I spent the first hour of my shift filling in Carol on the details of my date with Cabe, while she laughed about the fiasco with my ex. When Jill came on shift, the whole thing started again. A small part of me hoped Cabe wouldn't show, if only to shield him from potential embarrassment at the hands of my irreverent bar buddies.

When Curtis and his mates started their first set and Cabe hadn't shown yet, I began to worry. I really did want to see him. We hadn't even made it to first base. Still, I treated the night like any other Saturday, serving my customers with a smile and enjoying the music. But I knew the night was doomed when Derek walked into the bar.

He wore his favorite bomber jacket. Correction—my favorite bomber jacket, and a pair of black jeans that fit him like spandex. He did have an incredible physique, but so did most guys who spend more time with their personal trainer than their girlfriend. He also had not been into the bar since we broke up, so his sudden appearance had everyone's radar tweaking.

"Hi Junie. Long time, no see."

Derek always thought he had a sense of humor, but I never did get it. "Hi Derek. You want your usual?"

"I'm actually on the wagon again. But I'll take a water with a slice of lemon."

Seriously? How needy could a guy get? "If you're not drinking, then why are you here?"

"I thought we could talk during your break. You still take it at ten, right?" He slid onto an empty barstool while I poured his stupid water.

"I don't want to talk. There's nothing to say." I jammed a lemon wedge on the lip of his glass and set it in front of him.

"A lot has happened in the past six months. I'm selling my business. But you probably already figured that out."

"Good for you. I know it caused you a lot of headaches."

"And you, too. It was the main source of our fights."

"One of many sources of our fights. I need to fill some drink orders. Enjoy the band." I left him with his water and met Jill at the end of the bar.

"Two Coronas and a Bloody Mary, extra Tabasco," she said. "Is he giving you a hard time? I don't mind sicking Murphy on him."

"He's here to talk, but I told him I'm not interested. Hopefully, he'll just drink his water and go home."

"Hah! Derek, give up? Let's just hope your Mr. Extra doesn't show up while he's here. Trés awkward."

I left to fill the drink orders, and I had to pass Derek to get to the cooler. Of course, he took full advantage of it.

"I went on a wellness retreat. It really cleared my head." He shouted at me over the band while I prepped the Bloody Mary. "I realized that it's this town making me crazy. I'm moving to Texas. To Austin. You and I always talked about moving away one day. Remember?"

"I remember. Why are you telling me this? Have you packed up and you're here to say goodbye?"

"No. I need to sell the restaurant first. Seeing you today brought back so many great memories. I kind of freaked out when I thought about living so far from you when I move."

"We haven't seen each other in six months. Just think of that as a trail run." I left before he could say anything else and delivered the drinks to Jill. This time, Carol joined in the fun, having missed the preshow while she danced.

"Is that frickin' Derek sitting at the bar? What the frick is he doing here?"

"Trying to ruin a perfectly good Saturday night."

"He's here to stir up trouble with your hazel-eyed hottie. That's what." Carol glared down the bar, and I blocked her view of Derek.

"Don't go all WWE on him. I'm managing it."

Just then, the bar door opened and Cabe walked in. I pulled out my cellphone to check the time. It was nearly ten o'clock. "Hey Jill, it's almost break time and Cabe just got here. Can you give me a few minutes to get ahead of this situation?"

Both she and Carol turned to watch Cabe make his way through the tables. When he saw us, he waved. Crap. This was going to be painful.

"Of course, Junie. Go manage your hottie. I've got this handled."

Jill and I quickly traded places, and I met Cabe before he made it to the bar. "Hi June. I didn't expect such a formal greeting. I feel special."

"Can we talk outside? There's a small problem sitting at the bar."

As expected, he glanced over my shoulder. It wasn't hard to miss Derek. He had his eyes pinned on me as he cradled his motorcycle helmet in his lap. "Is that your ex?"

"Yep. And he's likely to make a royal pain of himself. We'll need a game plan."

Cabe let me usher him outside, and we stood under the neon Corona sign, slapping mosquitos as we talked.

"Do you really believe he's going to make a scene? He seemed like a pretty together guy when we talked earlier. My dad's giving the purchase a serious think."

"Derek's a great businessman. He can talk all day about marketing plans, employee schedules, and the best kind of disinfectant for the restrooms. But he forgets common sense when it comes to romantic relationships. I honestly curse the day we met. It was the worst decision I've ever made. Well, one of the worst decisions."

"Geez. I'm sorry to hear that. Some guys have a hard time admitting they aren't the superior species."

