Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
The Lazy Lamb was a hot spot, which surprised Hayden. Maybe he was just too old for any type of nightlife. He opened the door and found the place packed. There wasn’t an empty seat in the entire place. People stood three to four deep around the bar or lingered where their friends sat. Music played from the back, where the arcade and meeting room were.
Hayden walked the length of the bar, peering between people until he spotted Devy sitting at the end, next to some man who looked pretty into her. A bout of jealousy bubbled in his gut. He pushed it down. He had no right to be jealous. Devy could speak to or flirt with anyone she wanted. Even though Hayden wanted it to be him.
He worked his way through the crowd, bumping shoulders and jostling other body parts until he’d made it to the end of the bar. Hayden held his finger up, and the other bartender came over.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“Water. On the rocks,” he said, trying to be funny.
The bartender didn’t laugh. The bar was busy, and the water meant no tip. Hayden threw a five-dollar bill down and got a smile in return.
He stood there for a minute, sipping his water and waiting for Devorah to notice him. When it didn’t happen fast enough, he slipped next to her free side and touched her hip. She turned and looked. Her glazed eyes took him in, inch by inch. A smile spread across her face when she met his penetrating stare.
“You’re really hot,” she said, slurring her words. “Like, really, really hot.”
Hayden returned her smile.
“Hey, man,” the other guy said as loud as he could.
Hayden leaned forward, pretending to give a rat’s ass about what he had to say.
“We’re sort of together,” the guy said, which made Hayden’s blood boil.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, buddy. She’s not going home with you.”
“I beg to differ.”
“The only thing you’re going to beg for is mercy when I kick your ass. She’s drunk, now get lost.” Hayden motioned for him to scram. The man opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it when Hayden set his water down. He threw some money onto the table and left. Hayden sat in the now-empty chair.
“What’s going on, Devy?”
She cupped his cheek and leaned toward him. “Hi, Hayden.”
“Hey. You doing good?”
She nodded, and then her lower lip quivered. “I hate him.”
“I know you do,” he said. “I think we all do. Why don’t we head outside for some fresh air?”
She nodded as he helped her off the barstool. He motioned for the bartender to come over. “If she has a tab, tell Colt. He’ll take care of it.”
“Got it.”
Hayden held on to Devy tightly and maneuvered their way through the crowd. At the door, she pulled him toward her.
“Wanna dance?”
“Another night,” he told her as he pushed the door open. As soon as they were outside, she started crying.
“He had sex with my best friend and humiliated me,” she said as she hiccupped.
“Yeah, that was a pretty shitty thing to do.” Hayden held her hand as they walked toward Crow’s.
“Men are pigs.”
That stung, even though she knew not all men were like Chad. Despite her strained relationship with her father growing up, Crow had always set a damn fine example of how men should act.
“Not all men cheat, Dev.”
“Do you?”
He shook his head. “I would never.”
“He wants us to move back to Chicago, and so does Maren.”
Hayden’s heart twisted at hearing those words. He didn’t want Devy and Maren to leave.
“Chad said things would be easier for him. For him.” She all but spat the word out. “Better for our daughter.”
“Divorce is messy,” Hayden said, even though he had no idea. His parents were still married, and both sets of his grandparents had still been married when they passed away. He had friends whose parents had divorced, but he’d never experienced it firsthand.
“Maren doesn’t like it here,” she said, almost crying. “What’s not to like?” Devorah twirled and held her arms out. “She can be Pearl of the Ocean if she wants.” She stopped, swayed, and looked at Hayden. “I don’t want to move back. I want to stay in OB and just be me. I don’t want to be a Stepford wife or see them together.”
“You don’t have to. Maren will adjust. It’s only been a month. With everything going on, these things take time.” He wrapped his arm around her waist.
“He’s pissed I went on a date with you. He said I should’ve known better. Are you bad news?”
What in the actual fuck?
They weren’t dating, and even if they were, Chad had left her. He’d chosen another woman over her. What was she supposed to do, pine for him until the end of time?