Had To Be You (9 page)

He glanced over in that moment, spotting them, and his grin cracked open. With obvious enthusiasm, he motioned them towards the other end of the bar.

“Hey, Luke?” he called out to the bartender when they were in earshot, his eyes fixed on her. “Would you look at the kind of riffraff that makes its way in at the end of the night?”

“We prefer the term rowdies,” Rory informed him, speaking up over the din of the crowd. She could feel the warmth in his gaze all the way to the tips of her toes.

“Hooligans, even,” Kevin agreed.

“Rabble-rousers, perhaps.”

“Oh, don’t get ahead of yourself there.” Matt poured her a glass of wine. “Once you show me a rabble you’ve roused, then we can talk.”

Rory grinned, moving to sit in one of the barstools he’d reserved. Settling in, she happened to make accidental eye contact with a sunburned sailor standing in the middle of a group a few feet away. His ruddy skin was almost the same color as his red polo shirt, except for the perfectly outlined stark white mask left behind from the sunglasses dangling around his neck on a cord.

“I think I musta died and gone to heaven!” The guy suddenly clutched at his chest, obviously under the mistaken assumption she was smiling at
him
. “Because I’m seein’ an angel.”

She tried not to roll her eyes.

Then he was there, hovering. “Whateva you’re havin’ izzon me.”

Matt immediately placed the glass of wine down in front of her, regarding the guy rather coolly, and Rory pointed to it.

“Actually, it’s on him. But thanks.”

He seemed to get the hint and wandered back to his group. Matt smiled in curious, wry amusement once he was gone.

“Friend of yours?”

She returned the smile as she adjusted her position to get comfortable. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, what’s the matter?” He raised his arms in a playful, helpless gesture. “Not your type?”

“My type?” She assumed a contemplative pose. “I can’t really say. The only things he seems to have going for him right now are that he can string simple sentences together and walk without falling on his face.”

“And that’s not good enough?”

She lifted her wineglass to her lips and shook her head. “I’ve upped my standards a bit since we dated.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I think I’m starting to forget why I like you.”

“Don’t worry,” Rory grinned. “I’m sure it will all come back to you.”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “You know I’m not one to brag…”

“Oh, no,” she cut in with feigned seriousness. It was so easy to fall back into this game. “Perish the thought.”

“But I’ll have you know that many, many women have said I was a catch.”

She paused to consider this. “Hmm, are you sure it wasn’t something more like ‘is that catching?’”

Matt grinned, pushing away from the bar. “You know, I think that you and your friend over there might actually make a great couple.”

“And why’s that?”

“Well, typically you can drive a person to drink, but he’s already there. “

Rory picked up one of the mini pretzels from the bowl on the bar to fling it at him. He laughed and ducked.

“Uh-oh. Objects are already being thrown.” Kevin moved in to join the conversation. “What am I missing over here?”

“Rory was just, once again, trying to mask her smokin’ hot, burning desire for me with pointed sarcasm, indifference and feigned distaste,” Matt explained, tossing her a teasing grin over his shoulder as he walked away.

“Yeah, right,” she scoffed with a shaky laugh, but quickly changed the subject as she turned to Kevin. “So, Joshua seemed very nice.”

“Yeah, he’s great,” he agreed with a somewhat shy smile. “We’ve been out a few times. We’re actually going to this concert next week at the new music pavilion at Seaside Park. He just got out of a serious relationship though, and the guy is all he talks about still. So it’s probably too soon to tell.” He shook his head slowly. “That’s the worst, when someone isn’t over someone else, you know?”

“Yeah.” Rory frowned. “The worst.” She took a bigger gulp of wine.

“I wish you were staying longer than just a couple days,” he continued. “I’d love for you to get to know him better.”

“Actually, it’s funny you mention that, because I’ve been thinking I might stay on past the weekend. I have some vacation time coming to me that I need to use. But, you know,” she added quickly, realizing it sounded like she was taking advantage of their hospitality, “I’m sure my mom’s will clear out after the weekend, so I can go back there.”

“Well, don’t think you have to do that on our account,” he said. “You’re already unpacked and settled in, and we love having you there. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Remember, I’m going to have the whole summer off.”

