Chapter Thirty-Four
When we got to the bar, it was almost eight. Most everyone was there, except the happy couple. We all settled in the back room and waited for the message that they had arrived. Marty, my bartender, was watching the door. Once they arrived, he would send a text so we could all get prepared to surprise Leann.
I watched Kori and Maria talk in the corner. Kori had a worried look on her face. I wanted her to let it go. If Maria didn’t care that Gavin was using her, then Kori just needed to stop with the whole damn thing. I knew she loved Maria, but damn, enough was enough. I wanted a good night out with her, not a night of drama.
They’re here
My phone vibrated against my leg, and I warned everyone that Ben and Leann just walked in. I stepped up behind Kori and held her against my front. “Let it go, baby. Please stop trying to fix it,” I whispered in her ear, and she squeezed my hand that rested over her stomach.
Everyone yelled surprise followed by congratulations to the happy couple as they entered the room. Leann cried, because that was the kind of girl she was.
I watched as everyone laughed and mingled. It was nice to see everyone having fun. The girls all went off to dance, while the guys chose to gather by the bar.
Ben pulled up the bar stool next to me and leaned back against the counter. We were both looking out at the girls, keeping them in our sights.
“When you gonna take the plunge?” Ben asked, and I looked over at him with confusion. “Come on, don’t act stupid. You know what I’m talking about.”
I shrugged and chuckled. “Actually, I think you’ve had one too many beers. I have no damn clue what you’re talking about.”
He held his hand up signaling Marty for two more beers. Then turned to me and grinned. “I’m talking about asking Kori to marry you.”
I choked a little on the beer I had tipped up against my lips. After I cleared my throat and was able to gain my composure, I chuckled. “Do you want me to freak her out? I just asked her to move in with me. If I asked her to marry me, she would think I was nuts, damn. I would marry her in a second, but I’m not sure she’s ready for that yet.”
He only shook his head and laughed. “You have no idea what she wants. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. The way you look at her. You two have got one hell of a connection, it’s like sometimes you’re the same person. Something like what you two share is hard to find.” Marty set our beers down in front of us, and I looked back over at my best friend. He was buzzing, but he was being honest and sincere. “I know when she came back here she was heartbroken. It took time for her to forgive you for what happened. Over that time, though, you two reconnected in a way you were never connected before. She’ll always have that spot in her heart for Rhett’s dad, but you’re hers forever.”
I took in his words and rolled them around over and over. I was supportive of the fact that Blake needed to be remembered. I knew how important it was to have his memory live on, for Rhett’s sake. “I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m a little jealous. I wonder all the time if I will ever have the love he had from her. Will I ever be enough, or am I destined to always come in second to his memory?” I let out a deep breath before continuing. “Then I just feel like an ass for being jealous of his memory. Who the fuck gets jealous over shit like that?”
Ben place his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Reed. You love her, you always have. Yeah, you messed up, and she found love somewhere else. That would be hard to swallow for any man. You have the future with her that he hoped for, so treasure it, don’t question it. Be the man he would want for her. Take care of her better than anyone else could. You got a second chance at happiness. Live it, man, to its fullest.”
Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to find Kim smiling at me. I groaned out in aggravation. “What?”
She turned just slightly and pointed toward the dance floor. “Looks like the woman of your dreams may have other things on her mind.” She smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, pushing her breasts up a little higher.
I looked over her shoulder and found a tall, dark haired guy with his hand on Kori’s shoulder. He slid it down her arm and gripped her hand in his. I saw her shake her head no as he tugged her in his direction.
“It appears to me that someone needs to learn his place.” Ben growled from the stool next to me.
I stood up from my stool and placed my beer on the bar. “Yeah, real fucking quickly.” I stalked off in the direction of the douchebag who had his hands on my girl. As I got closer, I could hear what was going on.
“Come on gorgeous, just one dance.” The guy was begging, and Kori continued to tell him no. The fact that he was still tugging on her hand got my blood boiling.
Leann looked over and saw me approaching. Her eyes grew big as a small smile spread out over her lips.
“I believe the lady gave you an answer.” I growled from behind the man, causing him to turn in my direction.
He grinned, full of arrogance. “I’m pretty sure this conversation is between her and me.” That only made me laugh. I felt Ben approach my side and turned to watch him cross his arms over his chest.
Leaning in just a little further, getting nose to nose, I gave him a silent warning with my eyes, squaring my shoulders as he did the same. “Anything involving her, involves me. When you mess with what’s mine, I will handle it.”
The guy laughed and looked over his shoulder back at Kori. “Yours, huh? Why is it she never mentioned a husband?”
