Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(39)

Hallie’s eyes bounce between me and the stranger I’m sitting next to, and because I can read her like a fucking book, I know she thinks we’re here together.

“You got it.” Hallie turns to Zanders and Stevie. “And for you two?”

“Um . . .” Zee hesitates, nodding in the direction of another bartender working behind the bar. “We’ll go up and grab a round ourselves. It’s busy. You’re busy, so don’t worry about it.”

“No need.” Hallie’s smile is forced now. “There’s an open tab for your party already. It’ll make it easier if you order through me.”

There’s a long pause because no one wants her waiting on us. She should be hanging out with us.

“I’ll take . . .” Stevie begins. “Something on draft. An IPA if you have one.”

“Same,” Zanders adds.

Kylie scoots in closer. “What are you going to get?”

Hallie finally looks in my direction and I watch her jaw tense as she waits for my order.

I shake my head. “Nothing for me, Hal.”

Hallie immediately turns back to the bar, quickly weaving through bodies and I lose her in the crowd before I can even register what just happened.

“You two seem to have some history,” Kylie observes.

“You could say that. Look, Kylie, you seem like a nice girl, but I’m not in the position to meet anyone right now. My head is somewhere else at the moment.”

With someone else at the moment.

A smile tilts on her lips. “Don’t worry about it, but you should probably go tell her we aren’t here together.”

“Did you know she worked here?” Zee asks.

“Not a fucking clue.”

I’m immediately out of my seat to follow Hallie, and at the same time, our rookie stands from his seat too.

For a moment, I want to ask him what the hell he’s thinking, trying to ask her out. Doesn’t he remember she was waiting outside our practice for me? But then I recall that he was sick that day and has no idea that his favorite bartender and I have history.

“I’m going to do it!” His tipsy grin is way too big. “I’m going to go ask for her number.”

“Hey, Rook?”

He looks my way, so stupidly excited. “Yeah?”

“Sit the fuck down.”

“Yep.”

He does just that, and as I leave the table to go find Hallie, I hear Kylie turn and introduce herself to him.

There are so many people packed up against the bar, trying to order. There’s another woman working the well, and a guy taking orders from waiting patrons, while Hallie is busy getting our table’s drinks made.

I push my way past waiting customers to get as close to her as I can.

“Hey, watch it!” someone yells with a shove to my chest that does absolutely nothing to move me.

I simply lift a brow at his attempt.

“Holy hell. You’re Rio DeLuca. Man, I’m a huge fan. Didn’t mean to shove you.” He opens his arms, giving me a path to the bar. “Go for it. Or can I get you a drink? Let me get you a drink.”

“Not drinking tonight, but thanks.”

“Hey!” he yells at Hallie. “Hey, barkeep! I need to order.”

I step in front of him, blocking his view of her. “Do not fucking talk to her like that. Wait your turn. She’s busy.”

He holds his hands up. “I’m trying to get you a drink, man. Chill.”

Turning my back on him and collecting myself, I face Hallie and raise my voice over the rowdy bar. “What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” she asks while also pouring a beer on draft. “I’m working.”

“Why?”

“Because I work here.”

“You know what I’m asking.”

“Rio, leave me alone and let me do my job. I’ll be over in a minute with your friends’ drinks.”

“Do you need money or something?”

Shit. That came out wrong.

She pauses, turning off the tap to keep it from spilling over. “Fuck you.”

“If you need money, I can—”

“You can what? Give me some? Help me out? Jesus,” she laughs in disbelief. “We haven’t seen each other in six years, Rio. You think I’m going to just take your money? You have literally no idea what I’ve been through since we last saw each other.”

That gives me pause. She’s angry and she’s right. I have no idea what these last six years looked like for her. And I haven’t taken the time to ask.

“Tell me then.”

Her voice is sharp as she continues to pour drinks. “Go back to your table.”

“Is this where you’ve been every night this week? Is this why you’re getting home after two in the morning? You’re working days at the design firm and nights here. Why?”

“Oh my God, Rio. Because I’m broke! Is that what you need to hear? Have I embarrassed myself enough that you’ll leave me alone now?”

Shit.

“Hallie, nothing about that is embarrassing.”

She scoffs a disbelieving laugh. “Yeah, it’s not at all embarrassing to bartend for you and your teammates. Go back to your date.”