“Oh.” He chuckles to himself. “This should be fun, as always. I needed some evening entertainment. Is she still mad that you took her car?”
“You’re not helping, jackass,” I grit out through a goofy smile.
Shit. Why I am smiling like a deranged idiot?
Don’t scare her off already, Sutton. Be cool.
Too late.
Kelsey walks up to the bar next to TJ. “Hey.” She leans up against the counter on her elbows.
“Hi,” I say. “What brings you in?”
What brings you in?God, help me. I’m an idiot.
TJ snorts a laugh into his wine glass, confirming my inner crisis. If we were sitting at a table instead of being separated by this counter, I’d kick him in the shin. In fact, I probably still will later.
Take a deep breath. I need to remember that she’s not here to see me. She’s just here because of the empty apartment upstairs. I need to stop acting like a giddy little kid.
She gives TJ a questioning look before turning her attention back on me. “It’s been a long day. Dinner with Monica went longer than I thought it would.”
“Alright,” I say, still lacking any ability to form a meaningful sentence.
She squints at me. “Anyway, I’m taking you up on the apartment and I’m crashing here tonight.”
“Cool.” Don’t freak out, Sutton. Don’t freak out.
“So what can I help with?”
“Help with?”
She nods slowly and I notice the corner of her mouth lift into an almost imperceptible smile. “Yeah. Remember, we talked about picking up some bartender shifts?”
Oh shit, I did say that. Not that I can remember anything because my brain has stopped functioning.
“Oh.” I let out a confused hum. “Yeah. Totally.”
I nod and point toward the office. “Just grab a bartender’s apron from the office. There should be one hanging on the back of the door. I’ll get Rich to start showing you the drink menu, but you can just hang here behind the counter and watch for a bit or start helping him clean up. There really won't be too many drinks left to be made tonight.”
She pushes off the counter and claps her hands together once. “Sounds good to me.” She turns and heads toward the office. I still can’t look away from her as she walks away. My eyes drift to take her in, starting with the way her black hair hangs over her shoulders. Then I look lower, admiring how her hips sway and how her tight jeans hug the globes of her ass perfectly.
Fuck. My cock twitches in my jeans just remembering what it felt like waking up to that ass pressed against me. Atleast now I know why my brain isn’t functioning because all the blood left it and went to my dick.
“You OK there, bud?”
I turn to TJ and see him watching me with the smuggest grin I think he’s capable of.
“No. Not really.” I answer honestly because I’m clearly freaking out.
He shakes his head, still sporting that stupid, smug grin. This is probably karma getting me back for how much shit I gave him about not admitting to himself that he was in love with Grace. I guess it’s his turn to enjoy my misery.
He points toward the office where I just sent Kelsey. “That’s the most I’ve ever heard her talk to you in the two years you’ve been here. I think she even smiled at you. Is that story less complicated?”
I glare back at him. “You’re really not helping.”
I wad up the dish towel in my hand to throw at him when Kelsey’s voice makes me forget that TJ even exists.
“Alright. Where do you want me?”