Page 10 of Sweater Weather (Sapphire Falls Orchard #1)

TEN

Tilly

“ Y ou know what else pisses me off? Her schedules. Like, we had a perfectly good schedule in place before she came around.” I sigh. Sipping another gulp of my beer, I look at my friends. Hattie and Lina both look at each other before looking back at me. “What?”

“Nothing,” they say in unison—which means something is definitely up.

“Come on, what?” I sigh, setting down my beer.

“We just think you talk a lot about her, considering how much you hate her,” Hattie says slowly.

“I mean, I’m just complaining.” I frown.

“Are you? Because it seems like you’re mistaking distaste for actually liking her,” Lina says. She tucks her blonde hair behind her ear and waits for me to speak.

“I don’t like her. Are you guys kidding?” I laugh, because they have to be messing with me right now. How could I like someone like that? Especially with all I’ve said.

“We just think when someone bothers you this much it’s because maybe on a deeper level you actually like her,” Lina says and Hattie nods.

“Well, this is great, do you often get together to talk about me?” I scoff and pick up my beer.

“You know that’s not—” Hattie starts, but I cut her off.

“I need another beer.” I finish mine and head for the bar instead of waiting for a bartender.

“Another beer, Til?” Bill, the bartender asks.

He’s your typical macho man who cares way too much about how thin a woman is and how much makeup she uses instead of how smart she is.

But he can make a mean mixed drink, and he doesn’t let anyone homophobic come in here. So we try to overlook his flaws.

“Nah, can you make me something stronger? I don’t care what it is.” I sit down at the bar and glance back at my friends. They’re looking at me, pleading with their eyes for me to come back, but I hold my ground.

I’ve sat through their share of relationship troubles and never batted an eye.

But I complain about our boss—who stole the only thing I worked my ass off for—and suddenly I’m the issue?

Nah. I’m pissed. It’s normal to complain about things to your friends.

And it isn’t like that’s all I do—then I’d understand.

But beer nights is, and has always been, our time to bitch about life. Suddenly that doesn’t apply anymore?

Bill places a fancy looking drink in front of me.

It’s red and even has an umbrella in it.

Without thinking twice, I toss it back. Gulping down the warm liquid, I can tell it’s some sort of tequila mixed with orange juice and something else.

I assume it’s his take on a tequila sunrise.

I place the empty glass on the bar and ask for another.

“Only if you promise not to puke. I’m not cleaning that up,” he says with a chuckle.

“Deal.” I nod. I can handle my liquor.

As the alcohol hits my empty stomach, I think about going back to my friends.

Maybe I’m talking about Bells a little too much, and I can afford to stop.

But as I turn to look at them, I see them watching the door.

My eyes follow suit, and I see the auburn curls I was just complaining about, hanging down to her waist, which are covered in these tight ripped jeans.

She’s wearing a pair of heels that look taller than my drink glass.

My friends wave her over, and she heads right toward them.

What the actual fuck? Did they invite her? Did they invite her and didn’t tell me?

“I’ll put it on your tab. Wasn’t that the chick you hooked up with a few weeks back?” Bill asks, nodding toward Bells.

“Yes,” I grumble. One of the worst things about a small town is everyone knows your business. Especially the town bartender.

“Looks like she and your friends are getting along,” he muses before putting another drink in front of me.

I take a long sip before picking it up and walking over to my friends. I stand behind Lina, and Bells smiles at me. Her pretty red lipstick highlights her hair and shows off her pouty lips. God, I hate how the alcohol is getting to me right now.

“Do you want to pull up a chair?” Bells asks, like she isn’t intruding on my night with my friends.

“No thanks, I came to get my phone.” I had left it on the table, but now I grab it and turn to go.

“Wait! Where are you going?” Lina stops me, grabbing the back of my arm.

“I’ll be at the bar.”

“You can join us,” Hattie says.

“I’d really rather not.” I scoff.

“She’s not that bad when you get to know her. I thought maybe you’d be more relaxed outside of work,” Lina explains.

“Is that why you invited her without telling me?” I’m probably being louder than I intend, because Bells perks up but doesn’t say anything. She makes eye contact with me for a brief second before dropping it.

“I just thought it might help smooth things over.” Lina sighs.

“Whatever. I’ll see you guys later.” I shake my head and walk back to the bar.

I sit on an old leathery stool and sip my drink.

I pull out my phone, thumb hovering over the hookup app, then sigh.

There was never anyone new on there—just the same guys I went to high school with or have already hooked up with.

I shove the phone back into my pocket and glance at the door just as it swings open.

In strolls a bachelorette party: one woman in a white veil clipped to a rhinestone-studded cowboy hat, surrounded by her entourage in matching black shirts with snarky wedding slogans and bubblegum-pink hats. The backs of the shirts flaunt the bride’s name and today’s date in glittering letters.

