Pretend I'm Yours (Pretend 1)

“What are you still doing here? I can handle this, go home,” Axel says next to me, as I clean the bar for the fifth time.

“I know you can handle it, but I want tonight to go perfectly,” I say, ignoring him as I continue to clean. I don’t add that it has been three months since I’ve seen Larkyn, and I’m losing my damn mind. I can’t think, I can’t sleep, the only time I can even pretend to function well is when I’m at work, and that’s only because there is something for me to focus on to keep my mind off things.

“Go home. You hired me to be the manager. Now let me do my job and go home. I’ve dealt with plenty of corporate events before. I can handle making sure the bar is clean.” Axel snatches the rag out of my hand.

I glare at him.

Axel looks back at me sadly, like I’m a stray puppy without a home or something.

“I’m fine. Don’t look at me that way.”

He shakes his head. “You are anything but fine.”

“Yeah, you’re an idiot,” Sebastian says, taking a seat at the bar across from me.

“Should you be in the bar after just getting finished with your treatment program?” I ask.

“Bars aren’t a trigger for me.”

I frown. “What are your triggers then?”

“Anger, resentment, feeling betrayed, losing focus, and parties. No party, no need to drink.”

“There is a party here tonight. You can’t stay.”

“I don’t plan on staying.”

I roll my eyes. “You just plan on calling me an idiot again and then leaving?’

He shrugs. “Something like that.”

Ugh, I need a drink, but I’m not drinking in front of Sebastian. He’s been sober for two months now. I

won’t be the reason he screws that up. Which is also why I’m not letting him hang out in the bar.

“Well, tell me how much of an idiot I am so that we can get on with our lives.”

Sebastian gives a smug smile to Axel, who leans against the bar to join our conversation.

“You’re an idiot because you broke up with Larkyn; filed for divorce even. You need to call her,” Sebastian says.

“No, she made her decision. She doesn’t want to be with me.”

“Just call her,” Sebastian says.

“No, that’s enough. If you just came here to talk about Larkyn, I’m done,” I say, giving Sebastian a warning glance. He may be my brother, and he may be getting his life together, but I’ve slugged him before, I’ll do it again if he pisses me off.

Sebastian nods slowly, his head bobbing several times. “Fair enough. Then, I guess I don’t have anything else to say.” He turns toward Axel. “Can you get me a club soda?”

Axel tightens his lips and then makes a club soda for Sebastian and himself. He slides the drink to Sebastian.

“Have you heard from Larkyn lately? I know she used to love this bar,” Sebastian says, staring at Axel.

“I know what you are doing, and it’s not going to work,” I say, annoyed.

“No, she hasn’t come in lately. How has she been?” Axel asks, both men ignoring me completely.

“She’s doing well. Really well, actually,” Sebastian answers.