Shaking my head to rid myself of the impending end of my career, I shift into park. The bar is crowded, even for a Friday night, the parking lot is packed.
“There a show tonight?” I ask stepping out of the truck.
“Nah, but there’s a festival happening in Mobile and we’ve been getting stragglers all week. Should be gone in a couple days.”
“Perfect,” I groan. Nothing like a festival to bring out the crazies. Last time I was here for a festival someone recognized me and wanted me to sign a very private appendage, that’s so not happening.
The last thing I need right now is to get recognized and fawned over all night. I get enough of that in North Carolina. Especially when these girls wanted nothing to do with me when I was in high school.
Moving to an almost packed table, I follow my brother as he weaves and bobs through the room. Dude could have been pro like me, but instead chose to major in criminal justice and work to become the youngest detective in his unit. It’s damn impressive but watching him move makes me wonder what it would have been like to share a field with my brother again on so much bigger a stage.
“Guys, you remember my brother, Beau,” Sterling says as we stroll up to a table of twelve guys and a chick. Her hair is down in soft waves and I’m curious how she ended up at a table with all these bulls. “Beau this is my partner Wyatt,” he points to the brunette corn-fed country boy who looks like a brickhouse. and I’m slightly less nervous about Sterling’s profession as I look at the guy beside him.
“And this is his sister, Annie, she’s the newest to the unit,” he continues and I’m slightly surprised this beautiful woman who would fit in with the cosmopolitan chicks back in North Carolina is a cop—as non-PC as that statement may be. Sterling goes on to introduce the rest of the group.
Some I remember from high school, giving me a quick ‘what’s up’ and a nod while others shake my hand and want to know more about Sterling’s absent older brother. Just as we’re all formally introduced and seated a waitress comes barreling toward us with a bucket of beers. Just what the doctor ordered. I can’t help but feel the prying eyes of the other patrons in the bar looking at me and I need the liquid courage to numb out the feeling of being in a fishbowl for everyone to judge.
Leaning over I speak into Sterling’s ear. “Looks like we’re taking an Uber home,” I say as I take a healthy chug from the beer handed to me.
“Sounds about right,” he says laughing as he takes a sip of his own. When the waitress returns a few minutes later, Sterling pulls her aside. “Can we order one of each of the appetizers and possibly change this TV to the Marlins game?” As I raise my eyebrows at his order he simply shrugs. “What brother moneybags is here, why not cut loose and order some good food for my friends here,” he says with a megawatt smile.
“Fuckin’ tool,” I grunt, but he knows I’ve got the bill even if he hadn’t asked. We’ve gotten into knockdown drag out fights over who’s paying, but after all these years, he’s learned that big brother always wins.
Second after the waitress moves away, the TV changes to the preseason MLB where the team my brother and I grew up watching plays against the Chicago Cubs. We get lost in the game, and I find myself oddly occupied by America’s pastime. The food Sterling ordered arrives and more food and is ordered. Word got around the table that the tab was on me and they’ve all been running amuck ordering their dinners. Not that I mind. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with—besides the things I want money can’t buy.
We’re about an hour into the game and hundreds of dollars into food and drinks when noise from the bar pulls our attention. Every head at my table turns, but it’s Sterling who stands, being he’s the senior officer. He motions for the others to stay, but they all remain on edge as Sterling heads toward the clear fight that has broken out.
Sterling easily walks through the crowd has stilled to watch the action. Standing, I take two steps in his direction fearing for his safety—it’s not like he’s got his gun and is acting in any official capacity, so if something pops off, he’s going to be in danger. Taking another step, I take my eyes off the back of Sterling’s head to gauge the fight and the odds that it’ll put my brother in danger when I catch the eyes of someone I didn’t expect to see.
He was supposed to be busy. The hairs on the back of my neck stand tall. I haven’t seen the man across the bar from me since he punched me a few weeks after graduation. Granted I had just ended things with his sister in a less than amicable way. I ended up walking away from this town and onto the campus of Notre Dame with a busted lip, black eye, and shredded heart. Not that I didn’t deserve it, I just thought Deacon, of all people, would see why I’d done what I had.
But the way his eyes burn with rage as he sees me, I realize I’m still enemy number one. I wish he’d have let me explain. I had a little girl counting on me to make something of myself—at the time Sawyer was my priority. Followed closely by my need to become something worthy of Callie’s time. While I managed to provide the type of childhood Sawyer deserved, I was a far cry from winning the heart of the girl who never let go of mine.
I can see years of friendship turned to hatred as he stares me down, ignoring the fight he was walking toward. As if someone calls his name, his eyes cut to the right. Following his movement, I lock eyes with the only person that has ever brought me to my knees.
The music bumping through the bar, the loud voices and merriment disappear. As my gaze falls on the deep brown eyes I dream about, my entire world tilts on its axis. Suddenly it seems just the two of us standing there. Two people so lost in each other that nothing else matters.
I can see the shock on her face as I drop my eyes to study her features that have matured since the last time I saw her face. I haven’t let myself look on social media, or seek her out. I broke her heart and it felt like a slap in her face to try and apologize after all these years.
Time stands still as I remember what it’s like to be near her. The pull she has that I always get caught in. I want to go speak to her—beg her to forgive me—but I can’t move. I’m trapped in my head unable to close the distance between us.
Then, the blurry figure to her right leans closer and whispers into her ear and our connection is lost. All too quickly, the bumping noise of the music fills my ears and my vision clears. Millie, who was the shadow beside Callie, is now pulling her through the crowded bar toward the back exit. I lost my chance to make things right years ago. I guess its only par for the course that I can’t make myself move toward her now.
Out of nowhere Sterling brushes his elbow against my side. I hadn’t even noticed the fight had ended, but here he stands with peace at the bar and Deacon headed toward the door his sister just disappeared through. Turning my head to look at my brother, I raise an eyebrow in question.
“You all good, brother?” he asks, concern dripping from his words. He knows how hard this is for me. How seeing her again would affect me.
Nodding my head, I say my goodbyes to the table. There’s no way I’ll be able to clear my head enough to enjoy the rest of my evening. Not to mention, they all went to school with us and probably know exactly what happened. There’s no chance I’m sticking around to hear any nosey ass questions about Callie and whoever she’s allowed to share it with her.