“Thanks, Kev.” She smiled gratefully. It was nice to hear, even nicer to still feel a part of all she left behind.

He stood from his barstool. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as he left, the sunburned sailor reappeared, edging his way towards the recently vacated barstool.

Rory regarded him with a slightly perturbed frown. “Excuse me, but my friend is coming right back.”

“Don’t see anyone ‘ere now,” he replied, looking at the seat before more firmly planting himself down on it. “So, I think that might jussh leave me and you.”

“Your skills of deduction are impressive,” she noted sardonically.

He leaned closer, grinning widely, his voice infused with a mildly inebriated slur. “I havta tell you…you ahh gaww-geous.” He eyed her up and down. “Are you one of those fashion models?”

“Ooh boy,” Rory muttered under her breath.

***

Matt was carrying a tray of rock glasses out to the service area when he noticed his brother Kevin walk by in his periphery, heading towards the restrooms. He paused to crane his neck slightly, glancing back into the bar to check on Rory through the crowd. It was a bad habit, no doubt, but one that was difficult to break.

That’s when he saw the schmuck with the razor sharp wit from earlier had moved right in. Narrowing his eyes, he realized the guy was now dangerously close to invading the set limits of her personal space—the limits Matt set, that is.

“The idiot in the red shirt, fourth seat down on the other end?” He gestured to Luke. “He’s all done.”

“Shut him off?”

Matt nodded affirmatively. He recognized the guy’s buddies from around town, a group of regulars on the local sailing circuit, and knew they weren’t about to jeopardize access to their favorite watering hole right at the beginning of the summer race season. As anticipated, they offered no protests and quickly convinced him to go.

Leaning against the end of the bar, he watched them file out before he glanced back towards Rory. She arched an eyebrow as she met his smile. Matt eased away with a lingering grin, feeling like, in some strange way, he just got caught.

***

“Hey, Rory! Look who I found.”

Kevin suddenly reappeared through the crowd. Rory glanced past him, and her expectant smile froze in place.

“You remember Casey Conroy, don’t you?” he asked, and stepped aside to let the busty blonde have his seat.

Rory nodded politely. “Yes. Of course.”

“Hi—it’s Rory, right?” Casey smiled at her and then turned to Luke. Reaching across the bar to grasp his arm, she feigned a desperate tone. “Please get me the biggest glass of wine you have!”

“And how was your night?” he asked, laughing over his shoulder.

When he returned with her wine, she thanked him and immediately tapped the glass against Kevin’s beer bottle.

“Cheers!” Her eyes then lit up in recognition as she glanced past him into the crowd. “Hey guys!”

“Casey, how are you?” A slightly heavy-set guy with a dark tan stepped forward to kiss her cheek.

“Good. How’s your night?”

“Pretty good. I met Pat and Johnny for a few. We were heading out now, though.”

He turned slightly, and Rory was mildly shocked to realize it was actually Scott Marino. He noticed her in the same instant, and did a quick double-take.

“Rory?”

“Scott—wow. Hi. How are you?”

Behind him, the other two suddenly appeared, slapping Kevin on the back and mussing up his hair before they were both brought up short as well.

Pat Connelly blinked his eyes once, as if he might be seeing things.

“Rory Finn?”

“Yeah,” she replied with a wry smile. “It’s me.”

Everyone relaxed into recognition, laughing and exchanging warm greetings, though she got the distinct feeling that none of them knew quite what to say to her.

“Wish we had caught up with you guys earlier,” Pat said. “I’m already late to pick up my girlfriend.”

“Yeah, and unfortunately I have an early one tomorrow,” Johnny added.

“Are you still working for Murphy Landscaping?” Rory asked.

He nodded. “Plus Matt throws me a few bartending shifts in the winter, when we’re slow.”

This didn’t surprise her at all. He always looked out for his friends, and treated them as much like brothers as he did Kevin and Danny.

“All right.” Scott took the lead to leave. “Rory, it was really great seeing you.” He then turned to smile at Casey. “And we’ll see you next week, right?”

“Yep, see you guys then!”

Saying her goodbyes, Rory took another sip of wine as she watched them depart.

