Alarm

He was sitting with two other guys in one of the booths against the wall. The one next to Brick Wall had light brown hair sticking out of a stocking cap and wore a black T-shirt with some band logo on it. The man sitting across from them looked to be wearing a blazer of some kind. He was definitely better dressed than the other two, but I couldn’t see him very well with the back of the booth blocking my view. There was far too much noise for me to hear their conversation, but Brick Wall definitely didn’t look happy about whatever the guy across from him was saying.

Abruptly, Brick Wall stood up and lurched toward the guy in the blazer. The guy in the cap rose to his feet and grabbed Brick Wall’s arm tightly, as if he could have held him back. Brick Wall had to have at least six inches on the guy and probably fifty pounds as well. However, he stilled his movements, curled his upper lip slightly, and then sat back down. His chest rose and fell with a deep breath as he looked away from his companions…

…and right into my eyes.

I jerked my head back around to my drink quickly as I felt my face warm, embarrassed to have been caught eavesdropping. Well, not exactly eavesdropping, but close enough. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I wondered if he was still looking at me. I wasn’t about to turn around and find out. I was still horrified that I had been caught staring at the same guy I had rammed into a few minutes before.

“Clo?”

“Hmm?” I glanced back at Mare’s face as she raised her eyebrows.

“A little lost in thought there?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“I was asking if you were busy Tuesday after work.” She

leaned an elbow on the table. “We could hit a couple florists then.”

“Sure,” I replied.

The server returned, and I asked for a glass of water.

“I need to get moving if I’m going to make it to Mom’s in the morning,” Mare said as she handed her credit card to the server. She turned to Nate. “I assume you need a ride.”

“I sure as hell ain’t driving,” Nate responded. “I just hope you aren’t planning on taking advantage of my drunken state.”

Mare chuckled.

“You good, Clo?”

“I’m going to drink my water,” I told her. “I’ll be fine in a bit.”

“You sure? I can take you now.”

“No, I’m good.” I waved my hand around dismissively. “I need to hit the grocery store tomorrow, and I don’t want you to have to bring me back to my car. I’ll just hang a bit.”

“You’ve had a lot,” Mare stated. “Be careful and call a cab if you have to.”

“I will.”

Mare and Nate walked out, arm in arm. I finished the water but still wasn’t in great shape, so I asked for another one when the server brought over my bill. I didn’t even look at how many drinks were on it, just handed him my card.

As I sat at the now empty table, I felt life crashing all around me. It was probably just the alcohol talking, but it seemed like everyone around me had things to do and people to be with, while I sat on my own. I missed my dad and our long conversations. When Mom moved so soon after his death, it seemed as if I had lost her, too.

I felt tears in the corner of my eyes.

Oh, hell no. I was not going to be the crying drunk girl at the bar. I needed to get myself outside for some fresh air.

I stood abruptly and pushed back my stool, striking the person walking behind me.

“Damn, girl!”

I spun around to see whom I had hit, got my foot caught on the bottom of the leg of the stool, and fell forward—into Brick Wall’s arms.

Again.

He lifted me into the air with no effort whatsoever and placed me on my feet. My shirt had ridden up in the process, and when he placed his hands on my sides to hold me steady, they ended up on my skin just above my jeans. He laughed.