“I’ll take a beer.” Nick spoke up, as he draped his arm around the back of Sam’s stool. “Actually, Cara, I came by to talk to Rudy about the apartment upstairs.”
Sam groaned, and pried his fingers from the back of her stool, shooing him away like he was a fly. Cara found comfort that she was just as miserable as she; after all, this was all Sam’s fault. Yep, that was her story and she was sticking with it.
She lifted down the tap, and watched the mug fill up. Once the froth threatened to spill over she lifted the tap. “Rudy won’t be in for another hour, mind sticking around?”
Sam shot her a look, that if looks could kill, Cara would surely be six feet under with daisies sprouting over her grave. Cara feeling the effects of her two shots took a chance and glanced at Jake. “What about you?”
“What about me?” He bit back.
“Do you want a drink?” She asked, not liking the attitude he was giving her. “Or did you just come to hold Nick’s hand.”
Nick cleared his throat, obviously trying to break the tension between them. “I can hang around for a bit. Jake, do a shot with me.”
Jake nodded curtly and took a seat. “Hope we’re not ruining your night.” He looked over at his sister and Cara was never so happy to have those blue eyes off of hers. She poured their shots and watched them disappear down their throats.
“Actually, you are. Cara and I were having a private conversation before you parked your ass in the middle of it, and brought him along for the ride.” She said, pointing towards Nick.
“I’m going to get a big head with all the flattery you’re throwing my way, sweetheart.” Nick said sarcastically and chugged his beer.
“Don’t call me that.” She spat.
Nick rolled his eyes and nudged Jake with his elbow. “Why don’t we play a game of pool? I don’t think I can take all the love and affection your sister is spewing.”
Jake gave Cara a long, lingering look, before nodding towards Nick. “Yeah, let’s do that.”
Sam waved goodbye as they stood and sauntered over to the pool table. Cara watched Jake walk away from her, like she was the devils spawn.
“Who the hell does he think he is?”
“I know right! He thinks I’m still in love with his ass and he can just play with me.” Sam said as she slapped her hand on the bar, outraged. Cara looked at her confused, and then realized she thought she had been referring to Nick.
“I was referring to your brother.” She said as she poured herself a beer. Apparently she was getting sloshed at work.
Sam’s eyebrows furrowed. “Oh, well, I guess he was being a jackass too.”
“You know what you’re right. I need to have some fun and I am going to do just that.”
Cara looked over at her fellow bartender. “Tom, I’m taking my break.” Not waiting for him to reply, she lifted the arm of the bar and stepped out from behind it. Sam swirled around in her bar stool.
“Cara? Where are you going?”
“See that group of guys playing darts? I’m going to go play nice with them. Are you coming?” She said as she threw her hair over one shoulder and started for the dartboard.
Sam hurried off the bar stool and followed her. “Wait for me!”
Jake watched Cara walk over towards the guys that were surrounding the dartboard. He didn’t know what the hell she was up too, but he didn’t like it. She never mixed with the crowd here; claiming she didn’t want any complications at work. Yet there she was grinning like a banshee and fluttering her eyelashes at a group of men, that he knew were regulars. He was going to kill his sister, pinning her as the culprit behind Cara’s sudden flirting.
Cara was a decent dart player too, knowing she had the upper hand, only made his blood boil more. He watched as she drew her arm back, aiming at the board, her shirt lifted revealing her taut stomach. If she lifted her arm any higher, the swell of her breast would be on display. The breasts he held in his palms yesterday, and dreamed of all night. What a joke this had become. He copped one feel and now he was so fucked. She released the dart and it flew through the air, pinning the center, which he was pretty sure she envisioned as his head.
Nick cleared his throat, startling Jake out of his angered trance. “Man, you’ve been chalking that stick for five minutes. There’s nothing left but a pile of dust on your boot.”
Jake tore his gaze from Cara as she high fived Sam and glanced down at his chalk covered boot. He shook his foot, letting the dust fly off and scowled at Nick.
“Is that why you’re always here?” Nick asked. “Afraid someone is going to scoop her up?” He motioned towards Cara and Sam. Cara was talking to one specific guy from the group now.
He knew he must’ve looked completely unhinged to Nick. He barely took his eyes off of her to make his shot. “No, I’m here, because it’s where I want to be.”
Nick nodded, accepting the answer.