Page 54 of Let Me Keep You

“Then I hope it works out, Katie. Honestly. Tyler’s a nice guy.”

The moment Robert and I walk into the pub, I immediately need a drink. Tyler and Katie are already in a booth with theirs. We’re only a few minutes late, but it looks like they’ve been here a while.

“Hey,” I greet when we walk up.

“Hey!” Katie stands and wraps her arms around me. “We were just talking about you.”

“Hopefully all good,” I tease, unable to look at Tyler.

“Of course. It’s always good,” Tyler says, and when I glance at him, I instantly regret it. His brown eyes are warm and inviting, and I hate that they send chills down my body.

“Pinot Noir, darlin’?” Robert grasps my shoulders and squeezes lightly.

Though Tyler isn’t watching us, I see him tighten his grip on the neck of his beer and grin at the wine Robert suggested. Wine won’t get me drunk enough to get through this night, getting sick tomorrow be damned.

“No, I’d like a Jack and Coke and four shots of vodka to get this night started!”

Robert tilts his head, and I smile. “It’s been a long week.”

“Of course, sweetheart. Be right back.” He presses a kiss to my cheek before walking off.

“Here, I’ll sit next to Tyler so you and Robert can sit together.”

Katie moves and scoots close to him. He rests his arm on the back of the booth, and she happily notices.

Those drinks need to get here stat.

Katie and Tyler continue chatting while I wait for Robert to return. They talk about high school and his time in the military. It’s not hard to eavesdrop, but as soon as Robert sits down next to me with our drinks, they stop.

“Shots!” I say, passing around the vodka.

The four of us take them, and I slam my glass on the table before grabbing my Jack and Coke.

“Whoa.” Katie chuckles. “Save room for the margaritas.”

“Oh, you know I will.” I wink.

After a while, Robert and I excuse ourselves to play a round of pool. When we first started dating, he taught me all the rules and always kicks my ass.

Tonight, I don’t care about winning. I just want to let loose.

“You’re actually getting better,” he teases.

“Or maybe you’re getting worse?”

“I highly doubt that.” He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his chest.

“You could be a gentleman and let me win once in a while.” I smile, the alcohol coursing through my veins, and cup his face. Our lips crash together roughly, but before things get too heated, he puts space between us.

“Gemma, we’re in public in a bar,” he hisses and releases me, then walks around the pool table to call his shot.

He doesn’t like PDA because it’s not ‘professional,’ but why can’t he relax for just one night? I’m his fiancée, not some random chick.

Needing a refill, I head to the bar and order two strawberry margaritas, then bring one back to Katie, who’s laughing at something Tyler said. She thanks me, then I return to Robert and grab my pool stick.

Fuck it. I’m bored and don’t care about this game and purposely sink his ball into the pocket. “Whoopsies.” I shrug, then take down a quarter of my drink, wanting it to take hold quicker.

“Good thing you excel at other things,” Robert says, then takes his turn until he clears the table. His tone isn’t harsh but rather condescending.