Page 83 of The Wrong Game

“You at least going to tell me what has you all Cheshire Cat smiley over there?”

At that, my smile doubled, and I worked on filling the order I’d just taken as Doc slid up beside me. I shrugged. “My plan worked.”

“Your plan?”

I met his eyes. “I slept over at Gemma’s last night.”

Doc’s brows shot up. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm,” I said, grinning.

“So, she finally got tired of your annoying ass sitting in those seats next to her and gave in, huh?”

I laughed. “Something like that.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Doc crossed his arms, leaning against the bar as he watched me make a few flavored martinis. “For the record, I still think that was a hair-brained idea.”

“But it worked.”

Doc shook his head. “So it did.” He watched me for a moment, his smile leveling out. “Are you sure she’s the kind of girl you want to get involved with?”

I slid the martinis over to the girls who ordered, taking a card to start a tab. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, last time I saw this girl, she was hell bent on making you jealous or pissed off or both,” he said.

“She was scared,” I explained. “She liked me, too, and didn’t know how to deal.”

Doc cleared his throat. “Okay, Romeo. As long as you’re sure. Just be careful, okay?” He squeezed my shoulder. “I met you the last time you had your heart broken, and I don’t want that sad kid hanging around my bar again.”

Someone called for me down at the end of the bar, but I held up one finger, chest tightening at Doc’s words. “She’s not Emily.”

“I know,” he said quickly. He watched me for a moment, concern etched in his features, but then he shook his head. “You know what, this is just me being an old, grumpy man. Forget I said anything.”

I smiled. “You really are a grumpy old man, but I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“Meh,” he huffed. “By the way, we still need to talk…”

“I know, I know,” I said, brushing past him toward the other end of the bar. “But, you can’t fire me today, Doc. Today is a good day.” I pointed back at him, turning on my heels and doing a sort of moon walk toward the guys wanting to order.

“I’m not firing you.”

“Not today, you aren’t.”

Doc laughed, waving me off. “God, you’re so…smiley.I hate it.”

I popped the tops off a few bottles of Bud Light, lining them up in front of the guys before I walked back over to Doc. “I’m just kidding, Doc. What do you want to talk about?”

He picked up the rag he’d abandoned on the bar, folding it over his shoulder before he turned his gaze back to me. His eyes bounced between mine, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then just shook his head, clapping me on the shoulder again. “Nah, don’t worry about it tonight. We’re busy. We’ll talk about it next week, when you’re back to being grumpy like me.”

“You sure?” I asked, sensing the shift in him. “We can run to the back real quick, still have time before the game.”

“I’m sure,” he said. His old, tired eyes crinkled a little as he smiled. “And all jokes aside, I like seeing you like this. I don’t know about her yet, but at least she’s making you happy. You deserve that.”

I grinned. “Thanks, Doc. You old softie.”

He batted me away. “Don’t push your luck. I’m going to go back and change the speakers from the music to the TV.” He paused, watching me a moment more before he started walking toward the back. “You should invite the girl over for a family dinner. I want to get to know her more.”

“Maybe I will,” I said, pulling my photo from my pocket and swiping to Gemma’s contact. “But for now, I’ve got another date in mind.” I shook my head as I typed out the text. “We’ll see if she’s still talking to me after this one.”