"I didn't expect to see you here," I said with surprise as I saw Ace make his way to me. Of all places he could be at, the bar was the last place I thought I'd find him. Maybe Carla had been right. Perhaps he only had the face of an angel.

"Kaelie wanted to come," he said and gestured to his girlfriend who was chatting with a few other girls near the other end of the counter. Oh never mind, still an angel. An angel clad in a tight, sexy black tee that left none of his muscles to imagination.

"Ah. So what drink would you like? It's on me," I said, clearing my throat, as I took another sip of the cocktail in my own hand. He watched me down it with wide eyes.

"I, I don't drink," he said with a flush. It was like he thought I would make fun of him for not drinking. For some reason though, I just found it endearing. He had a charisma of his own, with the blushes and the shyness.

"Cute. Mocktail it is then," I said before signaling Derek, who was manning the counter tonight. He came over to the two of us before getting to work.

"So you come here often," asked Ace. Before I could reply, Derek cut me off.

"Often? She's here everyday," he said and it was my turn to flush. Frequenting the bar wasn't something I was proud of and for a goody two shoes like Ace, I probably looked like bad news. What I didn't get was why that thought bothered me. Who the hell cared what he thought?

"Everyday," he asked with shock.

"What can you do? This stuff's addicting," I said, swirling my glass, trying to keep the shame out of my voice. It didn't work. 

"You know alcohol isn't good for," he started but I cut him off with a wave of my hand. I'd heard this one too many times.

"I'm not here for a lecture pretty boy so if that's all you're here for, you can head back to your girlfriend," I said. I'd only meant it as a joke but he walked away looking like a kicked puppy. For a second I felt bad but I quickly schooled my emotions and turned to Derek. He had a reproachful look on his face.

"You know he's right Rach," he said as he handed of the mocktail he'd made to another guy.

"He doesn't know shit about my life. He shouldn't judge me for," I started but Derek cut me off.

"He isn't judging you. He's just looking out for you," said Derek and my irritation only intensified.

"Well he doesn't have to. I can take care of myself just fine," I said with a frown as I swirled my half filled glass before downing the rest of it. Ah the familiar burn down my throat. It eased the slight guilt I felt at scaring the boy away.

"Right, cause frequenting the bar is the best way to take care of yourself," Derek said with a roll of his eyes and I smirked in his direction.

"Look who's talking," I said and his eyes narrowed.

"I work here," he started but I cut him off with the wave of my hand.

"And let me guess the stench of alcohol on your breath is because you work here," I asked, raising an eyebrow and he flushed red. Ha, got him.

"We've all got our problems, but at least I know that alcohol isn't the best solution," he said, turning back to his work.

"Yeah but you still turn to it," I said before turning my attention to Ace, whose hand was wrapped around Kaelie's waist and an unwilling expression glued to his face.

"Your burning holes into his hand Rach," said Derek and I quickly looked away.

"What can I say? He's a fine looking guy," I said, adopting my usual indifference as I leaned against the counter with another glass in hand. I held down alcohol pretty well.

"There are plenty of fine looking guys you've seen before, but I've never seen you get jealous over one," said Derek with a teasing grin and I shot him a frown before sliding my money across the counter and heading out. A few minutes more, and I may have snapped his arm or her waist. Alcohol may not make my mind fuzzy, but it sure as hell made me more aggressive.