Eyes land on us as I walk her over to the bar and wave for the short, black haired bartender to come over. She looks slightly familiar, but it isn’t until she gets close that I recognize her: Penelope Smith. She’s been Ava’s best friend since the second grade.

She scoops some ice into a glass when she sees Lyric and smiles, before turning to me. Her face turns white and she freezes, but then smiles again. “Holy shit, Ava was right.”

“Penelope,” I respond, as she leans over the bar and kisses my forehead. “You always were bad with greetings. Good to see you too.”

She looks back and forth between Lyric and me with a confused expression, before shaking it off and speaking. “Ava told me you were back. She also told me just how much hotter you’ve become. I was calling bullshit, but wow! Have you been working out or what?” She pours Lyric a Vodka and cranberry before looking back up at me. “What will it be, sexy?”

“A beer and a shot of whiskey for now.” I turn to Lyric, who’s already sipping on her drink, just watching our interaction. She looks slightly amused as if she’s waiting to hear more.

Penelope sets my drinks down in front of me and shakes her head while wiping down the bar. “I heard about Ryder and how he acted like a total jackass. Just ignore him. Everyone knows it wasn’t your fault. You did what you had–”

I quickly finish my shot and slam my empty glass down, stopping her midsentence. “This is not what I came here to hear, Penelope,” I growl out. “It’s in the past. I’m just in town long enough to find Alex and then I’m out.”

Lyric’s eyes shoot over in my direction before she takes a huge gulp of her drink and sets it down in front of her. “Where are you going?”

I grab my beer and hold it to my lips, looking Lyric in the eyes. I want to see that she understands. I’ll be gone soon. “As far away as I can get.”

“Why?” What’s wrong with being here?”

“I don’t belong here,” I say honestly. “I never have and there’s nothing here important enough to make me stay.”

Her eyes go hard before she clears her throat and turns her attention to Penelope, now watching us like a hawk. “Thanks for the drink, Penelope. Start me a tab, please.” She looks back over at me for a split second before walking away and over to a small crowd of people. I recognize one of them right away as her roommate, Bailey, and a feeling of relief washes over me. Good. I need her far away tonight.

“Sorry for being an ass,” I say and look up at Penelope, my jaw tense. She just shakes her head in understanding before sliding two shots in front of me with a small smile and going to help another customer that is holding up an empty beer bottle.

An hour, seven shots, and six beers later, I’m sitting here minding my own business and ignoring everyone around me, when I feel a hand on my shoulder and hear Trevor’s voice. I close my eyes and exhale, prepared to get this conversation over with. I’ve been gone for so long. I have no clue what everyone thinks of me . . . of what I did.

“What’s good tonight, man?” He nods his head at Penelope and winks before taking a seat next to me on the stool. “Give me a beer, babe, and maybe you in my bed again later,” he says as Penelope gives him the middle finger and laughs. “I love fucking with her.”

I take a drink of my beer and look up from the bar for one of the first times since Lyric walked away. It’s been my plan all along to just sit here, get fucked up, and pretend that no one else exists. I have to admit, it’s harder than I expected. “Doesn’t everyone?”

Trevor laughs and reaches for his beer as Penelope sets it down in front of us. “Thanks, babe.”

“Anytime sexy, asshole.” She flashes him a grin and then turns around and walks away, swaying her curvy ass to get back to work.

Trevor is silent for a moment before he takes a drink of his beer and pulls his eyes away. “Any luck on finding Alex so far? I went through my phone the other day and noticed that I had a number listed for Alex, but it said it was disconnected when I called. Sorry, bro.”

I shake my head and swallow back the pain that is rising. I don’t know whether to be mad at Alex or worried about the little shit.

“He’ll be back. For his fucking sake it better be soon.” I glance over my shoulder as Lyric calls out some drinks to Penelope.

She’s breathing heavily and trying her best to avoid eye contact with me. Maybe she finally gets it.

“Hey, you.” Trevor stands up and walks over to stand next to Lyric. “Damn, you’re sweaty, girl.”

Lyric’s eyes meet mine for a split second before she pulls them away and smiles at Trevor. “I like to dance.” She thanks Penelope for the drinks, grabs them, and looks back at Trevor. “Come join us. I need a new dancing partner. Liam can’t handle me.”

Trevor raises an eyebrow and watches in satisfaction as Lyric backs away and walks back over to her roommate and the two other guys. This dickhead better watch his shit.

“Damn!” Trevor reaches for his beer and slams it back before asking for a new one. “You going to join your girl over there or is she for the taking?”

Grinding my jaw, I watch as Lyric moves seductively to the music. She looks so fucking tempting that I want to taste every fucking inch of her until she’s squirming in my arms.

“No.” I pull my eyes away and back to my drink. I’ve already had too much to drink. Going over there will be bad news. “And she’s not my girl. She’s my neighbor. That’s it.”

“I didn’t figure she was.” He pats me on the back. “Memphis Carter with a girlfriend is unheard of. Glad to see you’re still the same guy.”

“What about Ava?” Penelope mentions out of nowhere, giving us both an evil look. “She should’ve been your girlfriend.”

I slide my empty glass in front of her and run my hand through my hair. I don’t want to get into this shit right now. “Ava knew what we were. That’s all that matters.” I nod toward my glass. “Another one.”

Rolling her eyes, she gives both of us an evil glare before filling my drink.

“Shit, man. I’ll be over there working on getting that fine ass in my bed.” He pats my back. “We’ll have to chat later.” He walks away and it takes everything in me not to break his damn jaw.