On The Rocks

“There’s my girl,” Hunter murmurs into my ear.

My eyes immediately go to Casey, who is watching our first display of affection in her presence, and I hold my breath for her reaction. She stares at us, and I can actually feel Hunter grin at her. Don’t ask me how I feel it… but I just do.

“Okay, this is wigging me out a little,” Casey finally says as she turns and pulls a beer out of the fridge. “I need to ease into these things, particularly with the help of one or seven beers.”

“You’re driving me home tonight,” I remind her, and I feel Hunter’s hold tense up a bit.

“No worries,” Casey reassures me with a playful smile. “I’ll refrain from getting lit up, but how about cool the cuddly shit around me?”

“Get used to it,” Hunter says, kissing my temple and releasing me. He goes to the fridge and pulls out a beer for both of us, then says, “Come on… got some people I want you to meet.”

Casey and I follow Hunter out on the back deck. I immediately see John, sitting at the outdoor table, his feet kicked up on another chair. Wyatt is standing next to Sasha, leaning against the rail, and laughing at something she said. His eyes go to us, and he tilts his chin up in acknowledgement.

Hunter turns to hand me my beer, saying, “John… Sasha… you know my sister, Casey.”

John stands up and gives Casey a hug, and I have to hide a smirk as Casey just looks at Sasha with cold eyes and says, “Hi, Sasha.”

Sasha gives her a small smile and quietly says, “Hey.”

Hunter brings his arm up around my shoulder and pulls me in close, so I’m tucked up against him. “And this is Gabby.”

John leans over and shakes my hand. “Great to meet you, Gabby.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” I tell him, and it is genuinely nice to meet him. But then a lead weight fills my stomach as I turn to Sasha. She steps forward and sticks her hand out to me. “Hi, Gabby. I’m really, really sorry about what happened at the bar last night. If I’d known Hunter’s girlfriend was there, I never would have done that.”

I take hers and give it a firm shake, and it doesn’t escape my notice that she said she wouldn’t have done that if she’d known Hunter’s girlfriend was there. Not, she wouldn’t have done that if she’d known Hunter had a girlfriend. Therefore, that implied to me that she would have definitely made a move on him if he had a girlfriend, just not in said girlfriend’s presence.

Yes, my gut instinct is preening right now.

“That’s okay,” I assure Sasha with a kind voice, although I’m feeling anything but. However, I don’t want to cause waves, and I’m secure enough with Hunter that it doesn’t really matter if she has designs on him or not. He’s not going back to that, I’m fairly positive.

“Hunter tells me you’re a general contractor,” John says in my direction.

I nod, taking a seat at the table. “Yup… for about three years now. I took over my dad’s business when he passed away.”

Casey sits down as well, while Sasha and Wyatt remain standing. Hunter walks over to the grill and starts getting it ready. I’m not sure he knows how to cook anything unless it’s something he can char over an open flame.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” John says in commiseration. “I bet your dad would be proud of you though.”

That is such a kind thing to say. I feel my heart immediately open up to John, and I give him a smile and murmur thanks.

Then I’m completely surprised when Sasha says, “I really admire what you do, Gabby. I know what it’s like to be in a male-dominated career, always struggling to prove your worth.”

I blink at her a few times in surprise, and it hits me like a ton of bricks. Sasha and I actually have something very much in common. I have to give her points for her sudden empathy, and I’m starting to think that maybe I’ve misjudged her.