Hold On (Page 102)

That wasn’t annoying.

That was infuriating.

I moved closer to the bar. Darryl moved closer to my back.

But in the back and forth, we’d missed the fact that another player had hit our scene.

“Before more shit comes outta your mouth you’re gonna regret, Mia, you need to end this and go.”

I looked to the left to see Tanner standing there.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with you, Tanner,” Mia replied, but she wasn’t done. Sliding a catty glance at me, she turned back to Tanner. “Though, I’ll say I’m surprised it seems you don’t want better for Merry.”

“Doesn’t mean shit what I want for Garrett,” Tanner stated, and I felt that in not good ways, seeing as it wasn’t a ringing endorsement or a throwdown for me. “What does is what Garrett wants for Garrett,” he went on.

“And Raquel didn’t want you for seventeen years, but you both knew better,” she returned.

I watched Tanner’s mouth get tight and I thought that was him conceding the point.

I was incorrect in this assumption.

Very much so.

“I am not Garrett and you sure as fuck aren’t Rocky,” he bit out. “This is not about that. This is somethin’ totally different. You want it, I’ll give it to you. You’re right. I do want better for Merry. I want my brother to be happy. And I know him. I know no way in fuck he’d be happy with a woman who’d spew the shit you just spewed to a good woman anytime, but sure as fuck not waltzin’ in her place of business to throw down with her in front of everybody.”

“This has to be said,” she returned, lifting her chin even though a hint of uncertainty hit her expression.

Tanner shook his head. “You’re intent to make your statement clear after five years of fuckin’ around and doin’ not one thing to get back your man. Advice? Wake up. You dicked around too long. It’s done. You lost him. And just a heads up on that, Mia, this town is talkin’. And while your women might be fillin’ your head with shit to keep you on a path that is no longer righteous, the rest of the ’burg is glad Garrett finally found a woman who’s got it in her to stick.”

Okay, right.

That was a ringing endorsement and definitely Tanner throwing down for me.

Suddenly, I wasn’t angry.

Suddenly, I grinned.

“He’s mine,” Mia told Tanner, her voice weakening but only in the face of his words. It did not reflect her resolve. I had a vagina. I saw the look on her face. I knew that as fact.

Shit.

I quit grinning.

“Heard about it. Reckon I don’t know shit about it,” Devin stated, also now there, leaning in to the bar over an empty stool, looking at Mia. “But what I heard, seems to me he’s never been yours.”

“I don’t even know you,” Mia said to Devin.

“Well, little miss, I know about you,” Devin replied. “And since you seem to be puttin’ a lotta stock into what everyone thinks, thought I’d share straight from the mouth of a member of the peanut gallery.” After Devin delivered that, he looked to me. “Now, I am here to drink, so I’d be obliged if you’d get me a fresh one. I’m half parched, waitin’ on this ridiculous drama to play out.”

It had lasted less than five minutes.

Then again, Dev could put away some booze.

“I’ll get on that, Dev,” I muttered.

Before I could, more muttering happened and this came from Tony Mancetti, who was sitting on the closest barstool to our drama.

“Need a fresh one too, Cher. And, just addin’ from my seat in the peanut gallery, I’d put money down on you.”

Oh fuck.

More warm and squishy.

I couldn’t help but smile at him. “Well, look at you, Tony. Who knew you could be sweet?”

“Figure you could, seein’ as I tip twenty percent.”

“Oh, right. In case I haven’t shared the gratitude for that, brah, you got it now.”

“I’d be grateful to get another drink,” Tony said.

“I’m first,” Devin declared.

“On it, Dev,” I said.

And I decided to get on it.

But first…

It was a faulty play that didn’t go well for her, but that wasn’t my problem.

She brought it, and since she was there, I had one thing to say.

I looked to Mia to see she was preparing to slink out.

“One thing, Mia,” I called, and she looked to me. “You throw a hissy fit again, go to Merry’s pissed you’re not gettin’ what you want and you shove him, repeatedly, he’s not gonna do dick to you because he’s not that guy.”

We might have been losing folks’ attention since the scene was petering out, but with my words, we got it back.

Though, I had drinks to make and tips to earn, so I wasn’t up for a show and, therefore, quickly finished.

“I find out you cornered a good man like that again, I got no problem shovin’ back.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”

I held her gaze direct and my one word had deep meaning. “No.”

She glared at me. Then she glanced around, belligerence etched in her face. I didn’t take my eyes off her, but I suspected she did not get back what she thought she would see, people siding with her after I made my promise.

She got something else after folks learned she’d put her hands on Merry.

I knew it when her face started to get red, she darted another glare at me, and took off.

I didn’t watch. I got on those drinks, feeling Darryl leave my back.