Effortless (Thoughtless #2)(76)
Author: S.C. Stephens

He smiled wider, resting his head against mine. "Yeah, see, I told you I was being good."

Giggling, I gave him a soft kiss. "I know you were." Sighing, I shook my head. "Who knew I’d ever find a conversation with Griffin comforting?"

Grinning crookedly in a way that made me wish my shift was over, Kellan murmured, "Life’s little mysteries."

Threading my hand back through the perfect mess of hair, a style that only Kellan could successfully pull off, I sighed. I searched his face as his eyes searched mine. The rare shade of his deep blue eyes, the perfect arch of his brow, the slant of his nose, the seductive curve of his lips, the strong angle of his jaw, his height, the lean cut of his body-physically, he was the epitome of what the ideal man would look like. But his heart, his soul, his pain, his humor, his music…that’s what made me ache for him.

I wanted to give him everything. I wanted to give him the world. I couldn’t, though. I didn’t have that kind of power. But there was one thing I could do…one thing that I could help to give him. And I knew it was something he wanted, even if he fought against wanting it.

I’d done something this morning. Something that I knew he wasn’t going to like. But I’d had to do it. And I also had to tell him that I’d done it, even if it made him really angry.

Clearing my throat, I glanced around the bar full of witnesses. Well, at least he couldn’t kill me after I told him. "Um, Kellan, since we’re doing the honesty-at-all-costs policy, I have something to confess."

He grinned at me, his hands around my waist tightening. "Rob a bank while I was gone?"

Smirking at him, I shook my head. "No."

He leaned in, raising an eyebrow. "A sex shop?"

Flushing, I looked away. "No, I didn’t rob anyone." Laughing, I looked back at where he was still giving me a devilish smile, probably still envisioning me in a sex shop. My cheeks heating, I smacked his chest and spat out, "Stop picturing me…where you’re picturing me."

Laughing, he kissed my cheek. "Okay, what is it?"

Feeling seriousness fall around me, I bit my lip. "Okay, it’s going to make you mad, but hear me out before you start yelling."

The smile immediately fell from his face and he narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?" he asked cautiously.

Swallowing, I started tracing the letters of my name on his shirt. Following the tattooed lines hidden beneath the fabric, I subtly reminded him that he loved me…just in case he forgot in about three seconds. "I invited your dad and his family to the graduation party at Pete’s."

Kellan instantly pushed me away from him, frowning. "You what? Kiera, I told you I didn’t want any contact with him. Why would you do that?"

Sighing, I stepped back up to him. "Because you need them, Kellan."

He immediately started shaking his head, but I cut off his objection. "No, you don’t believe that you do…but you do, Kellan." Putting my hand back on his chest, I shook my head. "I’ve heard you talk about your sister. You care about her. And your brother? You’ve never even met him…don’t you want to?"

I raised my eyebrows and waited for a second. Almost imperceptibly, Kellan nodded and feeling victorious, I continued. "And your dad…how do you know what you’ll feel towards him, if you never give him a chance." Putting my other hand on his cheek, I stroked my thumb over the smooth skin. "You could be missing out on something really good…because you’re scared."

He looked down. "Kiera…"

I lifted his head, making him look at me. "I saw you on Christmas morning, Kellan. You wanted that bond, that family bond… and you can have it. You just have to be brave." I smiled that me, the one most pervious to nerves, was assuring him, the one who rarely seemed to be self-conscious, to be brave. Smiling wider, I added, "You are a smart, handsome, rock star with a girlfriend who adores you. You have nothing to fear…ever."

He grinned at hearing variants of his words being repeated back to him. Gazing at me with adoration, he shook his head. "When did you get so wise?"

Smirking, I shrugged. "I am a college graduate, you know."

Kellan smirked right back. "Not yet."

Laughing, glad that he wasn’t too mad, I slung my arms around his neck. "Close enough."

Tilting his head at me, he bunched his brows. "How did you get my dad’s number anyway?"

I gave him a blank look. "Are you kidding, that number has been burned into my brain since December."

Sheepishly, he grimaced and looked down. "Yeah, sorry about that."

Leaning up, I kissed him. "It’s okay…I get it now."

Noticing bar patrons starting to examine empty glasses, I figured I’d probably had a long enough break and should get back to work. Grabbing Kellan’s hand, I pulled him with me back to the bar. Since Rita was still dirty dancing with Justin, maybe Kellan could be the bartender?

Joking around, I asked Kellan if he wouldn’t mind taking over for Rita. Eyes lighting up, he hopped up on the bar and scooted around to the other side. He looked like I’d just given him the keys to the Kingdom as he stared at all the bar supplies. I wondered if he knew how to make anything? Well, he had helped me study for this job, back when I’d first gotten it, so he must have picked up a thing or two.

Grinning at the adorable image of Kellan tying a half-apron around his waist, I shook my head. He was going to get so many tips. Good thing we pooled them all together at the end of the night. As I started helping my thirsty customers, Pete came out of his office, tucked behind the kitchen.