His comment put a smile on my face. "If you're trying to win points with me, that just did it."

"I can't take full credit for that one. It's something my dad says on occasion. Usually when he's been an ass and has to apologize to someone."

"I feel like your dad and I would get along."

His lips quirked. "I know you would. So, what's your plan to manage your clingy ex?"

"Fortunately he's on the wagon, so we won't have to worry about him getting piss drunk. He's less volatile when he's sober, but that doesn't mean he won't act like a douche. If you want to stay and have a couple of drinks, I would love your company. Just know that it might take a turn for the worse."

Cabe looked through the window reflecting neon off the dark glass. "How much does he bench press? I wrestled in high school, but I'm no fighter."

"It won't come to that. Murphy is always on standby."

"Is Murphy a bouncer? I didn't see anyone manning the door."

"He doesn't make himself obvious, but he's here."

"Well, I came to spend time with you and watch you mix it up behind the bar. I also planned to stay until close. So, if you don't have any important projects due tomorrow, maybe we can take a walk on the beach afterwards. The moon is waxing gibbous."

He scooped up my hand and held it gently, which set off a bunch of fireworks inside my belly. A moonlit walk on the beach sounded like a prelude to something more.

"How could I turn down an evening stroll with a guy who knows his lunar phases?"

"Sweet." He bit his lip, and I curbed the impulse to take those pretty lips between my teeth.

Back inside, Carol had reserved the stool next to her for Cabe. Despite her forward manner, I couldn't think of a better bar companion for him. Especially now that Derek's attention had switched from me to him.

When I resumed my position, Jill cornered me. "I just poured a Miller draught for Derek. Apparently, water didn't give him the buzz he needed."

"Shit. This changes things a bit."

"Don't worry. I'll give Murphy a heads up." Jill grabbed her drink tray, balancing several full beers as she made her way through the smoke-filled room. I hurried over to Cabe and Carol.

"Well, Derek has decided to jump off the wagon tonight. So stay frosty. Can I get you a Makers, Cabe?"

"After a warning like that, I'm not sure I should." His smile told me he was joking, and it was just the thing I needed to jog my memory. I decided months ago not to give Derek that kind of power over me anymore.

"One Makers, coming right up."

I pasted on a smile that was meant to boost my confidence and went to work. The music helped me tune out any destructive thoughts as I pulled the Makers bottle from the shelf and reached for a glass. I felt Derek's eyes on me the whole time, but I refused to acknowledge him. On my way back to Cabe, a customer ordered another round of drinks for him and his date.

"Tito's martini, no olive, and a Becks Dark, right?" As they confirmed their order with a thumbs up, I felt myself slipping back into bartender mode, and the world was right for approximately five minutes, when Derek ordered a refill.

I obliged him without a word, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "What's up with you and that guy? Another fuck him and forget him fling? What's happened to you, Junie?"

The fact that the band provided a buffer for most conversations didn't excuse his shitty manners. I plunked his beer onto the bar, causing it to slosh over the side. "My business is none of yours. Enjoy your beer."

My hands shook slightly as I filled the next order, which made me angry. The truth of the matter was, guys like Derek were the reason I'd chosen the fuck and forget lifestyle a long time ago. As for Cabe, he would likely wind up on that pile, but that didn't mean I would forget him.

I escaped to Cabe and Carol's corner of the bar when she decided to cash out. I could tell Cabe had picked up on my anxiety. Whenever our eyes met, his forehead creased in concern. Before Carol left, she offered her sage words of wisdom.

"You seem like a decent guy, Cabe. Don't fuck this up."

Once she was out of earshot, I had to ask the obvious question. "What kind of wild stories did she fill your head with?"

"I'm sure you've already heard them all. At least, that's what she told me. She thinks highly of you."

"Carol has become a good friend. I enjoy her visits."

"How's it going with your ex? I've noticed he hasn't bothered you since his last refill."

"I'm doing my best to ignore him. I'm imagining our moonlit walk on the beach as a distraction."

His brows lifted. "Oh, really? Are you imagining only walking?"

I wanted to play his game more than anything, but I needed to get back to work. "I'll add more details once I fill some drink orders."

While I managed the bar, I tried to come up with a detail to offer him. It needed to be something wittier than rounding the bases to home plate. He was a clever guy. I couldn't skimp on this. On my next pass by his stool, I dipped in and offered something off the cuff.

"The tide will be in, so there might be a need for some mouth-to-mouth." I left him with a smile on his face and sashayed over to Jill where she waited with her tray.

