Sam took a sip of her drink, cringing slightly. “I bet.” She murmured, running her finger around the rim of the glass.
Cara wiped her hands dry on a towel and tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans. “So this bland look of yours wouldn’t have anything to do with your brother’s going to pick up Nick from the airport, would it?”
Sam looked at her, rolled her eyes, and took another sip. “Is that happening today?” She finished off the drink, sliding the empty glass back to Cara.
“Whoa, are we getting ourselves drunk tonight?” Cara asked as she poured her a refill. Jake was right, she mused.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Cara sighed and looked around the bar, then back to Sam. “I think they’re coming here after the airport.” She slid the full glass back in front of Sam.
“Well, that made up my mind.” She guzzled the whiskey and put the glass down half empty.
Cara stared at Sam, she felt bad for her, and she knew what it was like to hold your feelings in, “Sam, anything you tell me, will stay between us. I’m not going to run back and tell everyone. If you need to get things off your chest, I’ll listen.”
Sam looked up at her and tilted her head contemplating. “You’re not going to tell Jake?”
Cara shook her head. “Jake’s too enthused with his latest fling, to care about anything else.” Which wasn’t a lie; he had blown her off a few times this week to go out with some biker chick. That was partially the reason she showed up at the Tattoo Parlor today. When she and Jake had gone to Cancun a couple of years back, they had rented motorcycles for the day. She still had the scar from when she burnt her calf on the exhaust pipe; needless to say Jake never took her riding on the Harley, just the biker chick.
Sam gave her a long look and leaned forward, her elbows resting on the bar. “How do you feel about that?”
Cara looked at her incredulously. “I could care less.” She would never admit that it bothered her, not the fact that there was another girl in his life, nor the fact that he hadn’t taken her on his bike.
“I still don’t buy there is nothing between you and Jake.”
Cara looked at Sam. “There isn’t. I’d never risk the friend I have in him to tangle with something that could possibly jeopardize our friendship. I need Jake in my life. He’s the only stable person I have.” Jake was Cara’s family, bottom line. Her mother had died when she was five, and her father was a drunk who wished she had gone and died with her mother. Aside from Jake and his family, she really had no one.
Sam nodded. “I get that.” She took another sip of her drink and smiled up at Cara. “I still think you guys are perfect for one another. I’m a big Cara and Jake fan.”
Cara laughed slightly. Before she could respond the door opened and Jake walked in with Luke and Nick on his heels. Her eyes met Jake’s and he grinned widely at her. Every time he walked into a room and searched for her, their eyes would meet, and she would feel like she was the only women in the world. Tonight was no different, the butterflies in the pit of her stomach sprang to life and she returned the smile.
“There’s my girl!” Jake beamed and led Nick and Luke towards the bar. Cara glanced at Sam, who downed the last of her drink.
“Can I have another?” She asked, her eyes pleading with Cara.
“Hey, Sis,” Jake nudged her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Fancy finding you here, huh?” He teased and Cara shot him a warning look. He looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed. “What? What did I do?”
“Nothing,” Cara said as she eyed Sam’s glass.
“Oh, I get it.” Jake leaned over and whispered into his sister’s ear. “You’re three sheets to the wind and you didn’t even set your eyes on him yet.”
“Shut up Jake.” Sam said, looking miserable. Cara looked at her sympathetically before Nick stood beside Jake. She averted her eyes to the familiar face, and smiled warmly at him.
“Hey Cara girl, it’s good to see you.” Nick said as he leaned over the bar and placed a kiss on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug, catching Sam watching them from the corner of her eye.
“Same goes for you.” She pulled back and drank him in. “You look good.” She punched his rock hard shoulder. “Someone has been working out.” She shook her fist as if to say she was in so much pain, and winked at him. She always had liked Nick and he definitely wasn’t hard on the eyes.