The weary, older man looked over the chaos of the bar on a night that usually wasn’t this bustling, and smiled. Seeing his bartender on the floor with the rock stars, he frowned, then his silver head looked back at the bar. I knew Pete liked Kellan, since they’d had a working relationship for years, but I wasn’t sure if he’d be okay with Kellan serving his customers. But Kellan had already attracted attention in his newfound position. A line was formed at the bar as Kellan smiled and flirted his way through order after order.

I smiled and shook my head at him. Really, there wasn’t too much Kellan couldn’t do well, and serving drinks was no exception. I could easily picture an alternate life for Kellan, one where he wasn’t about to be a famous rock star. I could easily picture him here, working alongside me, serving drinks every night. It was an intriguing idea, but I knew that Kellan’s heart lied with music. The path he was on was the right one for him.

I watched him flip a bottle into the air "Cocktail" style, then watched as he nearly missed catching it. When he juggled the bottle into submission, just keeping it from crashing to the floor, the girls screamed and clapped. Always the showman, he bowed dramatically.

Pete shook his head, but I saw a small smile on his face as he watched the bills being tucked into the register. I figured he was fine with Kellan doing just about whatever he wanted to after that.

Kellan met my eye, laughing a little at the attentions he was receiving. I laughed at him, then blew him a kiss. I would place my order later…at his place…our place, since I’d moved my stuff in last weekend.

Just as I was remembering Jenny, Kate and Cheyenne helping me carry box after box into Kellan’s house-my sister only "supervising" since she’d suddenly embraced her condition, claiming she was supporting a life, so she couldn’t manhandle cardboard-a familiar face walked into the bar.

I smiled wide at seeing Denny stroll in. I was used to seeing him in here now, since he usually stopped in a couple of times a week for dinner. He’d been mysteriously absent this week though; I hadn’t even received a phone call from him. As I noticed him holding hands with someone who was entering the bar a step behind him, I suddenly understood why he’d dropped off the face of the earth.

I waved at Denny and his girlfriend, Abby, who must have finally made it over from Australia. Denny slung his arm around her waist and beamed with pride. Happy beyond belief for him, I motioned to a free table in my section. Nodding at me, he led her that way.

Turning back to a trio of college girls at one of my tables, I handed them a second round of margaritas. Straightening, I quickly told them, "There you go. Enjoy, and let me know if you need anything else."

One of the girls had her eyes glued on Kellan as she sipped on her straw. "Can we get him to go?" she slurred as the other girls at the table giggled.

I glanced over at Kellan, still behind the bar. He’d noticed Denny’s entrance too and was staring at Denny while he filled a mug with ale. I couldn’t read Kellan’s expression, so I had no idea if he was okay with my ex and I still having a friendly relationship or not. But Kellan could see Denny’s companion too, and if he still had any qualms about the matter, seeing the blonde on Denny’s arm should have squelched it.

Looking back to my customers, I shook my head. "Sorry, no…he belongs to me." They all stared at me, shocked, and I felt a flutter in my stomach that I’d confessed such a personal thing to complete strangers. I tended to avoid attracting attention to myself, and now I had the table’s complete attention. I felt the warmth of embarrassment as they stared at me, but the immediate surge of love flattened it.

Smiling, I lifted my promise ring and flicked it with my thumb. "He’s off the market."

They all stared at my ring then over at Kellan. Finally, the drunken one slurred, "Well, damn…" She looked up at me and smiled. "Nice catch."

Rolling my eyes, I giggled and shook my head. Yeah, Kellan was a nice catch. Even if it wasn’t always easy with him, it was always worth it. I was very lucky. Excusing myself, I headed over to see him. He pulled his eyes away from Denny as I neared him.

Purposely putting my back to Denny, just so Kellan would know what he should already know-that I was his and his alone-I leaned across the bar. Giving me a crooked grin, Kellan leaned over his side. My eyes lingered on his deep red shirt, his glorious chest impossible to hide underneath the fabric. Lazily, I let my gaze wander up to his eyes, drinking him in just as eagerly as the college girls had slung back their margaritas.

His gaze was fond and peaceful when our eyes locked. Nodding his head over my shoulder, he told me, "I should go say hi. The last time we saw each other, I wasn’t exactly…nice."

He grimaced and I did too. Yeah, that hadn’t been the best reunion after so long apart from each other. But it could have been so much worse. If Kellan had been a little angrier, if Denny had done a little more to provoke him, Denny could’ve ended up with the broken arm this time.

Looking back at Denny seated at a table with Abby, I nodded. "Yeah, I should talk to him, too. I haven’t had a chance to meet Abby yet."

Denny glanced up at the bar and frowned. Saying something to Abby, he started to stand, like he wanted to come over and talk to us, too. I supposed there were a few things that we all needed to discuss. Abby glanced up at me, smiled briefly, then put her hand on Denny’s arm. He looked back at her and sat back down.

I twisted back to Kellan, right as his butt was pinched. Kellan had been watching Denny and Abby and hadn’t noticed Rita sidling up behind him. He startled at the unexpected contact, taking a step away from her. Rita, giddy from her illicit dancing with Justin, wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I knew I’d get you back behind this bar again, sweetheart," she purred, her voice scratchy from way too many cigarettes.