Chapter 4

Iline the shot glasses up along the bar. I try to flip the bottle like Colt does, but I fail. Thankfully, he's next to me and manages to catch it.

"Let's go a night without breaking a glass before we are flipping bottles."

"Sorry." I take the bottle back from him and pour the shots before stacking them onto my tray. The bar is slowly starting to fill up. I take the round of shots over to a table full of girls next to the jukebox. I've never seen them before, but that's not really saying much since I myself have only been in Cottonwood for two weeks.

"Here you ladies go." I slowly place each shot glass down on the table.

"Can you be any slower? Jesus." The blonde snatches the last two shot glasses off my tray, making me drop it.

"Sorry." They all laugh as I bend down to pick the tray up. I'm grateful this one was empty. "Can I get you anything else?" A redhead motions me away with her hand.

A pang of hurt hits me. It shouldn't. I don't know them. What does it matter what they think of me or how they treat me? Maybe I thought bullying was over when I left prep school.

"Look who it is." June pops up beside me out of nowhere. How the hell does she do that? "I thought it was dollar shot night, not bitches who peaked in high school night."

"Shut the fuck up, June. You've never peaked," the blonde snips.

"I kinda peaked when your boyfriend tried to get me to go to prom with him. How is Derrick, by the way?" June gives the sweetest smile.

"Fuck you!"

"Why so angry? Did you find out about him and Nics?" June nods to the girl in a pink dress sitting at the same table.

"Nics!" the blonde hisses.

"She's fucking lying!" Nics hisses back.

"June?"

"My work here is done." June snags her arm through mine, guiding me back toward the bar.

"Was that true?"

"Maybe. Derrick will fuck anything." I snort a laugh.

"You're vicious."

"Someone has to be their karma."

"I take it you went to school with them?"

"The blonde and the redhead. A year older."

I peek back over at the table. Nics and the blonde are going at it. "I think they're going to get in a fight."

"Nah, like I said… Derrick fucks everyone, and Clara always forgives him."

"That's sad. Maybe that's why she's ah?—"

"You can say it." June smirks.

"Rude." I nod. "Yes, that's what she is, rude and grumpy."

"A bitch. The word is bitch." June laughs. "Where did you grow up?"

"The city. For the most part. I went to prep school in Europe." I try to be vague.

"Prep school? Europe?" Her face is one of shock.

"I did college in the States on the East Coast."

"You went to college? After prep school?" I can tell from her expression that she is trying to piece my life together. June knows how to slowly work information out of you. "Why are you here?"

"It's a cute town."

"Working in a bar?" She lifts an eyebrow.

"Fresh start. Girl's got to spread her wings."

"Make sure that's the only thing you spread. Cole's a whore." I laugh but quickly put my hand over my mouth to stop myself.

"Cole's nice and harmless." He must feel us watching him because he turns and winks at us.

"That man is not harmless. Ask half the girls in this town."

"That's kinda gross."

"Yeah, everyone around here is Eskimo brothers."

"Eskimo what?"

"Eskimo brothers. It's when two guys have slept with the same girl." I blink, trying to digest that. "Yeah, I know. It's weird. That"s why I don't date around here."

"Then where do you date?"

"Don't tell my brother, but I don't really date."

"Your brother?" She's mentioned him a few times, but I didn't think he lived here.

"He's back in town." A smile touches her lips. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Yeah." A pang of sadness hits me. "He's a bit older than me, and he has pretty much no contact with the family."

"Kind of like you?"

"Why do I feel like you're always interrogating me?" If it were anyone else, I would probably shut down, but I find I want to get to know June.

"Just tryin' to get to know ya." She shrugs. I start to make her a drink. June leans up against the bar. "My brother is older too."

"But you're close?"

"Kinda. I wish he'd move back, but he's different since he left the SEALs. I don't know if something happened or what, but he never speaks about the time he served."

"I bet he's seen some sad things." I place her vodka cranberry in front of her.

"Thanks."

I get back to work as the bar starts to fill up more. June flits around the bar, talking to everyone. She really is a social butterfly. I don't think she has a shy bone in her body.

My breath catches when the bar door swings open and a man steps through. A very handsome and tall man who seems to tower over everyone else. People step out of his way. A few say hello. I've never seen a man as big as him. I wonder if he's from the Army base. He's definitely a new face for me. There is no way I would have forgotten him.

When he turns, his eyes lock with mine, making every part of me freeze. His gray eyes are captivating. Never have I seen anything like them. They remind me of a brewing storm. He stares right at me. His expression is unreadable.

"Paisley." Cole nudges me with his elbow.

"What?" I jerk my attention away from the man. My face fills with warmth, making my cheeks burn.

"There is a bottle of 30-year-old Glenfiddich in my bottom left desk drawer. Can you grab it for me?"

"Yeah." I take the key from his hand. When I peek back at the man, he"s still watching me. That is until June practically jumps onto him. The man drops his gaze down to her with a smile.

A weird jealousy fills me. I push it away, but I know I won't be able to push away my thoughts of him.

Why?

I have no freaking clue.