Ruined by You Read Online Free Page B

she said, nodding at the beer she hadn’t even touched. “I need a real drink.”
    She slid off the stool and, giving Huck one more glare, bee lined for the bar.
    He shot me a confused look, and all I could do was shake my head.
    “Hang in there,” I said, patting him on the arm. Then I ran to catch up to my little firecracker of a cousin.

    * * * * *

    We made our way up the bar. Sarah was walking stiffly with her hands still folded across her body. There were a lot of people at the bar, but it wasn’t so full that we couldn’t find a place to squeeze in. Two bartenders made drinks. One of them was older, and clearly in charge. I risked a glance at the mystery man, and felt my stomach drop when I saw that both he and the blond had disappeared.
    So much for that!
    We stood at there for a minute, neither of us saying anything. Sarah kept her eyes focused on the bar, lost in thought.
    “Everything OK?” I asked.
    “What?” she said. “Oh. Yeah, everything’s fine.” She shrugged her shoulder, unconvincingly.
    “That stuff with Huck seemed pretty intense,” I said.
    “What is he thinking?” she said. “He can’t go and run off to some far away college just because he wants to get out of Green Falls. That’s selfish.”
    I gave her a warm smile, and squeezed her shoulder.
    “So who’s this Scottie person?” I asked, changing the subject. “I really do need a summer job.”
    Sarah perked up, and she nodded at the far end of the bar.
    “That’s him down there,” she said, nodding at the guy in charge. “He’s kind of a big deal around here. Opened this bar a few years ago, and he’s been doing good things for everyone ever since.”
    “What’s the thing that Huck was talking about?” I asked.
    “The Battle of the Bands?” Sarah said. I nodded. “It’s this thing Scottie started a couple years back. Started off as a little concert, but then he started to get some sponsorship deals and it turned into a little competition with each band trying to one up the other.”
    “Sounds pretty interesting,” I said.
    “Yeah, it’s pretty fun. All the kids at school talk about how they’re going to win it, but I don’t think any of them really have a shot.”
    I considered it. Working at a concert wouldn’t be a horrible way to spend the summer. It would definitely be something different. But, something told me that it probably wouldn’t be enough. I’d probably have to get another job to go along with it, and that might be too much for me to handle. Something was better than nothing, though.
    We waited another minute before the man at the far end of the bar saw us. His face lit up and he waved at Sarah. She returned it, and he came walking over.
    He was tall, with light auburn hair. Gray peppered his sideburns, and his eyes had a couple tight creases. He looked more distinguished than he did old.
    “Sarah Miller,” he said, leaning toward us. “I never would have expected to find you down here.”  
    “Oh, stop it,” she said. “Scottie, this is my cousin Maggie. She’s the one I was telling you about.”
    Scottie gave me a warm smile. He wiped his hand on a towel draped over his shoulder, and then thrust it out to me. I responded in kind. His handshake was firm.
    “The cousin,” he said, smiling. “So where are you from, Maggie?” he asked.
    “Newark,” I said. “New Jersey.”
    “Ah, Jersey,” he said, his eyes reflecting warmly. “Haven’t been there in a few years. It’s an interesting place.”
    “You’ve been to Jersey?” I asked, surprised. “What were you doing there?”
    “Scottie’s been all over,” Sarah said, bragging for him. “Are there any places you haven’t been?” she asked him.
    He grinned. “A few.”
    “What do you do?” I asked, curious.
    Scottie’s lips pinched and he rolled a shoulder. “A little of this, and a little of that,” he said. “So what can I get you ladies? I saw Huck over here earlier - you’re being responsible,