Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(80)

“No,” I said. “Jean and Ada, they’re it for me. I’m there whenever I’m not working or hitting the gym with you. They’re my life now, man, and it’s good. It’s really good. I can talk to her about anything, you know?”

“Are you sure this is what she wants, though, you guys selling the Dive Bar?”

“Honestly, we haven’t gone into specifics. I’ve kind of avoided it because I didn’t want to put any more pressure on her. She just wants stability and the best life for Ada,” I said. “She never expected to be a mom this early and I know she worries a lot about messing things up. God knows her own parents aren’t the best example. Though they’re making an effort with Ada.”

“Mm.”

“But you can’t fault Jean for being a good mother and putting her kid first,” I continued. “Whether she decides what’s best is here or down South, I guess we’ll see.”

“Fair enough.” He slapped me on the back hard enough to nearly knock me off my seat. Bastard. “No shit. I’m going to miss you if you go, man.”

“Are you going to cry?”

“Shut up.”

“’Cause I think I’ll cry if you do. Really. It will be beautiful.”

He ignored me.

We both watched the idiot behind the bar screw up a few more cocktails in silence for a while. Jesus, he was incompetent. My fingers itched to hop over the bar and take charge. Teach him what was up or fire him, one or the other.

“It’ll all work out,” I said, willing it to be so. “Think she’ll make a decision soon, though. Then we’ll know what’s going on. Yeah.”

Joe just nodded.

Fuck, I hope Jean made her mind up soon. The suspense was driving me crazy.

“You going to tell Lydia and Nell about this visit?” asked Joe.

“Yeah, I think I should be honest with them. After all we’ve done to put the Dive Bar together. They deserve to know.”

“Bet you won’t tell your girlfriend, though.” He picked up a couple of nuts, chucking them in the air and catching them with his mouth. “You don’t want to put any pressure on her.”

I scowled. “What’s your problem?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Just seems like, if everything’s so great between you two, don’t you think you should let her know where you’re at?”

I said nothing.

“When there’s shit to be decided between Alex and I, we hash it out together.”

“You’re forgetting, I’m not Ada’s biological father,” I said. “Legally, I’m not Ada’s anything. I can’t make that decision for them.”

Joe just raised his brows.

“What does that mean?”

“Worried that if you don’t talk to her about all of this, lay it on the line, one day you might regret it,” he said. “That’s all. And she won’t have a fucking clue because you never talked to her about it. For all she knows, you’re happy to pick up and move tomorrow, right?”

“She’s got enough on her plate as it is. I don’t want to stress her out.”

“What, you think she’s going to kick you out or something for having an opinion?”

“No.”

He didn’t even pause. “Because I’ve seen the way the woman looks at you. Even from the first day she turned up in town, you two have been stupid about each other in your own sweet ways.”

I swore, but actually it was kind of nice to hear that. Still, talk about sticking your nose in where it wasn’t wanted … “I’ve got it under control.”

“No, you don’t. She’s a grown-ass woman, Eric. Start treating her like one. Talk to her, tell her about this place and what you’re thinking,” he said, his voice serious, even stern. “I know you’re crazy about each other. But you have to communicate. You’re not sheltering her from shit. Not really.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll think about it. Jesus.”

“Good.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t feel good at all.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Eh!”

“How’s my best girl?” I crooned, taking Ada off Jean about two seconds after she’d walked into the Dive Bar. It was the night after Joe’s and my ill-fated trip to the resort, and I’d been basking in being back in a proper bar again. Basking? Hell, I was glowing. The poor schmuck who’d wandered up to the bar and innocently asked if he could have a paloma hadn’t known what hit him. In the history of the world, no one had ever mixed tequila and grapefruit into such an art form.

“Thought we’d come have dinner down here and sneak in a visit,” said Jean.

“You’re always welcome here.” I stole a kiss off her. “It’s been a slow night. The storm’s keeping people home. How’s your day been?”

Jean fluffed up her hair. “Busy. You’re now the official owner of half of the cupboard.”

“First you buy me a toothbrush and now you’ve made room in the cupboard?”

Pink tinged her cheeks. “I want it to feel like home for you too. I know there’s no immediate plans to get rid of your apartment, but…”