The Owner's Box

Chapter 26

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Isabella Saint POV

"...And then her name was Marina. What the hell is a Marina? Should've taken her ass to a marina and drowned her ass." I said, making the bartender laugh. But I was so serious. I'd played out in my head a million ways to unalive Harlow's ex.

"Sounds like you had a long night." she said as she took my empty glass.

"Hell yeah, I did. And my girl. Man, I don't know if she's even still my girl." I trailed off. Earlier tonight, Harlow and I totally imploded.

I ended up leaving the charity event, hopping in an Uber, and stopping at the first bar I got to back in the city.

"Let me get another. And a double shot." I told the bartender.

"You sure you want another?" she asked, raising her eyebrow at me. "I'm grown as fuck." I replied, hiccupping.

"Sure you are." she said, giving me a small glass and one shot instead of the double. I mugged her when she sat them down in front of me, and she laughed.

"All things in moderation." she said, smiling at me before walking off to help other customers.

I sighed, taking a sip of the drink in front of me. My mind raced back to the events from earlier, replaying the argument, every hurtful word exchanged.

The weight of it all felt like it was crushing my spirit.

I sit back on the stool and begin to take in the surroundings. The bar is your average hole-in-the-wall. It's a mixed crowd of people with pool tables and dart games in a corner. There's even a small stage that looks like they do karaoke and live music. Tonight was live music.

The band started playing 'Tennessee Whiskey'. I take a sip of my own drink as I close my eyes and listen to the singer. I stick my bottom lip out beginning to pout as I look down at my glass frowning.

The realization set in that I'm currently drinking one of the cheaper whiskeys that Harlow would sometimes drink. My chest hurts as I feel the tears start to well up in my eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" the bartender asks.

"Yeah, I'm straight." I quickly wipe my eyes.

The bartender gives me a knowing look but doesn't press further. The music continues, and the soulful notes fill the bar, resonating with the ache in my heart.

I take another sip, trying to steady myself. This song, this drink, everything reminds me of Harlow.

I sit there, swirling the small glass in my hand. The thought of Harlow's engagement to Marina hit me hard, and I still couldn't believe Harlow hadn't told me. I thought we were past secrets.

As I take another sip, I can't help but think about the way Harlow looked at me, pleading for understanding. It wasn't just about the engagement. It was about the trust I thought we had with one another.

The bartender's words echo in my mind, "All things in moderation." Maybe she's right. Maybe I need to slow down and think this through.

"You think I fucked up?" I caught myself slurring a little.

"Sometimes the best way to fix things is to just be honest." she suggests putting a glass of water in front of me.

"Hell, I thought we were being honest until tonight." I mumbled as I took a sip of the water.

"I mean an honest sit down and have real communication. It sounds like y'all just be going through shit but not actually talking about the issues and how y'all can fix them. Like tonight, sounds like Harlow wanted to talk shit out with you but instead you shut her down and came here." The bartender says.