Page 105 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Luther

“We need to switch.” Jessie sets a glass of beer in front of me, swaying a little as she steps back.

Since I’m already well and truly drunk, I don’t disagree.

My fingers wrap around the cold glass, and I close one eye as I raise it to my mouth, grateful Jessie chose the stout and not a bottled beer that’s often served with limes.

Gulping down a third of the glass, I wipe my mouth with the back of my other hand as I set the beer next to my empty plate.

I’m tempted to ask Diego for a second burger, but I’m just as tempted to go lie face down in one of the motel rooms and cry myself to sleep.

She fucking loved me.

Loved. Past tense. Because she certainly doesn’t anymore.

“Be right back.” I stand from my stool, then grip the edge of the bar top to steady myself.

I’m well aware this isn’t a good look for the owner in his own bar, but the locals won’t judge me, and the nonlocals don’t know I’m the owner. So… I pick up my beer and swallow down another third.

Gotta counteract the food I had. I can’t afford to be any sort of sober right now.

The glass thuds against the wood as I set it down harder than I intended.

“Gonna piss,” I tell Jessie.

She wrinkles her nose at me, then she starts to snicker. And it makes me feel a little better that she’s drunk too.

Diego sticks his head out from the kitchen door. “Smalls said he’s on the way.”

I blink at him before I remember. “Cool.”

Jessie snickers again.

And Diego rolls his eyes before he disappears back into the kitchen.

I don’t really care if Jessie is getting drunk with me while on the clock, but I do need a sober person around for closing, which is why Smalls is coming in.

“Jess, do you want a room? I think there’s two open.” I don’t feel like going home tonight, even if Jessie can find someone to drive us.

She tips her head from side to side, then stills like that made her too dizzy. “Probably should. I bet Joe’ll be asleep by the time we lock up.”

I nod.

He does go to bed pretty early. And we can’t really tell him why we got wasted.

“Good thinkin’.” I nod again. “I’ll get us keys.”