not you. If you need a place to live other than your parents’, I can help you find an apartment, but you’re not moving in with me.”
“You have a guest bedroom.”
“It isn’t available for you.”
I hug Molly good-bye, knock back a shot of whiskey, and return to the bar. I’ve left Liz long enough to deal with the craziness tonight and feel like an asshole.
I immediately shoot my attention to Sierra.
She’s at the same table with her douche-bag roommate.
He holds up his shot glass and gestures to Sierra with it. “She’s coming home with me tonight, gentlemen!” he drunkenly slurs. “Be jealous!”
I charge toward the kitchen, open the door, and yell inside, “Mikey! You’re on bar duty!”
I leave without waiting for a reply. Mikey needed extra cash, so I told him he could work in the kitchen. Thank fuck I did that and can bail from this place.
“I’m out of here,” I tell Liz.
I can’t make a scene here. Can’t punch a dude in the face here.
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