“Yup,” I answered, and she flagged everyone toward the door. And with that, we were on our way.
We walked the blocks to the bar in a pack, everyone laughing and chatting, though Tyler and I were in a little bubble, arm in arm, ahead of the rest of them by a bit. He ran me through his day, and I found myself content just at the sound of his voice and the warmth of his body next to mine.
“I’m glad your day was easier,” I said after he’d finished.
“Me too. Hopefully things die down now that Jack is back and Pharaoh is in rehab.”
“I’ve got nothing to report on my end. Just a regular day. I was on the floor all day, so it was pretty easy, just helping people find books, for the most part. I’m glad it’s over though.” My hand was in his, my thumb shifting against my ring on his pinkie. “What’d you do when you got home?”
“Read.” He started to say something else, but kept it to himself.
“That all?” I teased.
He smiled down at me, but he looked guilty. “I guess it’s not like you won’t find out in a minute anyway.”
My brow dropped. “Find out what?”
“I invited Martin.”
Now I was full-on frowning. “You what?”
He squeezed my hand. “He asked me to dinner and I invited him to come with us. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
Frustration prickled up, but I tried to blow it off. “I mean, it’s not. I’m sure Bayleigh and Greg will be paired together anyway, so hopefully he doesn’t have any big ideas. You didn’t put any big ideas into his head, did you?”
He opened his mouth in mock surprise. “Who, me? I’d never.”
I groaned. “Dammit, Tyler.”
He chuckled and pulled me into his side. “I didn’t, I promise. He did ask if she’d be there, though.”
“And you told him no?”
He gave me a look, and I sighed.
“Why you gotta sabotage me like that, Knight?”
“Look, if her and Greg’s love is undeniable, then it’s no sweat, right?”
My eyes narrowed. “Exactly. I just don’t want your buddy to get hurt, that’s all.”
Tyler’s smile fell a little. “I don’t want him to either. Cam, you’ve got to leave them alone. Let them make their own decisions.”
“Even if they don’t know what’s best for them?” I argued.
His brow dropped. “Who’s to say you know better than they do? It’s their life.”
I huffed. “It’s always easier to see things clearly from the outside.”
“So you’re telling me that you know so much, you’re so right, that they couldn’t possibly know what they want for themselves? That your opinion matters more than their own?”
Disappointment waved off of him, and he let my hand go. Icky feelings rolled through me before I realized we’d reached the door to the bar. He pulled it open for me, jaw set as he waited for me to pass.
“What?” I asked, feeling ass-y as I walked by.
“What you’re doing isn’t right or fair, Cam.”
“I’m just trying to help.” The words held an edge of desperation.
“But not everyone needs your help,” he said firmly. “None of them asked for it.”
The hostess greeted us, bringing the conversation to a close for the moment, though I felt ashamed, and defensive about feeling ashamed. One hand crossed my body to circle my other wrist, turning his bracelet around and around as I tried to sort through my thoughts. Maybe he was right. Maybe I had it all wrong from the start. The uncomfortable, unfamiliar, most hated pang of disgrace shot through me.
So I took a deep breath and followed the Tyler through the bar — past the restaurant in front, the giant bar in the middle, and to the lanes all along one wall. Four lanes had been reserved for us, and I found resolve. I would give it tonight and then let it go for good.
I grabbed Greg’s arm, then Bayleigh’s, and I followed Tyler with my eyes on the prize and “Jukebox Hero” playing in my head.
Martin flanked us out of nowhere, in a bow tie again and button-down with a hoodie over top, and he looked adorable, which pissed me off even more. Bayleigh stood up a little straighter when she saw him, pushing her hair over her shoulder as a hint of color touched her cheeks. He and Tyler greeted each other, and I smiled at him in passing as I dragged the two lovebirds over to the lane where Patrick leaned over the console. His tattooed arms were propped on the surface as he and Rose tried to figure out how to set it up.
Instead of plastic seats, there were leather benches and small tables for drinks, and Bayleigh and I sat down. Greg took a quick look around, looking a little uncomfortable when his eyes passed over Patrick. When Tyler and Martin walked up, Greg flashed a smile and hitched a thumb over his shoulder.
“I’m going to head over to Harrison and Jett so we’re evened out.”
I don’t think I succeeded in keeping my disappointment off my face. Of course he wouldn’t want to bowl with Patrick and Rose — Patrick was probably the only reason Greg and Rose didn’t work out.
Bayleigh waved, looking disappointed too, and Patrick gave him an apologetic nod.
“Guess it’s just us, then,” Tyler said with a smile I might venture to call thrilled, that traitor. “Come on, let’s go get shoes.”
I stood and followed him again to the shoe window, where a guy — who was probably twenty-five and had the most epic ironic mullet I’d ever seen — gave us our shoes, passing over Tyler’s canoes and my matchboxes. I tried not to listen to Bayleigh and Martin talking behind us, because every word and every laugh soured my mood even more.