Free Just Jack by Meredith Russell

the fuss. Hell, it was his fault Leo had slipped and near enough knocked himself out.
    With stern eyes, Ruby looked at Leo, and it was clear Leo didn’t have the energy to argue.
    Spinning on his stool, he faced Jack and asked, “Would you like to go for a drink sometime?”
    Jack sucked on his teeth. He was taking too long to give an answer and he knew it. Shit . “Sure. Why not?”
    Ruby looked victorious, the man behind her gave a despairing look, and Leo looked like he was going into shock.
    “There ya go.” Ruby pushed Leo by the shoulder. Pleased with herself, she then plucked a straw from the box on the bar and turned her attention to her drink.
    “I am so sorry,” Leo mouthed.
    Jack grinned and shrugged off the concern. Taking a napkin from behind the bar, he jotted down his digits and handed it to Leo. “No pressure. But if you do want to meet up for a drink or a chat, call me.”
    “I will.” There was color in Leo’s cheeks. His pale complexion from earlier had vanished, almost like he’d thawed from whatever icy grip had taken hold of him.
    Nodding, Jack made his excuses and left the bar, heading out back. Stepping from sight, he leaned against the wall and rubbed his hands over his face. What was he playing at? He didn’t hand out his cell number or agree to go for drinks with men just like that. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
    Forget about it. Leo probably already has . Jack opened his eyes and stared at the wall opposite him. He couldn’t figure out what had his head in such a mess: the thought that Leo might call him, or the fact that he might not. Why should I care if he calls?
    “Problem?” Abe was standing in the doorway beside him.
    Jack took a deep breath and composed himself. “No problem.”
    There was a look in his friend’s eyes. He knew Jack better than to press further, or at least he should have.
    “Who’s the guy?” Abe glanced over his shoulder to where Jack assumed Leo and his friends were still sitting.
    “No one,” Jack lied.
    Abe folded his arms, stepped out of view of the bar, and leaned against the wall beside Jack. “Is everythin’ okay, man? You seem…” Abe shrugged. “Different somehow.”
    “Different?” Jack snorted a laugh. He hadn’t done ‘different’ in a long time.
    Abe wore a frown as he studied Jack. Whatever change he thought he saw, he obviously couldn’t put a name to it. “Okay,” he said. Jack had a reprieve for the time being. “Don’t think I’m leavin’ it there. Take your miserable face off to the refrigerators. The elephant needs to be finished for collection tomorrow at noon. We’ll talk later.”
    “There’s nothing to talk about.” There was no weight behind Jack’s protest, and he wondered why he even bothered.
    “Later,” Abe said and headed back to the bar.
    When Abe was gone, Jack held his hand out in front of him. Slowly, he turned it over, examining his palm and the back of his hand. Unnerved, he balled his shaking hand into a fist. What the hell was going on?
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    Leo sat at one of the small round tables in the office kitchen and rested his forehead in his hand.
    “Poor baby,” Ruby said. There was no actual sympathy for his self-inflicted state. She and Nathan had taken it upon themselves to tease him at every opportunity.
    “Thanks,” he muttered and soothed his cool fingers over his brow, grazing the scabbed-over cut from yesterday’s misadventure. He had a pounding head and still felt sick despite hugging the toilet at four that morning. The memory had him desperately suppressing the urge to gag.
    “You know what would fix you right up? A greasy bacon roll.”
    Leo’s top lip twitched. He couldn’t face food, not yet. “Maybe later.”
    Ruby chuckled and sipped her coffee. “When is the presentation?”
    “Couple of hours.” Plenty of time to shake off his hangover.
    “Have you seen him yet?” Ruby lowered her voice, even though they were the only two people in the