Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology #1)(44)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“She told you too?”

That was it. I couldn’t just sit there. I pushed open my door. “What are you doing here, Colin?”

“I told you on the phone. I needed to see you. I can’t go to bed in a fight with you. Especially not over something as stupid as this.”

“Stupid?” That was all I needed to motivate me to turn around and head back to my room.

“Maddy, wait!” Colin called, but my roommates must have stopped him. “Call me when you’re ready to talk,” he yelled before I heard the front door slam.

I opened my door. “I’m not crazy, am I?”

Brody answered. “Your behavior tonight wasn’t crazy, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t crazy.”

“Thanks.”

“Want to finish your omelet?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think I will.”

Chapter Sixteen

A drink needs to fit your mood. It’s no fun to drink a flirty, sexy drink when you’re depressed and sitting around in your sweats. That’s when you need the hard stuff. It’s kind of like music. I need mellow tunes when I’m down.

I wasn’t quite at the point of drinking straight liquor by the glass, but I did find myself taking a few shots with Macon after Colin’s “episode.” That was the only way I let my roommates refer to it. I was slowly getting over what he did, but I was too stubborn to admit I missed him. Thankfully, Dale was away, and I had tons of shifts at work to keep me busy.

“Come on, Maddy, you have to talk to me.” Colin sat directly across the bar from me. He chose his usual stool, the one that gave me no escape from those irresistible hazel eyes.

“No, I don’t.” I turned my back to him, searching for something to make me appear busy, despite the empty bar. The thought of asking him to leave flitted through my head.

“Is it really that big of a deal? It only happened once.”

“Once was more than enough, but that’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point?” He slumped slightly on his stool. “I’ve sent you flowers, come by to see you every night, even though you won’t talk to me. I’m out of ideas here.”

“It’s the symbolism. It’s what it represents about our relationship, and how you feel about me.”

“I’m crazy about you. Stopping short to take a phone call doesn’t change that.”

“The fact that you could stop says it all. I’m not a priority for you.” I glanced around the dining room, relieved that the few customers were out of earshot. Mary was working, but she was keeping her distance. I appreciated the effort.

“You’re a high priority for me, one of the highest. If you’d let me explain, I could show you how serious I am about us.”

“Being serious is different from making me a priority.” On the surface they seemed the same, but they weren’t. Just because you cared for something didn’t mean you would be willing to put it first.

“Have you ever been to Paris?” Colin used another one of his random conversation transitions.

“No. The only European city I’ve been to is London.” I reorganized the liquor bottles by color. It wasn’t the most efficient organization system, but it served its purpose—keeping my hands busy so I wouldn’t give in to the urge to touch Colin.

“Would you want to go?”

I turned to him. “You can’t be inviting me on a Parisian vacation.”

He smiled slightly, probably bolstered by the fact that I was looking at him. “Think less vacation and more three-month excursion.”

The only thing that set in from his words was that he was going to be in Paris for twelve weeks. “You’re leaving?”

“No. I’m going on a trip for work. That’s why I took the call. I knew it was my boss offering it to me. It’s what I’ve been waiting to hear about. And Maddy, I want you to come with me.”

“I can’t,” I answered automatically.

“Give me one reason why not.”

“Work, my life.” Talk about putting me on the spot. “There, that’s two.”

“Max is barely giving you shifts, and Macon will be here when we come back.”

He said Macon’s name with distaste. Didn’t he get that Macon was rooting for him? He’d even started on the subtle hints about returning Colin’s calls.

“I can’t afford it.” The balance on my bank account went beyond embarrassing. “And don’t even bother offering to lend me the money.”

“Lend? Not exactly. Pay for my girlfriend’s travel expenses? Of course. Plus, our apartment will be paid for anyway.”

“Apartment? We’re not ready to live together.” I rinsed out some glasses, needing a distraction.

“Before this week you were spending half your nights with me already. How is this different? Besides, it’s temporary. It’s not really moving in.”

“Temporary. This isn’t helping your priority argument.”

He reached his hands across the bar, and I gave in and let him hold mine. The contact sent an instant wave of comfort through me. “I’m inviting you to spend three months in the most romantic city in the world with me.”

“You don’t need me there. I’ll be in the way.”

“Okay. Now you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for excuses. I do need you there. And the only time you’ll be in my way is when you won’t put away your book or something.”

“I don’t know.”

“I do. This is good. So good. I’m not going to let you pass this up.”

I tried to pull my hands away, but he didn’t release them. “It’s not your decision to make.”

“Maybe not, but I’ll help you make yours, and it will be the right one.”

“You can be so cocky sometimes it makes me want to scream.”

“Glad to know I bring out the anger in you, or some might call that passion.” He squeezed my hands. I was no longer trying to move them.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “How did we even end up dating?”

“You finally gave me a chance.” He rubbed a finger across my skin.

“I mean, we’re so different.”

“Why? What makes us different?”

“For starters, you know what you want to do with your life.”

“I’m also four years older than you. You’ll figure it out.” He released one of my hands, still comfortably holding the other.