Free The Beats in Rift by Ker Dukey Page A

showing me. I lift my lips into a smile and her chest expand like she’s releasing a breath. Her feet start to move in my direction and my heartbeat accelerates. Her flowery scent invades my space as she approaches.
    “Hey,” she murmurs.
    “Hey, Meadow,” Max says tilting his beer in her direction. Her eyes don’t leave mine, even when she returns his greeting.
    “You came,” I say.
    She looks around the bar and smiles. “I never thought I’d see the day. I just wanted to make sure it was true.”
    “Well, it is. So I guess were going to be family.”
    Her nose twitches and a tilt lifts her lips as she nods her head. “I don’t think either of us has really ever had that.” Pain tortures her still from the loneliness of never really having a real family and I still want to hold her take away her sorrow after all this time.
    “Drink?” Max breaks the uncomfortable atmosphere that had fallen over us. Her face transforms into a beautiful grin.
    “Hmm, I always liked you Max.”
    He chuckles as he slides out of the booth. “You called me Max. I didn’t know if you would remember me.”
    She raises an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? You taught me I’m allowed to drink any time of the day. Some teachers stay with you.” She places a hand over her heart and he beams down at her.
    “Glad I had an effect on you.” He winks and ushers her to the bar. I have to fight my instinct to not punch his face in, and try to remember she doesn’t belong to me and this is just Max, who’s like this with everyone.
    I follow them to the bar.
    “No way. Have you finished them already? I need to cut you off. You’re going to die if you don’t slow down.”
    Max and Meadow are both staring between me and the new barmaid; Ellie, I think she said her name was.
    “Ellie, you need to learn if people are spending, you keep serving,” I inform her.
    She lifts a tea towel and begins wiping the bar. “Well, you haven’t been paying so I’m not serving.” She smirks.
    I look at her in disbelief as Meadow begins to giggle. I cock an eyebrow and pin Meadow with a ‘what’s so funny?’ stare.
    “Ellie, serve my nephew his beer and serve my new daughter whatever she wants.”
    Ellie looks embarrassed, the tinge in her cheeks giving her away. “Sure, boss,” she squeaks out. I can’t help but smile. She places the drink in front of me, and before she can walk away I reach for her hand to hold her in place.
    Her eyes dart to mine. “If you would have asked instead of jumping to conclusions I would have told you I don’t need a beer. I have three on the table.”
    Her blush consume her face. A warm, soft hand touches my arm; I feel her touch all the way down to my groin.
    “Don’t be mean.” Meadow’s breasts unintentionally push against my arm and I’m back to being that thirteen-year-old boy who saw her cleavage for the first time when she stripped her sweater off and gave me my first of many erections.
    I release my hold on Ellie and turn to Meadow. “How long you in town?”
    “A week. You?”
    “A week.”
    “Shots!” Max bellows, sliding shot glasses our way. We waste no time knocking them back. Meadow’s Mom and Drew join us for a few drinks. Before we know it, they’ve disappeared upstairs and it’s closing time.
    “Let’s go into town,” Meadow slurs. She’s completely letting her hair down, she seems to of changed quite a lot in the year away from us all.
    Max raises a hand. “Yep, let’s do it. I need a woman for the night.”
    “Okay, fine. But, Meds, you’re not really dressed for the club.”
    She looks down at herself. Mine and Max’s eyes follow her observation of her body.
    “She looks fucking hot,” Max says. I glare at him.
    “I look more ready for the beach than the club, don’t I?” she moans. “Oh, hang on.” She opens the hatch and disappears behind the bar. I hear her rustling around, then clothes appear on the bar. “My suitcase.” She beams.
    I look over the bar and down