Page 33 of Before and After

I jerked to a stop. Had he been jealous?

The thought tingled through me.

A loud burst of laughter rang through the room.

They were here.

The extreme-sports guys.

I glanced out of the corner of my eye, and saw they had some women, and a couple of guys, with them. They’d pushed some tables together by the windows. There were lots of empty glasses and bottles littering the surface, so they’d clearly been at it since I saw them last time. As I watched, a stocky, dark-haired guystood, chugging back a drink while the others cheered him on. Glancing away, I headed for the bar.

“Hey, Allie,” the bartender said.

“Hi, Ross. It’s been alongday and I have aching feet, I need a drink.”

“I hear you, sister. What can I get you?”

“Some sort of gin cocktail, please. Surprise me.”

He tapped a finger on the bar. “On it.”

Right, I was going to have a drink, see if I could dig up anything on Blake and his friends, then head home.

I slowly glanced around the bar, pretending to look at everything, but really focusing on the sports guys.

There was definitely something off about them. I wasn’t sure what I hoped to find out, but my gut kept telling me that I needed to pay close attention.

“Here you go.” Ross set my drink down.

I smiled. “Thanks.” I sipped, and surreptitiously watched the group.

Blake was telling some story, and all his friends were laughing. He was definitely charming. I could clearly see what had appealed to me last winter.

Now, he held zero appeal.

Yeah, well, you know why. Lifting my glass, I sipped again.God. I was overdue for cocktail night with Sierra, Tessa, Jazz, and Piper. Piper was a new addition to the gang. I hadn’t thought I’d like the workaholic city girl. Maybe because Piper lived the life I’d once wanted with every breath I’d taken.

One that had crumbled away in an instant.

I sipped again, taking a larger mouthful this time. Life liked to throw curveballs. It was how you dealt with them that dictated your happiness. Not some shiny, perfect dreams.

Turned out, shiny, perfect dreams didn’t always live up to expectation, anyway.

It was a realization that I’d come to once I’d started work at the hotel. I liked my job here, and honestly, I’d hated my job in New York. I’d worked long hours, the work itself had often been a grind, and I hadn’t found it fulfilling.

A wave of tiredness hit me and I beat it back.

Ross came past again.

“Hey, Ross, what you know about the guys sitting over by the windows?”

He followed my gaze to the raucous group, then he rolled his eyes. “Well, they’re not impressed with a gay guy serving their drinks. Like they might catch the urge to want dick, or something.”

I wrinkled my nose. I had no time for anyone like that. “Sorry. That’s shitty.”

He shrugged. “Not your fault, gorgeous. I’ve dealt with worse.” He leaned on the bar. “They have lots of company. A new crowd every night, and they all like to party. And theyespeciallylike the ladies.” He frowned. “Girl, you’re not interested, are you? You could do so much better.”

“No, I’m not interested. One of them did ask me out, but—” I shrugged. “I have my hands full.”