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Ellie nods, clearly dissatisfied with that answer, but she doesn’t argue and I lean down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Ellie.”
“Goodnight, Wade,” she murmurs, already half-asleep.
I turn off the light and quietly step out of the room, closing the door behind me. Ray is waiting in the hallway, a knowing look on his face as he hands me a dish towel.
“Thanks for helping out, as always,” he says, his voice low so as not to wake the kids. “But you know, you don’t have to stay and clean up tonight.”
I raise an eyebrow, taking the towel from him. “Trying to get rid of me?”
Ray chuckles, shaking his head. “No, just thinking maybe you should go hang out with your lady friend instead of spending the night here with us old folks.”
“You heard that, huh,” I groan and he grins.
“Yep.”
“She’s not my lady friend,” I protest, but even as I say it, I know it sounds weak. “And besides, she’s out with her friends tonight.”
“So why aren’t you out with her?” Ray counters, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re still young, Wade. Don’t waste your time worrying about what might go wrong. Take a chance and live a little.”
I open my mouth to argue, but then I close it again, realizing that maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m just making excuses, hidingbehind my work because it’s easier than facing whatever it is that’s going on between me and Auden, but the truth is, I’ve been thinking about her all day. I can’t stop thinking about her in fact, about the way she smiled at me over lunch, about the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her plans for the building.
Maybe it’s time I stopped overthinking everything and just… went for it.
I glance at the clock on the wall, seeing that it’s still early enough to catch her at the bar. If I leave now, I might be able to surprise her, maybe even convince her to let me join her and her friends for a drink.
Ray must see the decision in my eyes because he claps me on the shoulder with a grin. “Go on, then. We’ll be fine here.”
I shake my head with a smile. “Alright, you win.”
Ray laughs, giving me a gentle shove toward the stairs. “Go on, get out of here. And don’t come back until you’ve had a good time.”
I toss the dish towel on the kitchen counter and head for the door, grabbing my jacket on the way out. The night air is cool, a welcome relief after the warmth of the house, and as I climb into my truck, I feel a mix of nerves and excitement settle in my chest.
It doesn’t take long to drive into town, and before I know it, I’m pulling up in front of the Lucky Horseshoe Bar, the neon sign casting a soft glow over the parking lot. The place is already buzzing with activity, the sound of laughter and music spilling out into the parking lot as I step out of the truck and make my way inside.
The moment I walk through the door, my eyes are drawn to her. It’s like I can’t help it, like some invisible force is pulling me toward her.
Auden is standing at a small table, her back to me, talking to Lena and Arlowe. She looks amazing, her dark hair falling inloose waves over her shoulders, her smile bright and genuine as she laughs at something one of her friends says.
But then I see him.
Some guy standing way too close to her, leaning in like he’s trying to sneak a peek down her shirt. He’s got that cocky, self-assured look that I’ve always hated. The kind of guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. And when Auden spots him… well, she doesn’t look like she’s having a good time. Her smile is strained, her body language stiff as she tries to put some distance between them.
My blood starts to boil, and before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m striding across the room, pushing through the crowd with a single-minded purpose. I can’t just stand by and watch this guy make her uncomfortable. I can’t. I won’t.
It’s time for me to rescue my girl.
SEVEN
Auden
The Lucky Horseshoeis buzzing tonight, the air thick with laughter and the hum of conversation. But despite the lively atmosphere, I can feel the night winding down. The initial excitement of girls' night out is starting to fade, replaced by the weariness that comes from a long week and one too many drinks. Lena, Arlowe, and I had planned for a fun, carefree evening, but it seems like every time we turn around, some guy is trying to hit on one of us. It’s exhausting.
It’s supposed to be just us tonight, but I can already see the cracks forming in our plans for a low-key evening.
“Hey, can I buy you a drink?” Another guy sidles up to Lena, and she gives him a polite but firm smile.
“No thanks,” she says, her tone polite but final. “I’m good.”
