Page 127 of Bred

Blaine frowns.

“I didn’t think so,” I smile and nod at his half empty glass. “Now hurry up and chug. We’re closed.”

I leave him to wallow for a bit by going to the register to close out his tab.

Bristol and I started working here after high school. We started as part time waitresses, before we became bartenders.

Mr. Jacobs has owned the place since before I was even born, but a few years ago he had a stroke and since then his heart —no pun intended—hasn’t been in the business. He didn’t have any children to leave it to, so when he told us he was thinking of selling the place, we jumped at the chance to buy it.

I love this place. Seahorse Tavern was my safe haven for a long time. It started out as a job of desperation when I had to start making money fast for my future. I was eighteen, my boyfriend, who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with, ghosted me, and I was carrying his child.

It provided me with a safe place to move on.

“What did he say this time?” Bristol teases, referring to Blaine still sitting at the bar. He finished his beer at least.

I roll my eyes. “That we’d havefuntogether.”

Bristol snorts. “In his dreams, maybe.”

“I told him I’d go out with him for thirty-five thousand dollars.”

“I thought we only needed twenty-five to buy this place?”

“Yeah, well, he doesn’t know that.”

She cracks a smile. “Good looking out.”

I smirk. “I thought so.”

Bristol checks her watch. “Do you think you’d be able to finish closing on your own? Nick’s been kind of stressing about his potential promotion, so he’s been working late and eating like crap. I wanted to bring him something good for dinner tonight.”

Nick is Bristol’s boyfriend of almost two years and he’s a colossal douchebag. While Bristol dotes on him like a caring girlfriend, Nick is utterly self-involved. I’m pretty sure he’s cheating on her, too, but since I don’t have any proof, I haven’t said anything to Bristol.

“Must be nice to have a girlfriend who cares enough to bring you dinner when you work late.”

Bristol shoots me a look at my tone. “Maybe he’s not perfect, but he’s not that bad. I don’t know why you and Hailey don’t like him.”

“Bristol, the man once called you over to do hislaundry.”

“He’s been working long hours!”

“And you don’t?”

She sighs in irritation, taking off her apron and shoving it under the bar. “I don’t want to get into it with you again. Besides, you’re the last person who should be able to judge boyfriends.”

I scowl. “Wow. I can’t believe you went there.”

Bristol digs her keys out of her purse, avoiding my eyes. “Doesn’t make it any less true.”

I shake my head. She always gets defensive when it comes to Nick. It’s like she thinks that he’s too good for her. It’s the farthest thing from the truth. My sister is beautiful, both physically and internally.

She could do a lot better.

“Do you want me to kick him out before I go?” she asks, motioning to Blaine.

I know it’s her way of apologizing for the low blow, so I ignore the sting and wave her off.

“Nah, I got it.You can go ahead.”