to see wasn’t going to do her any favors. It might have done Noah some favors, but he couldn’t let Tenn be in the dark about the situation with Amber.
He watched Tenn take in the situation and her entire body snapped rigid. Amber, Noah’s old high-school girlfriend, had him cornered next to the walk-in coolers they used to store beer. It was a little-used space, closed off from normal foot traffic, but directly across from where they stood. She was pressed up against him, wearing little more than a bikini and a pair of worn denim shorts. Typical lake wear for this time of year, but not acceptable at the pub.
“Tenn, wait. Let’s go talk to Noah and sort this out. I know it’s not what it looks like.”
Reaching for her hand was useless, she was already stalking away.
“Tenn! Wait, dammit.”
Turning to face him she said, “Chris, you’d better let me go.” She had always been a woman of few words.
His best friend’s face right at that moment would haunt him. She looked broken. Earlier when he’d said all those awful things to her, she’d looked angry and hurt. In this moment, as she walked away from him for the second time in less than eight hours, he knew Noah had done Tenn more damage in five minutes than Chris could ever accomplish in a lifetime. For such a capable man, his brother could be particularly dense when it came to women.
He watched her leave through the main door of the pub and disappear into the parking lot beyond. Turning, he took in Noah and Amber. She was pressed up against his brother, practically dry humping his leg, with her blonde hair swinging down her back. She was the antithesis of Tenn, and always had been. With long legs and a thin build, she’d spent her high school years tying Noah in knots, until he’d finally wised up to her games and dropped her like a hot potato. Back then, she had moved on to another football player without looking back. But high school had been a long time ago, and when Noah arrived back in town as a local hero she’d all but thrown herself at him.
Anger built in Chris, boiling over as he stalked to the back of the pub. When he reached them, he physically pulled Amber off his brother and set her a few feet away. She staggered for a moment before wrapping her arms around Chris, pressing her small chest into him.
“Hey, baby.” Her words came out slurred and he could smell the alcohol coming off her in waves. “Wanna go somewhere?”
“Not with you.”
He turned to blast Noah with his temper but had to pull up short as Amber copped a feel of his crotch.
“Jesus, woman. Get your hands off me.” Pulling her hand away and stepping out of her reach was harder than he’d anticipated. He experienced a small twinge of sympathy for his brother; the woman had eight drunken-octopus hands.
Watching Chris fight off Amber brought a smile to Noah’s face, before he noticed Tenn wasn’t right behind Chris. Taking in the pub, no Tenn in sight, he caught Molly’s eye. She promptly offered him an evil glare and began making her way over to their threesome.
Chris was still battling Amber’s roving hands when Molly reached them. “Amber, honey, take your hands off of that man before I throw your perky little ass out.”
“You can’t do that.” She glanced at Noah, while still groping Chris, and said, “Tell her, Noah.”
“If Molly doesn’t take care of it, I will. Go on back to your friends and let them know you’re ready to go.” He waved over a group of women and made sure they had a sober driver before letting them pull Amber away.
She didn’t leave without trying to grope both him and Chris one last time.
He stood there and watched both Chris and Molly take a battle stance in front of him. It was a toss-up who was going to blast him first. Molly opened her mouth, but Chris beat her to it.
“You dirty son of a bitch. An hour ago you were telling me you wanted to marry my best friend. And we come downstairs to see Amber wrapped
He watched Tenn take in the situation and her entire body snapped rigid. Amber, Noah’s old high-school girlfriend, had him cornered next to the walk-in coolers they used to store beer. It was a little-used space, closed off from normal foot traffic, but directly across from where they stood. She was pressed up against him, wearing little more than a bikini and a pair of worn denim shorts. Typical lake wear for this time of year, but not acceptable at the pub.
“Tenn, wait. Let’s go talk to Noah and sort this out. I know it’s not what it looks like.”
Reaching for her hand was useless, she was already stalking away.
“Tenn! Wait, dammit.”
Turning to face him she said, “Chris, you’d better let me go.” She had always been a woman of few words.
His best friend’s face right at that moment would haunt him. She looked broken. Earlier when he’d said all those awful things to her, she’d looked angry and hurt. In this moment, as she walked away from him for the second time in less than eight hours, he knew Noah had done Tenn more damage in five minutes than Chris could ever accomplish in a lifetime. For such a capable man, his brother could be particularly dense when it came to women.
He watched her leave through the main door of the pub and disappear into the parking lot beyond. Turning, he took in Noah and Amber. She was pressed up against his brother, practically dry humping his leg, with her blonde hair swinging down her back. She was the antithesis of Tenn, and always had been. With long legs and a thin build, she’d spent her high school years tying Noah in knots, until he’d finally wised up to her games and dropped her like a hot potato. Back then, she had moved on to another football player without looking back. But high school had been a long time ago, and when Noah arrived back in town as a local hero she’d all but thrown herself at him.
Anger built in Chris, boiling over as he stalked to the back of the pub. When he reached them, he physically pulled Amber off his brother and set her a few feet away. She staggered for a moment before wrapping her arms around Chris, pressing her small chest into him.
“Hey, baby.” Her words came out slurred and he could smell the alcohol coming off her in waves. “Wanna go somewhere?”
“Not with you.”
He turned to blast Noah with his temper but had to pull up short as Amber copped a feel of his crotch.
“Jesus, woman. Get your hands off me.” Pulling her hand away and stepping out of her reach was harder than he’d anticipated. He experienced a small twinge of sympathy for his brother; the woman had eight drunken-octopus hands.
Watching Chris fight off Amber brought a smile to Noah’s face, before he noticed Tenn wasn’t right behind Chris. Taking in the pub, no Tenn in sight, he caught Molly’s eye. She promptly offered him an evil glare and began making her way over to their threesome.
Chris was still battling Amber’s roving hands when Molly reached them. “Amber, honey, take your hands off of that man before I throw your perky little ass out.”
“You can’t do that.” She glanced at Noah, while still groping Chris, and said, “Tell her, Noah.”
“If Molly doesn’t take care of it, I will. Go on back to your friends and let them know you’re ready to go.” He waved over a group of women and made sure they had a sober driver before letting them pull Amber away.
She didn’t leave without trying to grope both him and Chris one last time.
He stood there and watched both Chris and Molly take a battle stance in front of him. It was a toss-up who was going to blast him first. Molly opened her mouth, but Chris beat her to it.
“You dirty son of a bitch. An hour ago you were telling me you wanted to marry my best friend. And we come downstairs to see Amber wrapped
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