"Oh, hell," Dave utters, sitting at my side and trying his best to stay quiet. So far, he's been successful, but losing his patience he advises, "Woman, callin' Ryleigh Davis any kind of name will get your ass beat red."
"Cam." I turn in my chair to see her still standing behind me, even though I've dismissed her at least four times since she arrived. "Shut your shit down."
"Right," she says. "Shut my shit down. You weren't saying that when—"
Obviously Dave knows where this is going, and fast, so he chimes in again with, "Cam, before making a fool of yourself, why don't you head left and keep walking." He points to the door and she's dense enough to look.
Christ, was she always this shallow and stupid?
"You'll regret this," she spouts, grabbing her purse from the bar.
I don't react or play into her tantrum, but Dave's like a dog with a bone and using this as entertainment. "Thinkin' he already regrets it, sweet cheeks. Now get gone."
"Holy hell, what'd I miss?" the red-haired bartender, Jessie, questions as she props her tall, lean body in front of Dave.
"Yeah, me too. What’d I miss?" a familiar female voice behind me inquires. "'Cause if you're talking about your friend, Cam, I think her name was, leaving in such a hurry, there's not a lot to talk about."
At the same time, Dave and I turn on our barstools and watch as a smiling Ryleigh bounces in and slams her purse beside me on the bar.
"Well?" she prods. "Where's she off to?"
Dave speaks first. "Your boy here gave Cam the heave-ho."
"He so did and it was awesome!" Jessie puts in next.
Finally, in order to settle the crowd, I add, "It wasn't that dramatic."
"Sounds like it." Ryleigh smiles. "I'm sorry I missed it."
"What are you doin' here?" I'm guessing by the red streaks beneath her eyes that my brother has at the very least disappointed her. I can't think to what degree without letting on I'm pissed, so I ask, "You want a beer?"
"No," she replies quickly, but looks around me and Dave to Jessie. "Can I get a shot?"
Jessie's eyebrows lift and she smiles. "Absolutely. What'll ya have?"
"Um." Ryleigh hesitates, seemingly not having a clue what she's asked for. "I'm not sure?"
Dave busts out in a laugh and he doesn't hide it, but then offers, "Grab her a shot of tequila." He throws down a twenty-dollar bill, before telling Jesse, "And it's on me."
"Thank you," Ry tells him, pulling out the stool and getting comfortable in the chair next to mine. Her arm brushes my elbow and when I turn to look at her, she's still grinning.
"So, where'd Cammypants run off to in such a hurry?" she questions, giving Cam a nickname I love but she'd hate.
"God knows," Dave utters, sucking back the last of his beer. "Good riddance, though."
After Jessie's brought the shot, and Ryleigh's sucked it down without waiting for us to explain the need for salt and lime, Dave slaps the back of my shoulder. "I gotta run." Bending slightly so only I can hear him speak, he finishes, "Don't do anything stupid."
Pulling back and sending him a hard glare, I snap, "What the hell?"
Dave smiles and it's not one I trust. "And by stupid, I mean don't mess this up."
"Bye, Dave," Ryleigh says to him. She must've heard what he said because now she's grinning like a one-shot-is-too-much fool.
"Later, Ryleigh."
"I've always liked him," she states as he walks away. Lifting her hand to get Jessie's attention she asks, "Can I have another one of those?"
"Wait." I raise my finger to stop Jess from starting the shot. Turning in my seat, I ask, "You know what you're doin', Ry?"
Shaking her head, she admits, "Nope. But I feel better than I did when I walked in here, so I'm thinking I could use another."
Shaking my own head with exasperation, I look to Jess. "One more, then she's done."
"What?" Ryleigh cries. "You can't cut me off!"
"Not my intention. Finish your shot. We're leavin'."
Her face scrunches. "What? Why?"
"I brought the truck. Cam's gone. The bar's dead. We'll pick up some beer and take a drive."
Her eyebrows wiggle in jest. "Can I drive?"
Still and forever the answer is, "No. Now can we go?"
"Cancel the shot," she tells Jess, pushing the lime and salt away. "Let's go."
Chapter Seven
RYLEIGH
"You're ridiculous," I accuse before I laugh aloud, listening to Chase reenact his version of me as a kid following him around the fields. "I didn't talk to all the animals like that. Maybe just the pretty ones."
As he comes off his own chuckle, his hand grabs then shakes my wrist. The playful banter has been fun.
"You did, Ry. Those poor horses had no choice but to listen to you explaining to them where they came from." Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he continues, "And Jesus Christ, neither did I."