Drawn To You (Paloma's Edge) by Robin Shaw Page A

didn’t think I’d seen Pierce this upset since Mr. Pruitt had told him that he’d have to pay rent. Pierce had been trying to get his own place for the summer, but rent was really expensive. Most places had wanted him to sign a six-month lease. At his parents’ house, his room was size of a small apartment. The only thing that each room didn’t have was its own kitchen. It was hard to resist nice living quarters; however, he liked being around Nancy and his mom more than he cared about having a spacious room.
    I excused myself and went after him. Mrs. Pruitt thanked me and Mr. Pruitt finished eating his dinner. And Cassidy had had a shit-eating look on her face. I’d texted Beth and told her not to worry. I didn’t want Cassidy to involve Beth in her antics or to be manipulated by her. I knew that I was the outsider, but I didn’t think Beth had any idea that Cassidy would’ve handed her over to any guy she knew so that she could have private fun. Cassidy didn’t care about Beth and I didn’t have the heart to tell her to be mindful of her cousin. How would I look? Like an asshole who was trying to mess up her relationship with her family.
    Emilio, one of the waiters/bartenders , served Pierce a mug of beer on the house. “Women troubles?” he asked.
    Pierce gulped down almost half of the thick beer and set the mug back on the counter as he heaved in a br eath. “No. Just my know-it-all dad.”
    “That sucks,” Emilio said. “It’ll blow over. And then you two will bu tt heads again.”
    Pierce nodded and drained the rest of his beer. “Yeah. Same shit. Different day. Thanks for the beer, Emilio.”
    Emilio took the mug and greeted new customers.
    Joel and Rylan came in by themselves, which I think was best because Pierce didn’t seem like he was in the mood to be courteous to their lady friends.
    “What’s up, Joel?” I raised my chin to him. “Rylan.” We bumped fists as he sat by me and Joel convinced some girl to sit on the other side of the counter.
    “Chase.” A deep line creased over Joel’s forehead as he eyed Pierce warily. “You must be real pissed to drive all the way over here.”
    “I was.” Pierce raised his shoulders indifferently. “What do you guys wanna drink?” He looked at us.
    “Get me a black Russian,” Rylan answered.
    “Light beer,” Joel said.
    “I’ll stick with another club soda and lime,” I told Emilio, who huffed out a laugh at Pierce’s disappointed frown.
    “We’ll have scotch on the rocks some other time. Tonight, I’ll be your designated driver.”
    Pierce con ceded with the tilt of his head. “On second thought, I am not gonna drown myself in beer tonight. Dad would expect me to fuck up, cause a scene, and have to be driven home. One more beer and I am done.”
    Joel gave Pierce’s back a light slap. “Good thinkin’.” He cleared his throat. “The girl with the strapless dress has been lookin’ at you. You gonna dance with her?”
    I followed Joel’s gaze to an attractive woman with blond extensions wearing shorts and a tube top.
    A slow grin crept over Pierce’s face as he shook his head. “Go dance with her, Joel,” he encouraged.
    “I’ll be back soon.”
    Pierce sipped his beer and gave an appreciative nod. Rylan took Joel’s seat. “If you need some space from your dad, you can crash at my place. I know you don’t like sleeping in your penthouse.”
    “Thanks, Rylan. But I am sleeping in my room tonight. I am not even dropping by Mona’s. I pay rent and might as well use my room to sleep sometime s.”
    “True.”
    By the time Emilio handed us our drinks, La Floridita was packed. The recorded music that played the same songs came to an end. On the makeshift stage at the center of the room, the small curtains opened up. Bright blue and yellow lights glinted off of the old wooden floor. A handwritten sign on the wall that said Tainted Virtue, an indie rock and country band who had recently signed a major record deal, was