That comment made my stomach tighten. No, she wasn’t my wife, but I hoped one day she would be. She was my world, though, and this guy was fucking with her. I never corrected him. Instead I stepped around him and pulled Kori to my side. She wrapped her arm around my waist and turned her body into mine. She slipped her hand under the front of my shirt, sprawling it out over my stomach. Her touch calmed me, and I looked down at her.
She looked nervous. “Let it go,” she pleaded, and I chuckled.
“Not a chance, babe. Why don’t you girls go get a drink? Me and your friend here are gonna continue our little chat.” She began to argue, and I passed her off toward Leann and Maria. “Take her in the back.”
She stood there staring at me and glaring. Yeah that wasn’t gonna work this time. “Go, Kori.” I would deal with her being pissed off later. Right now I had an arrogant asshole to deal with.
“I don’t think she was too happy with you telling her what to do.” Mr. Dickwad chuckled. “What’s wrong, pretty boy, you scared she’ll drop you on your ass when she gets a taste of something sweeter?”
The adrenaline shot through me like a bullet. I gripped his shirt in my fisted hands and shoved him backward, slamming him against the wall behind us. Being the owner of the place had everyone else clearing the area. “You don’t have a say-so in anything regarding my woman. As for touching her against her will, I should break your fucking arms. This is my place, my bar, and I want you outta here. If I ever see you in this place again or anywhere near what’s mine, I will break your face.” I let go of him and drew back, punching him in his stomach. His body hunched over, and I stepped back, looking over at the two bouncers waiting on standby. “Get his sorry ass out of here.”
My adrenaline was pumping, and my hands were still shaking. I looked back and found Kori standing about ten feet away. She was staring at me, seething with anger. I walked in her direction, and she held her hands up to stop me from getting too close.
“Come on, you can’t be mad about that. He had his hands all over you.” I gritted my teeth together to keep from saying anything more.
“His hands were not all over me. He grabbed my hand, Reed. It wasn’t like he was feeling me up. He wanted to dance.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “You had to storm over there and act as if I’m just a piece of property to you. I could have handled it.”
“Oh yeah, you sure looked like you were handling it. Maybe enjoying the attention was more like it.” I bit my tongue, the alcohol mixed with anger was not a good combination. It had me spouting out shit before giving it any thought. The moment it came out I wanted to take it back. Kori wasn’t like that. She didn’t feed on the attention of men.
She pushed against my chest and pointed her finger in my face. “Enjoying it, my ass, you jerk. I was trying to solve it peacefully, but no, you had to pin the guy against a wall and punch him.” I attempted to speak, but she held her palm out two inches from my face, and I stopped. “I’m gonna tell you one thing and one time only, Reed Jackson.” Once again she pointed in my face. “Don’t you ever command me to do anything again. I am not your dog, I don’t obey commands.”
She turned on her heels and stormed off toward the restroom in the back of the bar. A pissed off and mouthy Kori was like seeing a shooting star, very rare.
I looked at the faces of all our friends who just witnessed the battle. The girls looked shocked, maybe even a little pissed off at me as well. The guys were hiding the smiles and laughter behind their hands. Smug bastards were just glad it was me in the doghouse and not them.
Sitting down at the bar, I rested my head on my crossed arms and groaned out in frustration. Maybe I went overboard. I didn’t like him touching her, though, in any way.
Ben slapped my back and chuckled. “Well tonight got a little exciting. Kori can get pissed off for such a little thing. I had no idea she could lay it out like that.”
“Shut up.” I shook my head and looked toward the restroom. I had a feeling I knew what she was doing in there. Either she was crying or tearing into me behind closed doors. “I guess I fucked up.”
“Bullshit.” He slammed his hand down on the bar. “That cocky son of a bitch had it coming. I would’ve done the same thing if some man was messing with Leann. Kori won’t be mad forever. Next time, though, maybe you should ask her politely, not force her to leave. I’m pretty sure that’s what did her in.”
Groaning out once more, I let my head fall forward against the bar. “Yeah, that was definitely not the best way to handle her.”
When thirty minutes passed and she still hadn’t come out of the bathroom, I went to her. Pushing open the door, I heard a few squeals, and about five girls turned to face me. Not one of them was my girl. Panic set in; I hadn’t seen her come out. I turned in a hurry and began searching the bar.
Just as I was about to lose my shit, Leann stepped in front of me. “She had Maria call them a cab. She went home about fifteen minutes ago.” She shrugged, and I thanked her. I brushed past her in a hurry toward the door.
I had too many beers myself and couldn’t drive. I threw my keys to Marty and told him to pull my truck around back. Saying my goodbyes to everyone, I stepped outside and dialed the number to the cab company.
Leaning against the pole out front, I began to formulate a plan. I had no idea how I would fix this, but I had to. Fighting with Kori was not an option. I couldn’t stomach her sadness. It broke me every time. I was a sucker when it came to my girl, and she knew it.