Page 40 of Tricked in October
She released a long, slow breath. “I’m back to square one.”
Davis seemed to consider this, his lips twisted to the side and his eyes unable to focus on hers. She knew he was already trying to come up with a solution on how to help her. It touched her, the way he cared for her so tenderly. Regardless of how their friendship had been developing into something more as of late, he was still the same attentive Davis. And maybe her feelings for him grew stronger in that moment because of that fact.
“Kels, I’m sorry. But we’re not going to give up. Between you and I, we’ll think of something.”
“Thanks.” She forced a smile.
Despite the bad outcome at the attorney office, they still had the rest of the night ahead of them. She’d promised Izzy she’d make Davis take her out for a drink. And she needed it more than ever now. Besides that, he’d lost her wager, meaning she got to pick their location for dinner.
Pulling out her phone from her purse, she googled the best bar and grill outside of Denver, coming up with an extensive list. The one she picked would not only have high reviews, but it would have to be near a hotel. Because tonight, Davis wasn’t only taking her out for a single drink, they’d be consuming enough she wouldn’t remember her life was in complete disarray.
Maybe they’d drink enough that all their inhibitions would be lost, and they’d be open to act on impulse alone. And just maybe, they’d finally come clean about their feelings for one another.
* * *
With her handspressed to her hips, Kelsey beamed as she gazed up at a neon sign with two of the letters completely out, one flickering and threatening to go dark.
“You can’t be serious,” Davis grumbled at her side.
Warmth expanded in her chest. “It’s perfect.”
“You won by a technicality. You made me laugh.”
“But I still won,” she boasted, pressing her palms on Davis’s back, and shoving him forward. “C’mon, I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”
“How many times have I heard you say that before?”
She snorted a laugh. “I’ll buy you a beer and you’ll be fine. Besides it’s within walking distance to the hotel so we won’t have to drive.”
Call it nostalgia, but Kelsey loved checking out other bar and grills. It was fun to see how they were decorated, what food they had on their menus, what types of beer they had on tap. Besides, there was a perfectly fine hotel within walking distance and the comments on Yelp had said they brewed their own beer. This was something she’d always been curious about. If O’Henry’s could brew their own beer, it would save them from having to pay vendors.
“Fine, let’s just hurry inside. It looks like it may rain.”
A patron exiting the bar held the door open for them. Kelsey nodded her thanks before taking in the condition of the inside.
Live band?
Check.
Crowded?
Check.
The scent of grease?
Check.
Kelsey had a good feeling about this place. She led the way, stumbling upon a small booth near the back of the bar. Across from the booth was a row of pool tables and just beyond that, a few dart boards hung on the wall. She slid into the booth and Davis hesitated before joining her on the other side.
While O’Henry’s had a clean and friendly reputation that this particular bar may have been lacking, it carried a familiar cozy vibe Kelsey could appreciate. Glancing across the table at Davis it was clear by the expression on his face, he wasn’t feeling the same vibes.
His eyebrows furrowed as he studied the menu. It was cute how his lips scrunched to the side. Always the overthinker and cautious.
“See anything interesting?”
“Interesting is not how I’d like my food described.”
She snorted a laugh.