She found it somewhat odd and disconcerting that someone like Casey Conroy found her way into their tight circle, especially since they traveled in complete opposite ones back in high school. Of course, she knew it’d probably started with Matt, because that’s just the way he was—friendly to a fault, always the more the merrier. Whether or not he once had a huge crush on Casey figured into it at all was something Rory didn’t need to know.

It seemed every time she went away, things changed in different ways. And every time she came back they were the same, only in different ways.

Matt reappeared behind the bar, exchanging a few words with Luke before coming back over. “Oh, now this?” he chuckled warily, lifting a finger to waggle it back and forth between them. “This should not be happening. I don’t think I like you two sitting next to each other.”

Even though she secretly agreed, Rory only smiled.

“Don’t worry.” Casey waved her hand dismissively. “We have better things to talk about than you.”

Rory paused to frown to herself, trying to imagine just exactly what they would possibly have to talk about. What it felt like to be the girl he
wasn’t
marrying. She supposed that could be one topic of discussion.

“Now, Rory, ” Casey Conroy sure seemed to be using her name a lot, considering for years she acted as if she didn’t even know it, “tell us about life in New York City.”

“Not much to tell,” she replied off-handedly. “It’s okay.”

As the crowd slowly started to thin out, Matt busied himself clearing glasses.

“And I hear you have some famous boyfriend there?”

“Ah-um…” she stammered softly, stealing a troubled glance at his turned back. “I don’t know if you could call him famous. He’s written and directed a few plays. Mostly off-Broadway stuff. And I don’t know if I’d really call him a boyfriend.” She made sure to speak up. “It’s not anything that serious.”

One of the staff suddenly appeared at the end of the bar, motioning that they needed him out back.

“Be right there,” Matt called out, rinsing some glasses before he moved away.

Rory frowned after him, hoping he heard her.

Casey waited until Matt disappeared again before she turned to Kevin. She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “So, what are the big bachelor party plans?”

He shook his head and took a swig from his beer. “Matt says he doesn’t want one. He says he just wants to do dinner or something like that.”

“
What?
Oh, and I’ll bet I know whose influence that is!” she exclaimed with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.

Rory was suddenly intrigued. “Who?” she asked. “Do you mean Amanda?”

“Let’s just say it wouldn’t surprise me,” Casey answered cryptically, or about as cryptically as someone so obvious could get. “I don’t think she wants Matt to have any fun at all if it isn’t with her. And I still can’t believe she isn’t allowing him to have any of those guys in the wedding party.”

“Wait—what?” Rory frowned. “Are you talking about Pat and Johnny? What about Murph?”

“Nope. None of them. I guess Miss High Society wants to keep the townie element to a minimum,” Casey explained. “That, or she wants to remove all distractions. Maybe she’s just afraid one of them will talk him out of it. I mean, it’s not that I don’t like her. It’s just that—”

“She thinks Amanda may be a gold-digger,” Kevin cut in.

“That is not true!” she corrected him with a shake of her blond hair. “I don’t think that because she already comes from money. I just think she maybe sees Matt as someone who can give her the life to which she has become accustomed, you know? If he didn’t open this bar and wasn’t that successful, I’m not so sure she would have sunk her claws in so deep. There has to be some reason why she acts so territorial and possessive around him all the time, and wants to keep everyone else away.”

Rory glanced at Kevin. “And what do you think?”

“Eh, I don’t know if I agree with that.” He shook his head dismissively, dashing Rory’s tentative hope that Amanda may actually be some incarnation of evil trying to separate Matt from everything he held close. “She’s definitely someone who appreciates the nicer things in life, but then there are other things about her, like what she does for work, that seem to show money isn’t all that important to her. She’s pretty well-grounded.”

Rory couldn’t resist a bit of sarcasm as she joked, “What? Does she work with underprivileged children or something?”

Kevin only arched an eyebrow, tilting his head.

Her face dropped. “You’re kidding,” she muttered.

“Well, she’s a teacher. She taught kindergarten for a year and I guess has been sending out résumés around here for the fall. She’s hoping to get a job with a local school. She apparently likes working with kids.”