This is clearly a game they have going because Adam knows I’m of age, but I still pull my ID from my pocket and hand it to him. He scrutinizes it for a few seconds before handing it back with a nod of his head.
“Turns out my new boss here is a bit of a hardass and a stickler for following the rules,” Adam tells me, totally giving Caleb shit, but there’s something playful about it.
“Call me whatever you want. It’s my rules that will keep you employed and this place in business,” Caleb shoots back, but his eyes wander away from us, looking over my shoulder at something happening behind me.
“Get her order in,” Caleb now says, stepping out from behind the bar. His words are directed at Adam, but then he looks over at me, smiling. “I’ll be right back and then I’ll sit down and have dinner with you.”
I shift on my stool, looking behind me as Caleb walks around the bar, talking to people and asking them if things are going well. He’s a natural in this environment and it feels good to see him settling in. He exudes confidence now and I can’t help but wonder if maybe I have something to do with that.
“He’s different, right?” Adams says, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yeah, he is, isn’t he?” I reply, my words a little softer as I take Caleb in, walking now to a high top table that has two girls sitting at it. There’s a guy leaning casually against the table, his body language clearly showing he’s hitting on one of the girls.
“Watch this,” Adam directs, tipping his head in the direction of where Caleb is now standing. “This is the reason I’ll continue to work for this guy because at the end of the day he may be strict as hell, but he’s not going to let shit like this happen.”
“Let what happen?” I ask, curious as if I’ve missed something.
“This wanker has been hitting on girls all night. He’s drunk now and about to get kicked out.”
Seems things are about to get interesting, so I turn my attention back to where Caleb is standing, listening to what he has to say.
“I’m pretty sure she’s told you no at least four times,” I hear Caleb say, his words firm now. “I think it’s about time for you to move on. Maybe even find someplace else to get your drinks tonight.”
“You cutting me off?” the guy now slurs incredulously, puffing out his chest and standing a bit taller, but it’s no match for Caleb’s height.
“Yeah, I am, but I think that’s for the best. What do you think, ladies?” While the girls sitting at the table don’t verbally respond, the one who was having her personal space violated visibly nods her head.
The conversation continues a little longer with the drunk guy arguing with Caleb, making a bit of a scene and Adam steps out from behind the bar now, too. He doesn’t approach them but rather makes his presence known. Standing with his hands on his hips, his eyes focused in the direction of where Caleb is trying to convince this guy to take a hike, Adam just waits.
Eventually it falls in Caleb’s favor and the drunken moron up and leaves in a huff making the girls laugh. They show their gratitude to Caleb before he comes over and has a seat next to me at the bar.
“You’re my hero,” I croon, batting my eyelashes at him as I throw my arms around his neck.
“He’s everyone’s hero,” Adam adds, letting out a small laugh. “He does shit like that on a regular basis. Makes it easier for me to pick up someone to take home when he clears out all the assholes.”
“They know you’re an asshole too, but at least you’re sober,” Caleb quips, shaking his head at Adam.
They’re fun and have this witty banter thing going on that Caleb needs. It’s good for him to find friends here and not just always be stuck hanging out with me or Sienna and Reid. I feel like this is also something that is helping in his recovery. Getting out there and getting a job, making friends, starting a new relationship; it’s all coming together.
“When do you get off?” I ask. “I think we need a calendar at the house so I know what your schedule is.”
“Trying to keep me on a short leash already there, Ruby?” Caleb jokes, turning my stool so he can lean between my legs. His hands grip my hips, pulling until I’m on the edge of the seat, and he leans in and kisses me. “If you want a calendar, I’ll get you one. I want to know where you are, too.”
“Thank you, but you never answered my original question. What time do you get off?” I lean in a little closer, my lips next to his ear, my hand resting on the side of his neck and I can feel his pulse ramp up little, beating hard against my fingers. “Sie and Reid aren’t home. We have the house to ourselves right now.”
“I’m off now then. Eat your damn tacos and let’s go.” He squeezes my thigh hard, and I let my teeth drag along his neck as I pull back.
“How about I take my damn tacos to go and we just bail now?”
“Perfect.”
We’re heading out, tacos in hand and a smile on both our faces. It’s hilarious that we’re racing home to an empty house like a couple of horny teenagers.
“Where are Reid and Sie?” Caleb asks, slinging an arm around my shoulders, but before I can answer, someone calls out, “Hey, you motherfucker!”
Caleb and I both turn around and come face to face with the drunk guy Caleb kicked out of the bar just a little while earlier. It was like he was waiting outside for Caleb, ready to pay him back for what happened.
“Is there a problem?” Caleb asks and the guy storms up to us, stomping his feet, his arms swinging in anger as he smacks the to-go container out of Caleb’s hand.
“Yeah there’s a fucking problem. It’s you and your over-inflated ego. You think you can just kick someone out of a bar? Don’t you fucking know the customer is always right?”
“Do you know it’s the responsibility of the bar to not over serve its customers?” Caleb retorts back, but his words are controlled, almost eerily calm.
The guy lunges at him and I gasp out loud, my voice calling out Caleb’s name in a loud blast. But it does nothing to stop what unfolds in front of me. I don’t want to step in. I don’t want Caleb to think I’m judging his ability to regulate himself and the situation. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of the unpredictability of this drunken guy.
Caleb quickly dodges the guy’s punch, grabbing his hand and then sweeping his legs out from underneath him. The drunken guy falls to the ground and Caleb looms over him, pinning him in place, his hand twisted behind his back and Caleb’s other arm against the guy’s throat.
“You’re drunk and I will kill you if this goes any further. I suggest you get up and go home to sober up before you embarrass yourself even more.”
Shoving away from him, the guy remains on the ground almost too scared to move it seems. But Caleb is completely unaffected, turning his back, grabbing my hand as he tugs me in the direction of our house.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice shaky, my hand now in his, tightening my grip. I would’ve thought something like this would’ve had a bigger impact on him given his past, but he remains unfazed.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?” he responds without missing a beat.