Following Me(18)

“Is that so?” Devon asked curiously.

“Psh! I’ve always known better than you.”

Devon wanted to ask Hadley what would be good for her. Maybe Hadley knew the answer. But the moment was lost.

“Here you are, ladies,” Garrett said, returning with three full glasses in his hands.

Devon accepted her drink out of his hand and smiled. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” he said with a broad grin as he handed Hadley some bright blue drink.

Devon took a gulp of her gin and tonic. It was the only way she could drink it. She didn’t really like gin, but it gave her the best buzz. She wasn’t sure why, but it worked so fast and made her so happy. She would gulp down the taste of pine needles to get to that high any day. Maybe she would eventually learn to like it.

She finished her drink in a hurry, wanting to wash away the memories of her dream along with the thoughts Hadley had forced into her mind. Devon might be a wreck later, but it was supposed to be her going-away party after all. She went to the bar and ordered another. She knew she should take it easy, but she didn’t want to.

When she returned, unfamiliar faces had overrun their table, and two other tables had been added to their corner. Hadley waved Devon over and introduced her to the group. They were all Hadley’s friends from work, all attached to her husband or fiancé. Devon didn’t care to know any of their names. They were here for Hadley anyway.

She took a vacant seat next to Garrett and pretended like she was interested in the conversation. Most of the conversation centered on things Devon didn’t think about—weddings, marriage, and babies.

Her mother wanted her baby girl to have a huge Southern wedding on a Nashville plantation covered in lace and lilies and complete with cowboy boots and bow ties. But Devon wouldn’t be the one to have that kind of wedding. If her appearance in Chicago was any indication, she certainly wasn’t ready for marriage.

“Sorry I’m late,” a voice said, breaking into the conversation.

Devon looked up to see Brennan standing near Garrett. He was staring at her, and she smiled at him, happy to know someone else here. He was dressed simply in dark fit jeans and a snug grey T-shirt. He had taken the time to do his hair. It seemed a day off suited him.

“Belle,” he said, nodding his head at Devon.

“It’s Devon,” she reminded him, like she had done all week.

He had taken to shortening Southern belle when he referred to her. She was pretty sure he would do it just because she would correct him about it.

“Hey, man!” Garrett said cheerfully. He stood and shook Brennan’s hand. “Good to see you.”

“You, too,” Brennan replied.

He never had as much enthusiasm as Garrett, but then again, Devon didn’t think many people did.

“Take my seat,” Garrett offered. “I’m heading to the bar. You want anything?”

“Just a beer,” Brennan said.

Garrett nodded and loped off toward the bar. Brennan took his vacant seat between Hadley and Devon. As he sat down, Devon noticed something was off about him. She wasn’t sure what it was, but his movements weren’t as graceful and his eyes were a bit glazed over. Was he drunk already?

When Brennan turned to look at her, she glanced down at her nails, acting as if she hadn’t been staring at him. She had been caught doing that one too many times this week. He just seemed like a puzzle she wanted to put together.

“When do you leave?” Brennan asked directly, still looking at her.

Devon shrugged, glancing up. “Soonish,” she said noncommittally.

“Are you going to stop by Jenn’s before you head out?”

She tilted her head to assess him. Was he asking her to stop by? She never knew with him. Sometimes, she thought he had liked her presence hanging around the restaurant and bothering him. Other times, he had treated her more like a bug he was trying to swat away. His changing moods kept her wondering about him.

“Probably,” she answered.

He nodded and then looked away.

What the hell was that about? she wondered. She really wanted to ask him, but prying into his personal business wasn’t a good idea because it was usually reciprocated.

Devon finished her second drink and placed it on the table in front of them. She glanced over at the bar, which was now overly crowded. She decided she didn’t want to go over there to wait in line.

“We should have had this party at Jenn’s,” Devon said, leaning into Brennan when she spoke.

He turned back to face her, and she found they were much closer together than they had been.

“You think?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

She glanced down at his lips and then back up before she scooted a little farther away. He smelled good.

“I, uh…well, at least then I wouldn’t have to wait in line,” she said, gesturing to the bar.

“But then, I’d be working,” he reminded her. “And I kind of like being here.”

Devon swallowed and wondered if he meant he liked being here with her. No, that was ridiculous. Although, she liked being here with him right now, but she would never say that.

“Someone has to be working tonight since you’re not there, right?” Devon asked, trying to stay on topic.

He was just a lot closer than she should have been comfortable with, but somehow it didn’t bother her.