Her Men (book 2)

Chapter 16

Teagan

“Heyy” I wave walking in to see Henry and Tom busy with balloons and a metal contraption I’m guessing used for a backdrop of some sort.

“Where do you want me to start?” I ask after walking back into the bar from putting my things away

“Can you make sure everything in the bar is stocked for you, luckily you don’t have to worry about the registers tonight just make sure the tip jars are out for you for guests who want to tip but if you at least make sure anything you might need is stocked and available then it will make your job easier. We will see where I am at and what else needs to be done” he smiles and I laugh at his loss of the balloon he was fighting with

I stock up on all my favorite J men, Jack, Jim Jameson, and a few others that we seem to use the most, I make sure the machine for nonalcoholic beverages is full and there’s plenty of ice, I check on all the things to make all the favorites drink mixes Is there, cherries, salt, olives. The last thing I check is glasses and make sure we have plenty of shot glasses as requested by Ian. By that time Linda has made her way in asking where food is going to be placed and I start helping her with that running back and forth from the diner to the bar we light the candles that are under food trays to keep all the food nice and warm and before we know if it’s almost party time, a few friends have started to come in, serve them drinks as Henry take over behind the bar making some drink in large drink fountain he rented, I take this time to take one last break to finish my sub sandwich and wash my hands.

Coming back out more guests have arrived and I glance at the end of the bar where I see Finn he is in conversation with a man sitting next to him whose back is turned towards me against the bar and a few others.

Getting behind the bar I make Henry's favorite drink and hand it to him “Hey I’m back! The place looks amazing it’s time to go have fun and RELAX” I walk out from behind the bar to where Tom meets him and they disappear to the back to my sure change

While Henry has a table with drinks like tea, water, and the fountain available I take the time to walk to the end of the bar and smile at Finn who’s now looking at me, I was really mean to him and I should probably apologize maybe he will pull out of the conversation after making his usual drink I walk over to hand it to him

“Thanks, Gorgeous,” he says with his casual deep voice, signaling the others to look at me and the man with his back to me turns.

“Teagan?” I look at him and realize it’s Aiden. He’s dressed fancier than I’ve seen him since returning he is in pressed Jeans and an ironed shirt, and his hair is actually styled after Finn is dressed nicer too

“This is the Bar you work at? Stella’s” he asks

I mean he was going to find out sometime I’m not sure why I thought he wouldn’t be at the party of his bosses girlfriend but I didn’t think about it until now I smile trying to not over think the issues that might come up

“Yeah, you never asked what bar? Would you like something?” I also looked at the other men as an open question to get all of their orders and to leave the conversation Aiden might want to have with me in front of the others. They quickly tell me what they would like and last I look at Aiden, who shakes his head I leave to get the beers the others have asked for also bringing an extra for Aiden, not sure if he likes it or not, and when I place them down the conversation seem to be done with and the men walk away leaving just Finn and Aiden, for a little bit there's no one needing anything and but I can feel both men looking at me mostly Aidens, wanting to ask questions but I busy myself with things to do before the party girl arrives.

Aiden

Her tight jeans hugged her ass perfectly and her top shows just enough cleavage I can’t help but stare at her even when I’m supposed to be chatting with my coworkers.

“I tried to get you to Come to the bar with me” Finn finally says, after a long awkward silence. I look at him and he’s looking at her and the familiar pain of jealousy hits me I know that look, the horney teenage boys used to get when looking at her like she was their target. It brought me back to high school all over again.

“So why didn’t you just tell me she worked here ?” I ask

“She told me not to tell you,” he shrugged with one shoulder “How close are you too? Again,” he asked I couldn’t tell if the change in his voice was a genuine friendly question or a question with hidden motives, as I tried to slow my breathing to not let jealousy cloud my judgment but the struggle is real and just like that words come out

“Close enough I woke up with her in her house this morning” f**k Aiden, I think to myself and instantly regret the words once they leave my mouth.

Don’t. Do. This. Again, I look at him and realize he was asking a genuine question not being a dirty teenage boy wanting in her pants, he shoots back the remaining liquid that was in his glass like it’s a shot setting it down he stands, his eyes change from friendly to determined to make his next words clear he close to me. This is a side to Finn I’ve never seen.

“But not close enough you didn’t know where she works? Or close enough to know she has fading bruises on her body, you might have woken up next to her like you say but you are not close with her to know she has no money, or personal identification on her? Or that she running..hiding from something, my guess is SOMEONE......You seem real close with her bud, a real friend” he scoffs, and I’ve never heard his accent as thick and laced with anger as just now, but it quickly goes away and he returns to his playful self as he pats my back and leaves me there to think on his words I can’t do anything but place my ass in the bar stool, stunned, I’ve never felt like s**t more than he just made me feel.

Shit.

I watch her again and see her smiling and joking with those ordering drinks, she and Henry talk like they are already getting close, heck even Finn walks away from me and she has another drink ready to go for him when he passes I watch him give her a wink and she blushes. I have got to get my head out of my ass.

I hear Henry announce the birthday girl's arrival and Teagan dims the lights as the door pulls slowly, opening, as everyone is watching for Stella to come in. I hear the shouts as everyone yells surprise and cheers and it all sounds so far away, everyone is watching Stella, and all I can do is keep my eyes on T, as Finn’s words keep replaying louder than the celebrations “Running..hiding from something my guess..someone” every moment since her return replay in my head and I can’t believe I’ve missed all the signs, the conversation that first night, how she flenched that next morning to last night now she acted. Scared. Importantly how she thought I was Leo, and how she was pleading

That son of a b***h

Every moment I overlooked Everything pointing to her being abused, but I was just worrying about how I could get my second chance with her I didn’t notice that she was in trouble.