She bowed, placed the guitar back against the wall and crossed the stage.
“Let’s go, Renata,” Scarlett said. “Tandy sang your song. Now let’s get you home.”
“The boys just got here,” Renata argued.
“Renata.” Scarlett’s whisper wasn’t soft enough to miss. “Tandy’s barely keeping it together.”
Click’s gaze searched out Tandy then. Because of him?
“Oops.” Renata pushed off the bar then tipped forward.
Click caught her, swinging her up in his arms. “Gotcha.”
Renata blinked. “Course you do.” She frowned. “I’m not sure what you did to Tandy, Click Hale, but I’m mad at you.”
Click nodded.
But Renata wasn’t done. “How’re we all supposed to grow old together? With you two hating each other.”
Her words gutted him. Hate? Tandy hated him?
“Don’t you know how special she is?” Renata asked, her voice rising.
He nodded again. He knew. Damn he knew. He woke up every morning knowing—regretting.
“Renata! Stop talking,” Scarlett said, horrified. “Maybe you should let Brody carry her?”
“I can walk,” Renata argued.
“Didn’t work too well last time you tried,” Click said. “Stay put. I’ll get you to the truck.”
“This way,” Scarlett said, leading him from the bar. “Brody, can you send Tandy out? Let her know what’s...up.”
Click followed, doing his best to act like Renata hadn’t wounded him. Not that Renata meant any harm. She was drunk, not thinking clearly. Still, there was a ring of truth to her words.
“I got the door.” Scarlett held the truck door wide, stepping aside so he could deposit Renata on the back seat of the four-door truck.
As soon as he’d put her in the truck, Renata listed to the side, resting her head on a pile of suitcases.
He paused, stunned by the appearance of Banshee. He was in the truck bed, staring down at him, tail thumping. Click had given Tandy the dog when he was a puppy—their first baby she’d said. “Hey, Banshee,” he said, holding his hand out. “Grew into those paws, I see.”
Banshee groaned, leaning into Click’s strong rubdown.
Scarlett slammed the door and stared up at him. “Click, don’t listen to her. I’ve never seen her this drunk. She’ll feel terrible, hurting you.”
“I’m fine,” he assured her, giving Banshee’s head and neck a good rub.
“No, you’re not.” Scarlett shook her head. “I’m not going to chastise you but... I don’t know what happened between you and Tandy either. Drunk or not, I agree with Renata on this. Neither one of you is okay, and it makes my heart hurt—for both of you.”
Click shook his head, searching for the right thing to say. “It’ll get easier in time.” Every day he woke up hoping that would be the case.
Scarlett squeezed his upper arm. “Glad you’re back. Planning on staying for a while? Can I drop by and visit you and your new family?”
“Pearl and I would like that, Scarlett.” He grinned, giving Banshee a final pat. “Not sure what’s next, but you can stop by anytime.” He headed back to the bar. The same time Tandy was headed out.
When she saw him, she paused—her posture going rigid and stiff.
Dammit. He kept on going, his heart picking up with every step he took. He’d made a mistake tonight, coming here. He wouldn’t do it again. Should he tell her as much? Let her know he’d do his best to stay out of her way? Because seeing the effect he had on her dragged up all the self-loathing and shame he couldn’t face right now. One good thing about being Pearl’s father—it forced him to keep his shit together.