Absolution(58)

He followed her gaze. “Looks like a good bet.”

He kept his eye on the group of people who were exiting the booth, deep in conversation over the music blaring out from the jukebox. Ally began navigating slowly across the room towards them and he fell in behind her, watching nervously. She seemed confident enough, but it wasn’t her he worried about, it was everyone else. Half the bar was intoxicated, and as a result, completely self-absorbed. As if to illustrate his fears, she narrowly avoided being knocked over by a drunken patron who slurred an apology as he eyed her up with open curiosity. With one eye on the table and one on Ally, he made a quick judgment call, recklessly abandoning chivalry to walk ahead of her. With one arm held out protectively towards her, they moved slowly through the crowd towards the corner.

They finally got to the booth as the last of the table-stragglers was leaving. He waited while she eased herself in, sliding in opposite her. She quickly stowed her crutches beneath the table and away from the masses, and then it was just the two of them, smiling nervously at each other over the table.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Her smile became more genuine. “Thanks for your help.”

Trepidation melted away a little.

“You’re welcome. Right,” he stood up again and dug out his wallet from the depths of his pocket. “First things first: beer. I’ll be right back.”

He fought his way through the crowd to the bar and waited impatiently to be served. He glanced back at her a few times, but she seemed engrossed in people-watching. Someone jostled him, apologising loudly. He brushed it off, moving closer to the bar.

“Jack!”

The throngs of people around that end of the bar seemed to hush and he turned around slowly, holding his breath.

“I thought that was you. Heard you were back in town.”

Brown eyes narrowed slightly as a guy he went to school with made his way through the crowd towards him.

“Dave.” He greeted him formally, offering his hand. They had never been particularly close and he was wary now. It couldn’t hurt to be polite. “It’s been a long time.”

Dave reached out to shake it. “Sorry to hear about your Dad.”

“Thanks.”

With a nod of his head, Dave indicated the booth where Ally sat. “Never thought I’d see the day you two were back in here, together. Almost like old times huh?”

Jack nodded, uncomfortable with the comparison. “I guess so.”

“So, what the hell happened to you? We thought you were dead, you just dropped off the face of the earth.”

Jack smiled tightly. Polite conversation was one thing, but the answers to questions like this weren’t something he could just whip out of thin air in the middle of a crowded bar. “Yeah. I guess it might’ve seemed that way.”

He kept an eye on the bar behind him, searching for an excuse to order their drinks and escape the scrutiny.

“It did seem that way,” Dave insisted, his gaze leveling uncomfortably on him. “I can’t believe she’s even giving you the time of day after you disappeared like that. If it were me, I sure as hell wouldn’t.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but none of this is any of your business, is it?” Jack silently dared him to say more. He pushed his wallet back into his pocket, preparing to defend himself physically, if it came to that.

“Dave!” Harry barked from behind the bar. “Back off. I don’t want any trouble in here tonight – I’m getting too old for this shit. Jack, what are you having?”

“Beer,” Jack answered, never taking his eyes off Dave. “Two.”

Dave glanced back at Harry, stony-faced. “Fair enough. I’m not looking for any trouble. Just had to say my two cents worth.”

“Well, you’ve said it. Now go bother someone else,” Harry grumbled, pulling out two beers and popping the tops off them as he shot Dave a withering frown.

“I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking,” Dave insisted.

Jack kept an eye on him as he dug into his pocket again and withdrew his wallet, trying desperately to stop his hands from trembling. Adrenaline coursed through his system as he handed cash over the bar and took the bottles from Harry.

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

Harry leaned over the bar and pushed the cash back in Jack’s direction. “Put your money away, first beer’s on the house. Callum told me what you did to McLeish. Welcome home.”