Page 80

Thirty-nine
Conner
I read lips. I taught myself when I was fivebecause 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.”