Thirty-nine

 

Conner

 

I read lips. I taught myself when I was five because I wanted to know what my parents were getting me for Christmas. I wanted a computer. Since this was back when my parents were still in denial about what kind of kid I was, I ended up getting a new bike, which I promptly rode off the roof and broke my arm.

The Christmas after that, I got a computer

Even after the bike incident, I kept at it. It was fun, being able to eavesdrop on conversations from across the room. Almost like a superpower.

These days, I use the skill to aid and abet my penchant for anonymous bathroom hook-ups. Tonight, I’m using it to eavesdrop on Henley, so by the end of the night, I know everything.

I know that when that Dalton guy asked who I was, she said I just a guy she used to know.

I know that her fiancé is gay. That he’s paying her more money than I will ever see in a lifetime to marry him. I know that she came looking for me because she was in the market for casual, no strings sex. I know that before last night, Henley was a virgin.

A goddamned virgin.

Holy Christ.

It doesn’t seem possible. Nothing about last night indicated it was her first time. She was nervous, yeah, but…

“I wanted it to be you, Conner,” she says, tilting her head to press her lips against my jaw. “I always wanted it to be you. I never stopped wanting it to be you.”

Before I can think too hard about what I’m going to do with the information, I hear a quick knock on the office door before it opens.

“Hey,”

Declan is standing in the doorway, balancing a bag full of credit card receipts on top of the cash register drawer and in his hand. It only takes one look for me to know that someone—probably Cap‘n—told him everything.

The fact that he looks sorry for me makes me want to put my head through a wall. “What’s up?” I say, sliding my mouth across its pad to angle the cameras away from the booth where Tess and Henley are sitting. Last thing I need for him to catch me using the cameras he had installed.

“Some girl named Kaitlyn said you gave her and her friends a tab?” He sounds like he doesn’t believe it and he shouldn’t. I’m not in the habit of giving drinks to anyone for free. Not even Tess. She earns hers, every time she climbs behind the bar to bail us out. “I told Patrick it was probably some chick trying to run—”

“I gave it to her,” I say sitting back in my chair, wondering how much my little one-act play is going to set me back. “What’s the damage?”

“Her girlfriends started ordering top-shelf and she stopped them. Asked for two rounds of college girl specials and a pitcher of that shitty IPA Da keeps ordering—sixty buck.” Declan shakes his head like he couldn’t believe my luck. “It could’ve been ugly. Girl saved your ass.”

In more ways than one…

When I don’t agree or do anything more than just stare at him, Dec clears his throat. “I need to get in here, so I can tally up tonight’s take.” His superior tone puts my backup.

“Why don’t you head on home to the little woman,” I say, giving him a nasty smirk. “I’ll take care of the money.”

From the look on Declan’s face, you would’ve thought I suggested we set it on fire. Never mind that I have a doctorate in advanced mathematics. The fact that I suggested he trust me with anything makes him nervous. I try not to take it personally, but I do.

Because yeah—I’m the criminal here.

He shifts from one foot to the other, like he’s got a boot full of hot coals. “No, that’s all right. Jessica is out with girlfriends. Bridesmaid thing.”

My smirk gets even nastier. “Another bridesmaid thing.” Either he’s too stupid to live, or he just doesn’t give a shit. I’m afraid it’s the former while hoping it’s the latter. Knowing myself well enough to know I’m about three seconds away from saying something really shitty, I stand. “She’s all yours,” I say skirting the desk. He doesn’t say anything else until I’m almost on top of them.

“I’m sorry.”

His apology rankles me even more than usual. Probably because I know what he’s apologizing for.

“For what?” I know what he’s talking about, but I want to make him say it.

“I—” He stops short, shaking his head because as usual, he doesn’t want to fight. The only way I can bait him into it these days is by throwing Tess into the mix, and I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to use her like that. She’s been used by Gilroys enough. “Patrick told me who she was—that woman from last night.” He sighs. “I’m sorry, man.”

“Why?” I cock my head, nailing him in the eye with a hard glare. “Did you know it was her went you sent me over to her last night?”

“What?” Dec jerks back like I spit on him. “No. You think I would—” He stops himself before he can finish the question. He knows exactly what I think of him. There’s no need to ask. “No. I didn’t recognize her. Did you?”

Did I?

“No.” It’s a lie. I know that now. I think I might’ve on some weird subconscious level. “Had a bit of an accident,” I say, gesturing toward the pile of whiskey-soaked papers I scraped off the floor after Henley left. “Sorry, bro.” I push past him and into the hallway. Not more than two steps away before I hear the door slam shut behind me. He’s mad. Probably because he thinks I did it on purpose, just to fuck with him. I didn’t. But I let him think it because I like it better when Declan’s pissed at me.

Closing time was about an hour ago, so the place is empty. Patrick’s behind the bar restocking the garnish stations and making sure the wells are full, and the waitresses are long gone.

Tess and Henley are still sitting in my booth, drinking and laughing. “You ready to go?” I say to Tess careful not to look at Henley.

“Actually, we’re heading over to Benny’s,” Tess says on the tail end of a laugh. She’s not what I would call fall-down drunk, but she’s definitely not sober either. “You want to go with us?”

Us. Meaning her and Henley.

The thought of spending the next two hours sitting within feet of her makes my skin feel tight. Like I’m trapped inside my own body. Like I need to get the fuck away from her before I do or say something both of us won’t be able to walk away from.

“No,” I say, in a bid for freedom. “I’ve got somewhere to be.” I spit out the lie before forcing my mouth into a cocky grin. “Last chance, sure you don’t want a walk home?”

“I’m sure,” Tess says, giving me a small, knowing smile. She knows I don’t have somewhere to be. That I’m running from Henley like a scared little bitch. “Henley can drive me home after Benny’s.”

“Suit yourself.” I backed away from the table forcing myself not to run. “See you later,” I say before I spin on my heel and head for the door.

I have no idea where I’m going, but I know that if I want to hang on to even a semblance of self-control, it’s going to have to be far, far away from Henley O’Connell.