I started to take a step, but stopped.
Keith laughed. “Are you that shocked to see me, baby?” he asked.
He took me into his arms and spun me around. When he set me down, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me gently. I wanted to feel that familiar feeling building in my belly when he touched me, but there was nothing.
When he pulled his lips from mine, he whispered, “I’ve missed you so much, baby.”
My eyes teared up as he smiled and pulled me to him. I couldn’t help but look at Walker. He just stared. Courtney placed her hand on his arm and said something to him as he nodded. He turned and walked toward the back of his house. I couldn’t help crying.
Keith held me closer and said, “It’s okay, baby, I’m here now.”
MY FATHER SAT down at the bar stool next to me as I downed my beer. I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.
“Hey,” my dad said, nudging my shoulder with his.
I didn’t bother looking at him as I set my empty bottle down. “Hey,” I muttered.
“I thought I might find you here,” my father said, waving the bartender down and ordering a Bud Light.
I laughed, irritated. “What made you think I’d be at Joe’s Bar, dad?” I asked.
The bartender set his beer down and turned to me. “Want another one, handsome?”
I winked at her. “Why the hell not? I have nowhere else I need to be.”
She licked her top lip. “I’m off in an hour. I bet I can find somewhere to go.”
I laughed and nodded. “I think I like the sound of that plan.”
“Excuse me? Want to go grab that beer now?” my father asked her.
She winked at me, turned, and headed to get my beer.
My father cleared his throat and said, “I knew you’d be here because it’s like looking in a damn mirror. I’ve been right where you are, son. Believe me—drinking doesn’t really make the pain go away.”
The bartender set the beer down, accompanied by a piece of paper with her name and number on it. I gave her a sexy smile.
I took a swig of beer and turned to my father. “Well, if beer doesn’t make it go away, maybe fucking a hot bartender will.”
My father glared at me. “You’re an asshole when you drink, Walker.”
I went to say something but his stare was intense. I knew I wasn’t drunk enough to get away with insulting my own father.
“Have you talked to Liza?”
I laughed and took another swig of beer. “Nope. If you hadn’t noticed, her fiancé is in town, and they seemed anxious to get reacquainted.”
My father lifted his beer and took a drink. “I think you should call her.”
I closed my eyes. “Why, Dad? So she can reject me again? Tell me how she’s starting a new life with Keith. Maybe she wants to tell me all about packing up and moving away from everyone who cares about her. Moving away from her dreams. From…”
“Say it, Walker.”
I shook my head. “Doesn’t fucking matter anymore.”
My father grabbed my arm and turned me toward him. “Say.
It.”