One
Ivy
“I’ll take a whiskey. Neat.”
“You got it!” the bartender shouts over the music.
My eyes scan over the crowd of people packed into Whiskey Barrel Saloon, searching for any sign of my friend. She promised to meet me here after she got off work.
I rolled into town less than an hour ago. The moment I saw the “Welcome to Carolina Beach” sign passing into the city limits, I contemplated pulling over on the side of the road and turning the car around, convincing myself there had to be another way out of this.
Returning home for the summer had been last on my list of options, but in the end, it was for the best. My scholarship covered the first two years and it had been rough balancing a job with a full class load last year.
My mom raised me as a single parent since I was five when my dad took off out of town. He never even bothered to look back. She’s done her part in raising me, and I hated the thought of relying on her. All I needed was a place to stay for the summer. I’d work, save up the money, and get my ass back to Chapel Hill to finish my last year as a Tarheel.
When I saw the band A Rebels Havoc printed across the flyer on the door, the deal was sealed. I knew this was a huge mistake.
“Here ya go.” Placing a napkin on the counter, the bartender set the glass down in front of me.
So, here I was, back home for the summer, waiting for Kyla to show up. Once I saw the flyer, I immediately knew why she asked to meet here tonight. I can’t blame her for not telling me sooner. If I knew A Rebels Havoc was going to be playing, I would’ve come up with an excuse as to why I couldn’t make it.
I spot Kyla’s brother, Madden, duck through the door, causing a knot of unease to coil tighter in the pit of my stomach. Not at all because of Madden.
It had everything to do with the guy walking through the door behind him.
Some things never change.
If only there were an eject button, some way to get me the hell out of here undetected.
Brix was dressed in all black, from the baseball cap on his head to the t-shirt fitting him like it was tailor-made for him, to the black denim jeans molding to his body in all the right ways. Even from here, I can spot the thin, silver chain hanging around his neck. My eyes roam over the dark ink covering his left arm while he makes conversation with the bouncer, his dark eyes searching over the crowd.
“There you are!” Kyla yells, as I glance over my shoulder.
She’s gorgeous, her lavender-colored hair styled in curls pulled away from her face with a black choker wrapped around her neck. Her lips are painted a fire-engine red, and I’m starting to feel like I underdressed in my denim shorts, black tank top, and black espadrille sandals.
“Hey, girl.” I smile at my friend, wrapping my arm around her for a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” She bounces on her feet, clapping her hands. As much as I’m happy to see her, I wish I could say the same for myself.
“I didn’t know your brother would be playing tonight.”
Maybe it’s the forced smile on my face or the sudden realization of the tidbit of information she forgot to share with me about tonight, her head turns away from me, eyes searching through the crowd. Mine follow along with hers until we both spot the guys near the front of the bar by the stage.
“If you don’t want to stay to watch them, I understand.”
“It’s fine.”
I’m not going to let him push me out of here.He’s gotten away with embarrassing me and making me uncomfortable, to the point I’d take off running.
I’ll be fuckin’ damned if I let that shit slide again.
“Let’s go find a table,” she suggests while pointing her thumb over the wall wrapped around the side of the bar lined with booths.The name, Whiskey Barrel, fits the rustic feel. It’s all weathered wood and iron beams.
Swiping my drink off the bar, I motion with the glass for her to lead the way. We find an empty booth near the front, which happens to also be close to the stage.
“Hey,” Madden says, approaching us. “I had no idea you were going to be here tonight.”
Madden’s eyes bounce between his sister over to me. His narrow, trying to place me.