“It’s a good stress reliever.” He said as he winked at her. His eyes left hers and moved towards Sam. Cara could’ve sworn she held her breath as she waited for them to acknowledge one another. Holy smokes, the way he stared at Sam, was making her hot. “Hi beautiful,” He said his eyes blazing with heat, his voice thick and husky. Cara raised an eyebrow as she glanced quickly at Jake. He had the biggest grin on his face as he inched closer to get front row seats to the exchange. Yep, all eyes were definitely on Sam.
“Hi. Welcome home.” She said flatly, glancing up at him so quickly if one was to blink, they would’ve missed it.
“That’s it?” Jake said, disappointment etching his face.
“Yeah, that’s it?” Nick said, leaning one hip against the bar, staring at her. “No, Hey Nick, nice to see you again? Not even a simple I missed you? How you been?” He reached out and tilted her chin upward, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Still sour that I left?”
“See, now this is what I’m talking about.” Jake said, nudging Luke.
Luke rolled his eyes and smiled at Cara. “Cara, would you mind getting me a beer?”
“Sure thing, can I get anybody else anything?”
Sam lifted her empty tumbler. “I’ll take another one, please.” She shot Nick a sideways glare. “And for your information, I am not sour about anything. I could care less where you parked your ass for the last six years. Can I buy you a drink? Wouldn’t want you to think I wasn’t happy about your homecoming or anything.” She said her voice rich with sarcasm, but managed to smile sweetly at him.
“How about a round of shots?” Nick said, finally taking his eyes off of Sam, to question the guys.
“I’m game.” Luke said, and then looked at Cara. “I’ve got to ask you? How do you spend so much time with him?” He said wrapping his arm around Jake, wedging him into a headlock. “This son of a bitch has been driving me crazy for hours.”
“Hey man, watch the faux-hawk!” Jake said trying to dislodge himself from his brother’s grip. Cara smiled and held Luke’s beer behind her.
“Let him go or no alcohol for you.” She said tauntingly dangling the beer bottle, like it was his salvation. Her eyes met Jake’s and he smiled at her. He knew she always had his back, jokingly or not. She winked at him and Luke let him go.
“You got a girl like that in your corner, you take her and you run far, far away, little brother.” Luke said, seriously and took the beer Cara offered him.
“Thanks Luke, but we wouldn’t get far. He won’t even let me on his bike. He’d probably take off without me.” She stopped in the middle of pouring the fifth shot, realizing the slip. She finished the shots and began to hand them out, when she shoved Jake’s in front of him he grabbed her wrist.
“Hey.” He said softly. “I didn’t let you ride the bike, because I don’t want you to get hurt again. You know that right?” His eyes searched hers.
Cara looked down at their hands for a moment and then lifted her head and looked into his deep blue eyes. “I know that.” And she put her best smile on for him. “Are we going to do this shot or what?” Even if what he said was true, it didn’t ease the hurt or the jealousy that she was too proud to admit, she was feeling.
Jake let her wrist go, and held his shot glass up, his eyes still focused on her. She could feel his stare as she smiled at Luke, Nick and Sam, avoiding his gaze.
“To the path that led you back home.” Luke said as he raised his glass towards Nick.
“To having a family to come home to.” Nick said in response looking around the Lanza’s. Cara smiled at Nick’s toast. Nick, like her, was another lost soul the Lanza’s took in and called one of their own. The five of them clinked their shot glasses, and toasted one another’s friendship and love, before downing the fiery liquid.
Jake couldn’t remember the last time the five of them had been together like this, having a great time, reminiscing. Even Sam let go of her bitterness towards Nick, and enjoyed the night. He and Sam had teamed up against Luke and Nick, in a game of pool. Cara kept sneaking away every chance she could. She’d take a shot, put it in the hole, and go back to work. She was his ace in the hole, all the time. He glanced across the bar at her, and watched as she threw her head back in laughter. She leaned over the bar and touched the cheek of another man. He couldn’t tell who it was. He pretty much knew all the regulars, for all the nights he sat at the bar watching her, making sure no one messed with her. He looked back towards the pool table, and watched Nick line up his shot.
His phone rang in his pocket, “If he makes this shot, we’re screwed.” He told his sister as he reached for the phone. He looked down at the caller ID; Joanna, the latest girl to scratch his itch. She was a pretty cool girl too, a little rough around the edges, but they got along, had a good time, she served her purpose in Jake’s life. He answered the call. “Hello?”