One Night Was All It Took: Season 2 "One Week Was All It Took"

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My arms wrap around Jack like I haven't seen him in years. I've never squeezed him so tight in my life. I've missed him and Bill. I've even missed the smell of his old aftershave and whatever gel he uses in his hair. It's a slightly minty but musky smell that radiates from his slicked-back greys.

"Woah! Don't squeeze so hard little missy." He playfully says while trying to catch his breath. "You'll turn my underpants into a burrito...but it won't smell like one."

Not sure whether to laugh or run, I loosen my grip on him. The things he comes up with are profoundly disturbing, and hilarious, but mostly disturbing. I'd rather not see the back of his pants look like a loaded burrito.

As Jared pours another drink, he stares down at us like a hawk on its next meal. His head is lowered like he's trying to pay attention to the drinks, but his eyes are glaring at Jack. His eyebrows are slightly raised like he is disgusted.

"The hell you just say. You nasty old ass man! You nasty!" Jared waves his body and hand around in disgust. "Ain't nobody wanting to hear about your burrito-ass underwear. Get that shit out of here!"

Natalia has been talking to whoever that woman is ever since we walked in. Whoever the woman is freaked Natalia out. She hasn't introduced me yet. It's almost like she forgot who I was or is just ignoring me. They're laughing with each other. I can't hear whatever it is they are talking about, but they both look like they are having a suitable time. My body feels warm with a boiling type of blood radiating through me. I want to question them, but with the way our relationship is, I don't want to seem jealous or pushy. Besides, I know Natalia is mine and only mine.

A hand wraps around my arm. "Hey, just so you know. I truly apologized to Natalia."

Glancing over my shoulder, I find Derek smiling. "We talked it out before you two left for Europe. We worked out our differences. Oh, and by the way, welcome back pretty lady!"

Pressing his fingers into my shoulder he squeezes a friendly squeeze. It's some dumb thing we used to do as kids. He steps back and nods at Jack. I find that weird since they wanted to tear each other's heads off before we left for Europe. Jack nods back at him and raises his beer. They must have agreed or settled with each other.

"I guess, it's kind of good to see you too," I say while feeling a little bit weird but okay with him. "And yeah, Natalia told me about the apology. The way you did it! Thank you for being a good person like I knew you always were. She appreciated the flowers you sent too. It's no excuse for what you called her, but life continues."

Confused, I scan through the bar of crowded people, not seeing Nick anywhere. "Where is your brother? I know him and I don't get along too well anymore, but I was kind of expecting to see him. I had a few things to give to him too."

"Oh." He says as his eyes begin to grow wide. "No one told you?"

He seems nervous as he glances down at the floor. Running his hand across his neck, he takes a deep breath. "He moved...to Oregon. He and his ex were talking, and she wanted to see him. He left a few days after you did. No one knew he was even talking to her. He called me a week after he left and told me they had fallen in love again. She is having his baby and he wants to live his life out there. He's gone, Lacey. He didn't have a care in the world either. He just up and left without telling anyone."

"What? Seriously?" I say in utter shock.

This is...honestly not that surprising. He was always a little different, but I never imagined him just taking off without saying goodbye. I think back on the night I slept with him too. I consider that the biggest regret of my life. But, even after everything. We were still best friends our whole lives.

"The messed up thing is...it doesn't surprise me as much as I would think it should," I say, glancing back over at Natalia and the girl she is getting a little too comfy with. "He and I were supposed to be forever friends, but the last couple of years have been different. After we slept together, shit got weirder. Very weird."

Derek's eyes widen as he looks over in the direction of Natalia and her secret friend. I have no idea why I am letting this go and not interrupting their 'conversation.' It looks like an exciting conversation with the smiles on their faces.

"Is that Claudia?" Derek says, looking like he's seeing a ghost. "No freaking way!"

"Who's Claudia?" I ask.

Whipping my head back in their direction, I can feel that little bit of jealousy and curiosity inside of me. Not certain if I'd say a 'little' jealousy. There's not any care inside of me that would mind pulling Natalia away from their conversation...after all...I am the bitchy bartender.

Clearing his nervous-sounding throat, Derek grabs my attention again. "It's one of Natalia's old business partners. She still does business with a few people. In this case, it's also her ex-girlfriend. The one she cheated on me with."

My heart drops to my stomach. My body begins moving without me even thinking. I'm heading right in their direction, feeling that jealousy hitting an all-time high. She's stupid for even having a conversation with her ex without discussing it with me first...okay, that sounded a little controlling.

"Oh! Hell no!" The words flow out of my mouth like water.

Natalia jolts as I wrap my arms around her. She quickly pulls my arms off her with this look of terror on her face...almost like she forgot I existed.

"Who's the new girl?" I ask as my eyes burn into Natalia like a bad sunburn on her face.

The expression painted on her face explains it all. Thanks to Derek I already know who the girl is. Natalia doesn't know that...or maybe she does...I don't care either way. She's already admitting with her eyes. At this point of this stare-down, she has to know she fucked up.

Averting her eyes, she turns back to this Claudia girl and lowers her head. She's too nervous to admit who this girl is even though she is sitting here talking to her...in my bar! This girl has blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She's tan, I am assuming because she's from California. She has a surfer vibe to her. She's nicely fit. Honestly, she's attractive.

Natalia's lips are folded in like she's trying to hold back saying something. And she should be holding back from saying anything. She's glaring at Derek like he did something wrong. Derek didn't do shit wrong, she's the one in trouble.

She's sliding her hand back and forth on the bar like she is wiping some invisible force. She's trying to ignore everyone. Is she trying to act like she's in her own little world?

Finally holding her hand out toward this blonde girl, Natalia clears her throat. "This is Claudia. She is a...business partner. Her and I go way back."

Already irritated by the fact that she pulled away from me when I wrapped my arms around her, I step back and cross my arms. Whatever facial expression is on my face has to be obvious to them that I am pissed.

Business partner?" I ask and turn my attention toward Claudia. "What made you come to this small town, Claudia?" She opens her mouth to speak, but I raise my hand before she can get any words out "Hold that thought, please. Don't answer that question just yet."

I turn my attention to Natalia and the worried expression on her face. "Natalia...babe...love of my life. Do you have a moment?"

The anger on my face has to be evident as I grip her arm, pull her off the stool and guide her toward the kitchen. Jared, Derek, and Rya all have the same look, the look of excitement that they get to watch this drama unfold.