Irreplaceable

Her phone chirped again, and I saw the struggle on her face as she tried to ignore it. Preoccupied in her head, she walked to the sink with her empty plate.

“I’m feeling a little zombie action myself,” she said with an awkward chuckle.

How could I watch her sit beside me with anxious tremors all night? I wouldn’t do that to her.

“Give me ten minutes and we’ll go.”

“What?” She whipped around, jaw dropped.

“I need to change, and then we’ll go check in on your lover boy. However, when we get back, it’s a chick flick—my choice.” I stood up, plate in hand, and headed to the sink.

In a flash, she flung herself at me, wrapping me in a tight embrace. “Too tight!” I yelped, my chest screaming at her to release me. She dropped her arms instantly and pulled back, frowning.

“Shit, so sorry. How long did the doctor say your ribs were gonna be sore?”

“Another week or two, so no more bear hugs, got it?”

“Deal! Now you’re sure you want to go? We don’t have to. I’m a big girl, and I’ll be all ri—”

“No, I don’t want to go, but I’m not going to watch you worry yourself into a seizure either. I‘m sure you’ll find Caleb down there charming customers into buying more drinks, and not trying to get into their panties. And when you do, we’re coming straight back here.”

I walked toward my bedroom door as she called out, “You’re the best!”

The thought of going out was one I dreaded. Still, I ran a brush through my knotted hair and tugged on a clean shirt and faded blue jeans. Sitting in her car on the icy roads and spending any time inside Haven so soon was not sitting well with me, but that’s what friends were for, and I wasn’t about to leave her hanging because of my own issues.

Chapter Seven

Undercover

Once Hilary was parked, she bolted from the car, slowing down and looking back once she was halfway out of the parking lot. She’d been a bundle of nerves the entire drive, which meant I was nearly wrecked. Her thumbs had kept a constant beating rhythm on the steering wheel. My anxiety had been lost in pleas with the universe that she was keeping her focus on the road and not the possibility of walking in and finding Caleb with another girl.

As we headed to the double doors of the swanky restaurant, I grimaced. It was time to face the music—literally. Even on a Sunday night after nine, Haven was alive with locals. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out to catch the incoming text from my mother.

Just checking in. Love u.

“Logan?” Hilary interrupted my thoughts.

I shoved the phone back in my jeans and gave her a quick head shake. I still hadn’t heard a word from him, although he’d made it clear I wouldn’t. I just hated that I kept waiting for his call or unexpected text.

My body stiffened and I closed my eyes as we passed the infamous alley. Not even quickening my pace could stop the sizzling of my nerves and raging of my heart pounding against my ribcage.

“You sure you’re okay being here?” Hilary asked, sensing my stiffness. “We can go. I don’t mind. I shouldn’t have even brought you here. I don’t know what I was—”

“I promise, I’m fine,” I said, swallowing the golf-ball-sized lump constricting my throat. “Now stop asking. I had to come back here eventually.” I held a contrived smile as long as I could, but she wasn’t buying it. The girl knew me better than anyone.

“Come on, let’s get this over with so you can see how crazy you are,” I added, snaking my arm through hers.

I’m fine, I repeated in my head. We’ll sneak in, and then right back out. I just hoped it would be that quick. While I’d gotten dressed, Hilary had been talking to Jennifer on the phone. Turned out there was a mystery woman at the bar putting on a show, ready to pounce on Caleb any minute. Hilary was no pushover, nor was she shy when it came to defending what was hers. Whomever this woman was, she was about to have an eventful evening—and not the kind she’d been hoping for with Caleb.

The moment we stepped inside, I knew it wasn’t going to be so simple. Jennifer saw us immediately, and diverted us to a corner in the back. Oh the drama. My head was already throbbing.

“Where is this skank?” Hilary hissed, eyes scanning the dimly lit room.

The place was packed with diners laughing and soaking up the atmosphere. The bar was taken up by drinkers looking for company, and the dance floor was covered with sweaty bodies ready to move their nights to more private locations.

“Over there—dark hair, green dress,” Jennifer answered, eyes fixed on the barstool across from Caleb.

The mystery woman wasn’t hard to miss. Her long, shiny coat of dark wavy locks swung as her shoulders shook from laughter. The cut of her emerald-green dress let anyone interested know that she’d come out looking for more than just a drink. However, it wasn’t she who held my attention or caused my anxiety to catapult.

With a heavy heart, I placed my hand on Hilary’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’s not what you think.”

Did I really just say that? It was the same line she’d said to me over a year ago, and here we stood, watching Caleb leaning over the bar, inches from the woman, intrigued as if she’d said the most marvelous thing.

I waited for Hilary to say something—anything. Instead, she squared her shoulders and stomped toward them. I followed, ready as her backup for whatever she needed.

“Hey Caleb, how’s work going?” Hilary’s voice dripped with sarcasm and held a nasty bite.

“Hilary.” Caleb straightened himself, his face losing color by the second.

The woman in the green dress twirled to meet our gaze, and my stomach churned. Natasha.

Hilary’s face was plastered with an enormous contrite grin as she extended her hand to the woman she was ready to bitch slap across the room.

“Hi, I’m Hilary. You must be new in town.”

Natasha only glanced impassively at the hand in front of her, then resumed sipping on her glass before answering. “I am, and Caleb here is doing a wonderful job keeping me company.” Natasha set her sights on Caleb and never looked away, ignoring the threatening glare set on her.

“Is that so?” Hilary’s narrowed eyes darted to Caleb’s. “How sweet of him.”

“I need to go check on something in the back. Hilary, would you mind helping me out?” Caleb asked, his wide eyes begging. I wanted to feel for the guy, seeing how nervous he was, but the flirty act between him and Natasha couldn’t be denied.

Caleb stepped around the bar and reached for an arm Hilary had crossed over her chest. She didn’t budge it, but after a pause filled with menacing glares, she followed him reluctantly. She looked back at me and I nodded, letting her know I’d be there waiting.

“You look familiar. Have we met before?”

Great. Now I was stuck standing next to a curious-looking Natasha waiting for me to answer. The night was going down the drain quickly. I wasn’t sure if she recognized me from New Year’s, since she was only there a brief moment, but I wasn’t about to help her out.

“I don’t think so,” I replied.

I walked a few stools down quickly, following the curve of the bar until Natasha was blocked out of view, and took a seat. From there, I caught sight of Hilary and Caleb standing around the corner in the back. He was trying to explain himself—or so it looked like, from the constant movement of his lips and frantic arm motions—but she wasn’t hearing it. Finally, his hands came down on her shoulders, and he crushed his mouth onto hers. She struggled under him for only a moment, and I shifted my uncomfortable gaze elsewhere.