Hector (Season One: The Ninth Inning #3) Read Online Free

downtown
     
    What’s that saying? Knocking out two birds with one stone? That’s the best way to do it; hanging with the guys and getting a chance to see Zoey. It doesn’t take long before I’ve left my house for the bar. The guys haven’t arrived yet, so I scan the room for my favorite bartender. She’s working the tables tonight and is currently busy with one. A waitress walks by me, but I stop her only for a second. What fun would it be to come here and then not sit in her section?
    The waitress points me to a table I can take, sending me on my way. A minute or so passes before Zoey notices me. I grin and am quite pleased with myself when she smiles back. She disappears and seconds later, she returns with a bottle of beer.
    “Miss me?” I ask.
    “Should I have?”
    “Yes. I’m pretty sure I’m your best customer. I’ve been gone a few days; there’s no way you didn’t miss me.”
    Before she can respond, Tanner, Roman, and Spencer are pulling out chairs and taking a seat. Tanner’s eyes eagerly take in Zoey’s appearance. His gaze seems to take forever before it reaches her eyes.
    “You’re ridiculously hot,” he states. “No wonder Hector picked this place.” He’s sitting next to me and I thump his temple. “What? I complimented her.”
    I shake my head at him. “Are you even old enough to drink? Do you need a water instead?”
    Roman and Spencer laugh as Tanner glares at me. A faint smile is on Zoey’s face as she takes their drink orders. It quickly becomes busy and I only see Zoey every now and then when she refills our drinks. With the season beginning to dwindle, our focus needs to stay sharp, so after one alcoholic beverage, we switch to either water or soda. We get up to play a round of pool and I ask the guys how they like Memphis.
    “It’s not too bad,” Roman says.
    “Helps that we’re with a good organization too,” Spencer adds.
    “I’ve just been enjoying the chicks. Our waitress is crazy hot.” As if he needed to repeat himself.
    “Don’t even think about it, Tanner,” I warn. “This is my favorite bar and you aren’t going to try to screw her. She wouldn’t give you a second glance anyway.”
    He looks over his shoulder at her as Roman steps up to the pool table for his shot. “What makes you so sure?”
    “Because she’s already talking to me.” Sometimes, Tanner will feel as if he needs to prove himself, and that’s the only answer that will keep him from trying to sweet talk Zoey. Plus, it’s true. I don’t catch his reaction because it’s my turn. I assess the table, debating my next move. Not going to lie, part of me is wondering if it’s time for this place to close soon. I’m starving, but I got this brilliant idea to hold off until Zoey gets off, so I can attempt to convince her to eat with me. She has to be hungry after working for so long.
    Three games of pool and two of darts later, the guys begin to leave and I realize the place is starting to empty out. I take a seat at the table again, pulling out my wallet. I pull out the bills to cover my tab and then an extra for her tip. When I glance up after putting my wallet back and setting the money on the table, I see Zoey making her way over to me.
    “All done for the night?” she says, her hand reaching out for the money.
    I place my hand over the cash to stop her. “Yes, but I have a question for you first. Are you almost finished here?”
    “I am. Why?” Her gaze is already skeptical, and I try to smile.
    “I haven’t had dinner yet. Do you want to go with me to eat?”
    “As long as you don’t think that because we’re grabbing a bite to eat, you’ll be back at my place for any hanky-panky.”
    Laughter shakes my torso. My stomach aches from it when I manage to calm down enough to say, “I wasn’t thinking that at all. Does that mean you’re coming with me?”
    “Sure. A girl has to eat, right?”
    “Yes, she does.”
    We agree on a restaurant and drive separately. I’m not