I saw Travis walking back to the east bar, his eyes targeting Ethan.
“I don’t think I’ll have to,” I said.
Travis nearly stood in between them, and after a short exchange, Ethan was walking away with his tail tucked between his legs and Travis and the Freshman were on their way out, both seemingly on the verge of war.
Raegan smirked. “I think Travis Maddox has met his match.”
“I think you’re right,” I said.
A full hour from last call, and I was already ahead in tips for the night. Raegan was in a good mood, despite Kody walking by every so often and stopping just long enough for her to tell him she couldn’t talk.
I looked over to see Trenton take his cover charge change from Tuffy, and I gave him a nod and a smile. With the Maddox swagger no one could miss, he strolled over to the east bar and sat directly in front of me.
“Whiskey?” I asked.
“Water.”
“Water?” I asked, in disbelief.
“I told you. I’m trying to save money.”
“Water it is,” I said.
Trenton took a sip, and then sat the glass down, looking around. “I saw Travis yelling at some chick in the parking lot.”
“Oh? How did that turn out?”
“She yelled back. I don’t know who she is, but I kind of like her.”
“Me, too.”
Trenton stared at the ice floating in his glass. “It’s kind of weird. Watching him try to settle down.”
“You think that’s what he’s doing?”
“He’s talked to you about her, hasn’t he?”
I nodded.
“There you go.”
I watched him for a while. Something was off with him, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. “Anything you want to talk about?”
He pondered that for a moment. “Nah. There’s no point.” He took another sip of water. He glanced behind him and noticed someone standing at the pool tables. “I’m going to head over.”
“Okay,” I said. I shouldn’t have been disappointed that he didn’t seem all that interested in talking to me. Just a few weeks before, he’d come to the Red for drinks, to hang out with his brothers, or to find a piece of ass. But as he crossed the dance floor and picked up a pool stick, his arms flexing as he polished the tip with the cue, a weird feeling came over me.
“What’s up with him?” Raegan asked.
“I don’t know. Glad it’s not just me that noticed.”
“What’s up with you? You had a look on your face when he walked away. Did he say something?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“I’m your best friend. I probably already know.”
“It’s hard to explain . . . I . . . just got this bizarre, sad feeling. Like Trent and I aren’t friends anymore.”
“Maybe it’s because you know that he finally believes you’re just friends.”
“Maybe. I mean no,” I said, backpedaling.
“I knew it, bitch. I don’t even know why you try.” She stood behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder.
We both watched as a couple of girls who had just arrived walked over to the west wall and hovered around Trenton’s pool table. The pair were obviously familiar with bleach in a box, but as much as I hated to admit it, they were both stunningly beautiful. Within twenty minutes, a third girl joined them. It wasn’t long before she had Trenton’s full attention, and he had her backed against the pool table. She was twirling one strand of her long, brown hair around her finger, laughing as if Trenton were the funniest person she’d ever met. Her cackling could be heard over the music.
“Christ on a cracker, I’m ready to go home,” Raegan said, turning to touch her temple to my shoulder.
“Me, too,” I said, watching Trenton lean closer to the girl’s face.
Even across the room, I could see she had supermodel lips and bedroom eyes. He was looking down at her, smiling. It was kind of revolting how close they were. I’d never seen her before, so she had probably come over from Southwestern State. It was likely that Trenton had never met her either, and less than half an hour later, they were inches apart.
Trenton put his hands on the pool table, and her ass was nestled tightly in between them. She leaned up to his ear and whispered.
Five minutes before last call, a rowdy crowd walked in and came to the east bar calling drinks, even though most of them had already had more than a few. As I began to get back into busy mode, I caught a glimpse of Trenton leading the girl outside by the hand. I instantly felt sick to my stomach.
“You okay?” Raegan called to me, popping the top off several beers at the same time.
“Fine,” I said. I wasn’t sure if she could hear me, but it didn’t matter. She knew the truth.
CHAPTER TEN
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR STARTLED ME AWAKE. ANOTHER SET of knocks made me fully awake. Then the pounding began. I crawled out of bed, cringing when the bright, early morning sun struck my face the second I walked into the hall.
I stumbled across the living room and opened the door.
“What in the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“She slept in hew clowes,” Olive said in her sweet, tiny voice.
I looked down, shielding the sun from my eyes with my hands. “Oh, hi, Olive. Sorry, I didn’t see you down there,” I said, unable to stop frowning, even for her.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Twent says I’m showt.”
“We brought you breakfast,” Trenton said, holding up a white sack.
“I don’t eat breakfast.”
“Yes, you do. Raisin cinnamon bagels with butter. Kody told me.”
The two lines that were already formed between my eyebrows grew deeper. I glared at Trenton, and then looked down to Olive. My expression softened, and I sighed. “I love her,” I said to no one in particular. “Olive, you know I love you, but I’m going back to bed.” I looked at Trenton, and narrowed my eyes. “It’s not going to work this time. Take her home.”
“I can’t. Her parents are out all day.”
“Then take her to your home.”
“My dad’s got a cold. You don’t want her to get a cold, do you?”
“You know what I hate?” I asked.
Trenton had desperation in his eyes. “Me. I know. I just . . . I’m a selfish, insecure idiot.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m a sorry selfish, insecure idiot with a little girl outside in the cold.”
It was my turn to sigh. I waved for Olive to come in. She happily complied, sitting on the couch. She immediately found the remote and flipped on the television, turning to Saturday morning cartoons.
Trenton took a step and I held out my hand. “Not you.”
“What?”
“You don’t get to come in.”
“But . . . I’m watching Olive.”
“You can watch her from the window.”
Trenton crossed his arms across his chest. “You think I won’t?”
“No, I know you will.” I grabbed the white sack from his hand, and then slammed the door in his face, locking the door. I tossed Olive the sack. “You like bagels, kiddo?”
“Yep!” she said, opening the sack. “Aw you weally going to make Twent stand outside?”
“Yes, I am,” I said, walking back to my room, and falling into my bed.
“Cami!” Raegan said, shaking me. I looked at the clock. It had been almost two hours since Trenton had knocked on my door. “That little girl is watching cartoons in our living room!” she whispered, clearly uneasy.
“I know.”
“How did she get there?”
“Trent brought her.”
“Where’s Trent?”
“Outside, I think,” I said, yawning.
Raegan stomped out to the living room, and then back to my room. “He’s sitting on the ground outside our window, playing Flappy Bird on his cell phone.”
I nodded.
“It’s thirty-three degrees outside.”
“Good,” I said, sitting up. “I wish it were sleeting.”
Raegan’s face screwed into disgust. “He waved at me like it was the most normal thing in the world. What the hell is going on?”
“He brought Olive over. His dad has a cold, so he couldn’t bring her home, and her parents are somewhere else all day.”