When We Go Back Again (Mason Brothers Book #1)

Chapter 36

FLETCHER

Every year New Year’s Eve at the bar is a huge deal and of course, this year is no different. I barely have had a chance to breathe since about five this evening when it seemed that we went from 10 people to 200 people in the blink of an eye. Jolie is working the floor, trying to stay on top of orders and even though Toni and I are both behind the bar, we’ve barely had the time to say two words to each other.

“Fletch,” Cade stepped up beside me, “I just tried to pour a draft and it came out foamy, can you go check it for me?”

“Can you do it, we’re bombarded up here?”

“It’ll only take a minute, I’ll cover for you. I can at least pop the bottles open.”

I wipe the sweat off my face and run to the back. Sure enough, our two local IPAs were running on low, thankfully I knew this was going to happen so I did a double order this week. After making the switch, I head back upstairs, thankful that things seem to have calmed for a moment. I look at the stage and I realize that Parker is going to go up and play a few songs, something he hasn’t done in forever.

“Well shit, Parker is going to sing?” I comment to Toni.

“You figure that out all on your own, Sherlock?” She snapped back.

“Wow, what’s with the attitude, Toni?”

‘Oh please, like you don’t know.” She turns around to storm off, but I grab her arm and turn her back around. She shrugs me off but stands with her arms crossed looking pissy as hell. “What?”

“Wow, keep talking to me like that, and I’ll just send your ass home. I don’t care how busy we are tonight.”

“You’re an asshole, you know that, Fletch?”

“Why don’t you clock out, Toni? Enjoy your night.”

“Whoa, what the hell is going on back here,” Damon comes behind me and stops Toni from storming off.

“Don’t ask me, I’m not the one with the stick up their ass all of a sudden.”

“Why haven’t you talked to her, Fletch?” Toni yells back.

“Talked to who?”

Now she’s really riled up, “Really? So it’s been a week and you just forget about her that quickly? You know, I’ve always been Team Guys are Assholes, but I always thought you were one of the good guys. I guess I was wrong.”

“Okay, I’m your boss, Toni. My relationship with Eden has nothing to do with you. Maybe there is a little more going on than what you know.”

She throws her hands up, “Then why don’t you share, because all I know is that for the last week you have been completely MIA to her and dodging her calls. Did you even care about how SHE was doing?”

“All I care about is how she is doing!” I yell, “Why do you think I’ve been giving her space?”

“She didn’t want space, you fucking idiot, she wanted her boyfriend. Do you know she’s ended up on my couch bawling her eyes out over a pint of ice cream four times this week? How could you do this to her?”

“I didn’t do anything!” I yell as I slam my fist against the bartop.

“Exactly. You drove away and gave up on her. Like I said, I thought better of you. Silly fucking me.”

I can’t even listen to the rest of what she has to say. If she won’t leave the bar, I will. I storm into the back office and slam the door. I slam my fists down against the desk and scream in anger. I scream so loudly that I don’t even hear the office door open until I turn around and see my dad standing there. “Fletcher, what’s going on?”