You Rock My World (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake 3)

“Isn’t that what bartenders are for?”

“Some people aren’t meant to be together. No matter how much you want it. Lovers. Families. Friends. Just people in general. The hard part is figuring that shit out before you get hurt or worse.”

“What’s worse than that?”

She held his gaze steadily. “Before you hurt them.”

“How do I do that?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Honey grabbed up a cloth from the bar. She turned away but paused, looking at him over her shoulder. “Good luck.”

Travis sighed and tossed back the second scotch. It burned going down, and he wiped his mouth before setting the tumbler back onto the bar. He eyed the bottle of Glen Fiddich but turned away. Booze didn’t help any situation. That was something he’d learned a long time ago.

Feeling more disjointed and out of sync than ever, he leaned against the bar, listening to the buzz of voices around him. A quick look told him Ruby was no longer with Chance. He had a hard time calling him boyfriend. He needed to find her. Needed to say some things. And now was as good a time as any.

Travis put on his game face and decided to follow Coach Zach’s advice.

He would try harder.

Chapter 8

Ruby was livid. And upset. And a whole bunch of things she couldn’t even name.

She blew out a long, hot breath and gripped the edge of the railing. She needed to get it together, because no way could she lose it here. The old Ruby wouldn’t have cared. She would have caused a scene and said to hell with the consequence. But the new, improved version? She thought before she acted, especially when her first thought was to strangle someone.

She didn’t have time to go to jail.

She was outside on the patio that overlooked the award-winning golf course, but she didn’t see any of the beauty. She was too damn mad to see anything. Ugh. Sweat pooled between her breasts, and her clothes clung to her body. It was still hot and muggy, even though the dinner hour was well underway, and she swatted at a fly that got too close. The voices inside, a dull buzz out here, should have soothed her mind, but not tonight.

The charity golf tournament had been a huge success, with hundreds, if not a couple of thousand, willing to pay to watch a bunch of celebrities hit the links. The silent auction had run throughout the day, with the live auction still to go. The recipient of the funds raised was to be announced just before the live auction—a tradition for the now yearly event. However, Chance had told her just a few minutes earlier where the money was going.

Green Thumbs for the Soul. It was cause near and dear to her heart, and she was pissed right off that Chance had ruined what should have been an absolute thrill.

Chance. Her teeth ground together so hard, her jaw ached. She tried to relax, but it was no use. Her cellphone rang, and she pulled it from the front pocket of her shorts. It was Sidney. Ruby wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment, but she knew her girlfriend would keep calling, or worse…come and find her.

“Hey,” Ruby answered, trying hard to keep her voice neutral.

“Where are you? Dinner has started.”

“I’m on my way. I just had something to take care of.”

A pause.

“You sound weird.”

Ruby could picture the wheels turning inside her friend’s brain. “I’m good.”

“Good at lying.”

“Sid…I just need a moment.”

“Hey,” Sidney’s voice softened. “Travis isn’t at our table so you don’t have to worry about, you know, having to see him.”

At least that was something.

“Though he seemed sort of nice today. I mean…” Sidney stumbled over her words. “He kind of surprised me.”

“I don’t want to talk about Travis. I don’t…” She swore and blinked rapidly as tears threatened.