The guy had always been there for me, helping me, not judging me. That was why. It had absolutelynothingto do with liking him.
Because I didn’t like him.
At least that was what I told myself.
I followed Bill out the front doors of the bar and a wall of humid, sticky air slapped me across the face with its wet, clammy hand. Instantly my throat went dry and an invisible collar tightened.
There’d been a time the collar was real, and the cinching even more real. I ran my hands through my hair, wishing I hadn’t had it cut and layered. A long ponytail right now would work well to get it off my neck.
I patted my back pocket hoping I had a band in there to pull some of it off my neck, not that it stayed back with how short it was now.
Had to keep the appearance changing, though. Thought about doing a pink streak through it like Gabriella had a few months ago. That was cool.
“Here’s how it’s going to go.”
“Uh-oh.” I’d heard him say that before, and the outcome usually wasn’t so great.
“You’re done drinking here.”
“Bill!” I yanked open the car door and flopped onto the seat. It instantly stuck to the backs of my legs. Wearing a micro miniskirt wasn’t working out for me right now. Then again, I’d planned on hooking up with someone, not going off to the hospital after Drey.
“I mean it. If you want to keep drinking like a fish, that’s fine. But you do it at another bar.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I can if you wanna keep your job, Sarah. I can’t have you falling down drunk here, even on your off days, because it messes with your credibility as a waitress.”
He wasn’t wrong. He’d owned The Rage for a while now and it did well. Bill was a tough but very fair boss. And he was fiercely loyal to his employees.
The SUV surged forward. Bill’s knuckles blanched as he gripped the steering wheel.
“Is Drey okay?” I suddenly got a really bad feeling.
“Don’t know.” His voice was flat.Shit.
“Drive faster,” I said, suddenly more sober than five seconds earlier. Drey couldn’t be hurt.
I knew I could never have Drey, hell, I could never have anything serious with anyone for a few reasons. First, Nicco could stroll in here at any time and shatter my world. Anyone attached to me would be taken down, too, considering what a colossal prick that guy was.
Second, who thehellwould want me if they knew the real me.
No. It was much easier to get drunk every night and get lost in guys for a few hours. No commitment. No nothing. Just a quick fix.
And I couldn’t do that to Drey.
Never to Drey. He was a solid guy, like Hunter.
Maybe that was why I wanted him.
No. I don’t want him!
“No more drinking at the club. You hear me?”
“Or what?”
He looked at me much longer than he should have, since he was driving. “Test me on this and find out.”
Promise laced every word with a harsh, yet concerned tone.