Maybe the pickings tonight won’t be so slim after all.

“Bartender! Can we get lots of shots?!” a busty blonde says, and Bill nods, staring directly at her tits. I knew they were out there, but he didn’t have to be so obvious about it. She puts down a credit card, asking for an open tab, and walks away.

“Lemme take them over,” I tell Bill as the group heads toward the back of the bar.

“What?” He looks at me like I have ten heads.

“Come on, I’m trying to score. Let me take them over, and I’ll bring back the tip,” I offer.

“Fine, but if you drop ‘em you pay for ‘em.” He waits for me to accept and then starts pouring the shots.

I take the tray over to the group, and they’re devoured by the second. I’m not sure who’s into women yet, but I figure at least one of them has to be. Or maybe one is at least curious about being with a woman. I love a bi-curious woman.

“I’m Tilly, anyone wanna help me get some more shots?” I switch into flirt mode, glancing around the circle of beautiful women. The busty blonde jumps up, her tits almost knocking her friend over.

“I’ll help!” It’s clear they’ve all already been drinking tonight, but no one is more drunk than I am. And I’m in a very happy, tipsy space.

“A beautiful woman helping me, I must know your name.” I wink at her, and she turns pink.

“Sophie.”

“Well, Sophie. Are y’all from around here?” I ask, already knowing the answer. They’re renting an Airbnb nearby, and their pregnant friend drove them over.

“Nah, we’re from the city but wanted a weekend away.” Sophie smiles.

“Well, have you ever been up here before?”

“No, but it’s so nice. We’ll definitely be coming back sometime.”

“Well, Sophie, I might just have to convince you to try something else new tonight.” I wink again, and this time she giggles.

“What’s that?” She leans in closer, her breasts almost escaping her low-cut top.

“Why don’t we get your friends their drinks, and then I’ll show you?” I suggest as we reach the bar. Bill is looking at me with envy because Sophie can’t take her eyes off me.

“Sounds good.”

We bring the shots over. This time I take one, then take Sophie’s hand.

I press a few buttons on the old jukebox the bar has hooked up.

It doesn’t use coins anymore but plays whatever people want.

I pick an old song with a good beat and catch Bells looking at me as I lead Sophie to the makeshift dance floor.

I spin Sophie around a few times, then pull her in close so our bodies are touching while we dance.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bells watching.

I can’t help it—it’s like my eyes are magnets to her.

I’m dancing with Sophie, and all I see is Bells.

Her beautiful curls cascade down her body like a waterfall, her curves teasing me in her achingly tight clothes.

She pulls her beer to her lips, and I watch her lips wrap around the opening of the bottle.

Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to have those lips on me again.

I spin Sophie around, and Bells bites down on her bottom lip.

Flipping her hair, she goes back to talking to my friends, and I internally growl.

Does she have to take everything from me?

Yeah, I know she isn’t literally stealing my friends, and maybe I’m childish, but I don’t want to share them tonight.

The song is about to end, but just as it does, Sophie pulls me in for a kiss.

For a moment, I’m so surprised that my eyes are wide open as she plants her lips on mine.

She sort of licks my lips and is more chewing my face than actually kissing.

Is it possible that this woman is a bit more intoxicated than I thought?

All I know is there’s definitely no way I’d bring her home.

If she’s this bad of a kisser, I can’t even imagine how bad the sex would be.

I have a feeling she’d be worse than my yearly pap smear.

I attempt to pull away from her, but she doesn’t get the hint and keeps kissing me.

“Babe?! I leave for the bathroom and you’re kissing someone else?!” Bells appears in front of us, yelling. My eyes go wide in confusion, but Bells winks, and I realize this is her attempt at saving me.

“Is this your girlfriend?!” Sophie gasps.

“I’m her fiancée! We just got engaged last night, and just because the ring didn’t fit doesn’t mean you can go kissing other women!” Bells turns on the theatrics, and Sophie is eating this up.

“I’m so sorry.” I hang my head in shame.

“I’m the one who kissed her. She asked me to dance, but I’m so sorry,” Sophie starts apologizing, but Bells holds up her hand.

“Can you just go? I think my fiancée and I need to talk this out. Who knows if there will even be a wedding after this!” Bells waves Sophie off, who runs toward her friends at full speed and Bells pulls me outside.

“Holy shit. You were scary good in there,” I say in awe.

“I could tell you needed a save and your friends were worried they wouldn’t be believable enough.” She shrugs.

“You could tell I needed help?”

“She looked like she was trying to lick something off your face, and you had pure terror in your very OPEN eyes.” Bells laughs. “I just figured you could use an easy out.” She shrugs.

“Thanks.” I smile.

“Plus, I knew you wouldn’t be taking her home if that’s how she kissed. So how else would you get out of that?” She winks. She remembered I said that the night we met? Maybe she wasn’t as terrible as I originally thought.