"All seems quiet on the ex-boyfriend front," she said. "Is it too soon to hope he's taken the hint."

I threw a subtle glance in Derek's direction and found him chugging the rest of his beer. "Definitely too soon."

After filling her tray with drinks, I returned to check on Cabe. He'd been nursing his second pour for a while, and I couldn't help thinking he was pacing himself for a reason.

"Do you have more details for me?" He leaned forward until our foreheads nearly touched, and I was transported out of the loud, smokey bar and into the lap of this handsome almost stranger.

"At the moment, I'm imagining what it would be like to sit on your lap."

His mouth formed an 'O', and a delicious shiver ran through me. This guy was going to be a fun ride.

"Excuse me. I really need to say something here." Derek appeared at Cabe's shoulder. He smelled of beer, and his eyelids drooped.

Cabe turned in his seat, but he didn't stand. The move would have come across too threatening, and I had to credit him for knowing this. "What's on your mind, Derek?"

"You know nothing about, Junie. She's way above your pay grade. And I won't stand here and let you take advantage of her."

"I haven't forced June to do anything she doesn't want to do, if that's what you're worried about. We're just getting to know each other."

"You don't even live in town. What's the point of getting to know each other?"

"Phones are real handy for keeping in touch. If she wants to do that after I leave, it's completely up to her."

"You think you're a smooth talker, but you've just proven you don't care about her. If you did, you wouldn't be okay leaving it up to her." Derek turned his bloodshot eyes on me. He was still as clueless as ever. "Junie, you know how I feel about you. I'll do whatever you say to prove it. Right here. Right now."

If there ever was a perfect opening, this was it. "Okay, Derek. Please, leave me alone. We aren't right for each other."

I spied Murphy making his way casually toward the bar, while Derek held his position. He seemed to be deciding whether to believe me.

"Allow me to share something I learned from a guy who fucked up a lot," Cabe said. "When you're in a relationship with a girl, and that girl repeatedly tells you something isn't working for her, she's giving you the opportunity to step up your game and fix the relationship before it falls apart.

"This guy I know . . . when his girl kept reminding him that she was unhappy with his behavior, he saw it as a threat to his manhood. He wasn't going to let some girl push him around like that. So rather than look closer at himself and maybe work on improving a few things, he ended up losing the girl of his dreams. He's a better person now, but he paid the ultimate price for the chance to become that person. Sometimes you just can't go back."

Derek stared at Cabe for a long moment, and everyone around us seemed to hold their breath as we waited for Derek to react. Even Murphy stopped a few feet behind him, giving the situation a chance to play out. The band had taken a break, so the only cover was the drone of conversation and a Jimmy Buffet song drifting through the speakers.

"I suppose you're going to tell me that guy is you?" Derek said.

"Actually, no. That guy is my dad. He and my mom have been divorced for ten years and he still kicks himself in the ass for it."

Derek offered me a glazed look, and his sigh came across like a white flag. He also may have been realizing his chances for winning a showdown were negligible with Murphy standing behind him.

"I owe you an apology, Junie. I fucked up. And I was stupid to think you would take me back just because I told you I could be a better person. You're the better person. Don't let anyone hold you back from getting everything you want out of life. I'll pay for those beers now."

He walked back to his stool where his helmet waited for him, and I motioned Murphy over to the bar. "Will you call Derek a cab. I don't want him driving home in his condition."

Derek paid for his beers without further incident, and Murphy escorted him outside. When I had caught up with all my drinks orders, I was able to spend a moment with Cabe as he warmed the remnants of his bourbon between his hands.

"Thank you for handling the situation with my ex. I feel like I should present you with an award or something. That was a sight to behold."

He wore an impish smirk to cover what appeared to be genuine embarrassment. "I won't lie to you and say I wasn't worried. The entire time he stood there, I was prepared for him to punch me in the face."

"Derek may act like a tough guy, but he doesn't punch without due cause. And, honestly, I can't imagine anyone wanting to punch you after a speech like that. Do you think your dad will still consider buying his place after you tell him what happened?"

"As long as Derek agrees to our terms, I don't think my dad will see this as a bad omen."

"If you hadn't come in during my shift yesterday, there would be no bad omens to worry about. But I'm glad you did."

He smiled and toasted me with his glass. "Coming here was a very good omen." 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Exes can be a pain in the butt, am I right? My first serious boyfriend turned into a complete psycho. The stories I could tell you would curl your hair. The last I heard, he was serving time in prison for kidnapping his kids. Yeah, I dodged a bullet with that one.