“I doubt Colton’s going to kick out his fiancée’s friends.” The blonde rolls her eyes.
Okay, I’m officially crazy, or maybe I had one too many beers—not that I feel even a little drunk—but these chicks are seriously pissing me off.
“He is not her fiancé,” I growl.
“He is.” The blonde leans forward, pushing me in the chest with a finger.
Um, hell to the no.
“Did you just touch me?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?” she snaps, taking a step closer to me.
Leaning forward, I open my mouth to reply, but jump back when—“What the fuck is going on?” echoes through the room. Putting Gia behind me, my eyes fly to the door, where Colton is standing, looking pissed.
“Thank God you’re here. This crazy girl was just telling us that you and Lisa aren’t together!” the brunette cries, dramatically pointing at me.
Hearing a rumbled, “June, come here,” my eyes skate past Colton’s shoulder and meet Evan’s cold gaze.
Crap.
“I told you once, and this is the last time I’m saying it. Get the fuck out and stay the fuck out. You are not welcome at my bar,” Colton grits out though his teeth, and I fight the urge to stick my tongue out at the girls and say “I told you so.”
“But—” one of the girls whispers, as Colton roars, “Now!” making them jump and move quickly through the small space Colton and Evan allow them.
“Gia, baby, are you okay?” Colton asks, and I turn to look at Gia, seeing her face is set in annoyance, but her eyes look watery.
“I’m fine.” She moves, turning her back on him, going into the stall, and shutting the door.
“June,” Evan repeats, and my eyes move to him.
“Give me five and I’ll be out.”
“You don’t come out and I have to come back in, we’re gonna have problems.”
“And where exactly am I going to go?” I ask him, which probably isn’t the right thing to say, since his jaw ticks at my question. “I’ll be out.” I sigh then look at Colton, and whisper, “I’ll make sure she’s okay,” pushing the door and effectively moving him out of the bathroom.
“Is he gone?” Gia asks after a moment from the other side of the stall door.
“Yeah.”
“God, I hate those girls,” she says, opening the door and moving to the sink.
“They’re liars,” I tell her, hoping it is something she knows herself.
“I know,” she agrees softly, washing her hands. “I shouldn’t let them get to me, but I can’t help it. Lisa is constantly showing up or calling. I have so much going on that I can’t even focus on her and Colton. Not that I want to, but…” She shrugs.
“I get it,” I say softly, giving her shoulder a squeeze as I move past her into the stall, taking care of business quickly.
“How did you know they were lying?” she asks, when I’m out of the stall and washing my hands.
“Um… I’m not sure if you noticed, but Colton doesn’t exactly let you out of his sight. I can’t imagine that a man who’s trying to get back with his ex would be so invested in someone else,” I point out the obvious, and her cheeks darken as her face drops.
“He makes me crazy.” She shakes her head, closing her eyes before opening them back up and meeting my gaze.
“He’s hot.” I grin, and she tries to fight it, but she can’t. She tries to cover her smile by hiding her face behind her hands and laughing, but I know it’s there.
When she pulls her hands away, I see why Colton is obsessed with her. She’s fragile; something in her needs protecting. And for a guy who put his life on the line for his country, I bet her soft spot isn’t something he can resist wanting to protect.
“Thanks for taking my back.”
“Oh, please. That was fun, and seriously, I don’t know much about Colton, but my guess is he isn’t the kind of guy you let go of. Only, his ex is an idiot and did it in a big way. Now, she’s realized her stupidity, and her loss is definitely your gain, sister.”
“You should see her,” Gia whispers, and my brows draw together.
“Who?”
“His ex. She’s like a walking Victoria’s Secret model.”
“Have you looked in the mirror?” I question. I mean, seriously, Gia is gorgeous, and honestly, she fits Colton perfectly.
“I’m serious! She’s, like, perfect, and I’m—well…” She pauses. “Me. I don’t get it. Plus, there is all kinds of stuff going on, and I hate having Colton and his family involved in it.”
“One thing I know about men,” I start, gently grabbing her hand, “is they don’t do anything they don’t want to do. And honey, for real, you are gorgeous. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I guess,” she mutters, then looks at the door when it opens and a woman walks in. “I better get back out on the floor.”
“Wait, let me get your number. If you ever want to talk, you can call me. Anytime.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Us girls need to stick together.” I smile again, taking my phone out of my pocket. I add her number to my contacts, and we leave the restroom together. Once I’m back at the bar, I go directly to Evan’s side and take a seat on the barstool next to his.