Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(27)

He smirks. “Like what you see?”

I roll my eyes. “Still the same cocky guy I remember from high school.”

“But things are different now,” he says, draping an arm over my shoulder. “We’re both single.”

“Haven’t you always been single, Hunter?”

“Okay, so you’re single. Do you even know how many of us waited in the wings for you and Calloway to break up?”

I narrow my eyes, knowing he’s exaggerating.

“Seriously,” he says. “We may have even formed a club.”

“Shut up.” I feel my cheeks heat at his egregious proclamation.

He starts for the door, me still under his arm. Paige clears her throat and Hunter holds out his other arm. “You can come too.”

“Gee, thanks,” she says.

The three of us walk onto the back patio just as Jaxon and Calista come out from inside. We stop.

Time stops. All of us look at each other in silence. Conversations around the patio have ceased, and the only sound comes from the speakers. It doesn’t escape me that the song blaring through them is “Jack and Diane.” I swallow. Jaxon does too. He was my Jack. I was his Diane. It was us against the world—teenage lovers in a rural town. It was always supposed to be us.

“Well, this could be awkward,” Hunter says, his eyes bouncing between Jaxon and me as he chuckles.

Jaxon isn’t looking at me. He’s glaring at Hunter’s arm around me. Calista pastes on a smile, laces her elbow around his arm, and whispers something in his ear. As they walk by, Jaxon ignores me. But Calista doesn’t.

“Hi, Nicky. Nice to see you again,” she says in a cheerful greeting.

I’m speechless. I can’t get myself to respond so I smile awkwardly and let Hunter pull me inside.

“Ladies,” he says, “let’s get a drink. I’m buying.”

“The drinks are paid for, Hunter,” Paige says.

“Who do you think donated the money for this soiree?” He squeezes my shoulder. “Although, with your up-and-coming status as a national celebrity, you may be the one sponsoring future events.”

“I’m not a celebrity.”

He nods to our surroundings. Dozens of people inside stop talking and watch as we make our way to the bar. “By the looks of things, you are. Around here anyway.”

“Infamous is more like it,” I say, trying not to let the blatant stares get to me. “They aren’t staring at me because I’m on TV.”

“You’re right, they’re not. The men are staring because they want to fuck you. And the women are staring because they know the men want to fuck you.” My jaw drops as he pounds a fist on the bar and shouts, “Three tequilas!”

Donny, the owner and current bartender, shoots Hunter a nasty glance, then lays eyes on me and comes over. “Nicky, how are you? Caught you on TV last weekend. Good for you, darling. This town should be proud.”

Should be. Isn’t.

“Thanks, Donny. It’s really nice to see you. Hey, how’s Serenity?”

His smile falls when I ask about his daughter. Serenity was engaged to Jaxon’s brother Chaz when he died. She took off and hasn’t been seen in Calloway Creek since his funeral.

“Working in Sitka, Alaska.”

My eyes go wide. “Alaska?”

“Got herself a manager position at a bar up there.”

“But… Alaska? That’s about as far away as you can get from here.”

He pours our shots, looking sad. “I think that was the point.”

I put my hand on top of his. “I’m sorry, Donny. I know you must miss her.”

Everyone knows the story of Donny and Serenity. Donny’s wife died during childbirth. Serenity almost died right along with her. He raised her alone. She grew up in this pub, learning the business from top to bottom. I know he wanted to pass it down to her one day.

“Like I’d miss my right arm,” he says. “But you’re back, so maybe there’s hope she will be too someday.”

“I’m not back, Donny. I’m only here for a few months.”

“Enjoy ’em,” he says. “And be sure to spend time with your folks. Believe me when I say I know how much they’ve missed you.”

“I will.”

Hunter passes out our shots and raises his glass. “To ten years and us just gettin’ better.”

We drink.

Lindsey Schumer crosses the room. Lindsey and I were almost as good of friends as Paige and I were. Then she dropped me like I was on fire when the town heard the news about my infidelity. She approaches with arms wide open. “Nic!” She hugs me, squishing our boobs between us. “It’s been forever. I’ve missed you.”

Clearly, considering you haven’t bothered to call, text, or even message me over the past two years. “I’ve missed you too. What are you up to these days?”

“I’m an RN over at the hospital. I work in the ICU.”

“Impressive. Congratulations.”

“Not as impressive as you. XTN? You’ve really made something of yourself.”

“You save lives, Lindsey—there’s no comparison.”

“Hunter,” she says with a cringe.