Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(93)

Ten minutes pass and every time I look up at my husband, a new floozy tries to occupy the stool next to his. It’s not like he’s flirting or anything, but I can tell he doesn’t want to be rude so while he watches me, he talks to them but never looks at them. And they just don’t give up!

One woman actually reaches up to his cheek and pulls his face to face her. What a ho!

Take a hint, honey!

When the umpteenth woman tries her hand at my husband, I’ve had it. I tell the girls I need a drink and head over to the bar. Once I’m in hearing distance, I yell out, “Asher, honey!”

He turns to face me with a smile. Miss brunette with glitter eye shadow does not.

Putting on my best dumb bimbo, I squeak, “There you are. I need your help.” Doing a really slow and obvious wink, I whisper loudly, “I need you to touch my no-no again. It’s all tingly.” Pouting, I say, “And I like when you touch it.”

Miss brunette gapes and says, “And you are?”

Not missing a beat, I roll my eyes and tell her, “His sister.”

And she actually gags.

Ash’s body shakes with silent laughter and we both watch as Miss Brunette scurries away. Pulling me to stand between his legs, he says, “That was cruel and gross. But I give you an A-plus for creativity.”

Turning to face him, I utter, “So much for the guys coming onto me. All the women are hanging off you tonight!”

A slow and surprised smile graces his gorgeous face, “Jealous?”

I scoff, “What? No! Hell no! Not even a little.” He just smirks knowingly and I concede, “Maybe just a smidge.”

Stefan the Sheriff comes over to us and from behind the bar, he looks me up and down not so discreetly. Holding his heart, he says, “My God, Nat. You can’t wear shit like that and expect me to be able to work without watching you every other minute.”

Ash scowls at him and opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off by telling Sheriff on a loud whisper, “I’m not even wearing panties, honey.”

Sheriff blinks once, twice, three times. Then he asks hoarsely, “What are you doing later?”

Ash looks at Sheriff like he’s going to kick his ass and I burst into laughter. Wrapping my arm around Ash and leaning into him, I tell Sheriff, “Have you met my husband, Sheriff?”

Ash wraps his arm around my waist and says, “Don’t think I’ll ever get sick of hearing you call me that.”

Sheriff looks to Ash and splutters, “N- Nat. She- She was the one. The talk…”

Ash smirks, nods and tells him, “I got my girl. Well, technically, my wife.”

I have no idea what they’re talking about, but they seem to know, so I don’t bother asking. Sheriff turns to me and says sincerely, “Congratulations, guys. Let me get you some champagne.”

When Sheriff returns with our glasses, we each take one and raise them. Smiling I say, “To us.”

Ash looks up in thought and says, “To happiness.”

Nodding, I utter, “To a long life together.”

Ash smiles, reaches up and grips the back of my neck. He pulls me closer to him til we’re nose-to-nose and mutters, “That’s a good one.”

I peck his lips and say between kisses, “You sure you can handle me, big boy?”

His body shakes with silent laughter. He runs his nose up the length of mine and says, “Baby, you were made for me.”

Stilling, I whisper, “That’s a good one.”

He kisses my lips and I close my eyes.

To happiness.

***

Fuck my life!

I’m running late to work for the first time in ever, but in my defense, I seem to have drunk too much last night and am hungover.

I didn’t say it was a great defense.

My head throbs, my stomach aches and I can barely open my eyes. I feel like I’m gonna ralph any second and as I walk through the door to Safira’s, Tina booms, “Good morning, hon!”

Okay, so she doesn’t say it all that loudly, but it feels like my eardrums are going to explode.

Cringing, I tell her, “Quiet, please. I feel like crap.”

A look of guilt crosses her face and she whispers, “Sorry!”

Great, now I feel like shit. Making my way over to her, I hug her and tell her, “Don’t be. It’s my fault. I’m hungover.”

Tina looks confused before saying, “Okay, well how about you do some nice relaxing inventory today?”

Sitting on my ass all day at a computer rather than having to listen to whiny customers and see the light of day which, by the way, is burning my retinas to a crisp, sounds like a plan. I’ll take inventory with a big yes please!

Squeezing her, I tell her, “This is why I love you, babe. You’re the greatest.”

Shuffling my way into the store room, I throw my bag down, take out my bottle of water and aspirin, chug two and sit behind the desk. I don’t think I’ve ever been so hungover before. When I click on the inventory software to open, all the letters and numbers look jumbled together. I can’t see clearly and the screen is making my headache worse. Lowering my forehead to the cool wooden surface of the desk, I breathe deeply and try to calm myself.

Now is not the time to get frustrated. Besides, if I am going to be frustrated at someone, I only have myself to blame.