It was the way he talked to me last night, like he owned me. Like I belonged to him and was at his mercy to be treated like shit. That was the nail in the coffin for me. I want what Ezra wants now. I want to make sure that people like Rafe can’t just walk around treating people like shit and get away with it.

All I’m going to do is find out something about him. It could be nothing or it could be useful. Maybe I’ll find out what he does on his off hours that leaves him so beat up. Maybe I’ll use it to turn him into the Chief of Police and have his rank taken away, bound to a desk or kicked off the force completely. Whatever he’s dealt, he deserves it.

When I walk into the bar, it’s still bright and quiet, which is actually a good thing. First, I notice a man behind the bar and disappointment washes over me. Then, a waitress passes by me, and I stop when I see her face.

“Hey, darlin’. Have a seat wherever you’d like. Kitchen is open.” She hands me a menu, and I can only focus on her bright smile and tan, toned shoulders. She’s even prettier in person, and I feel entirely inadequate in her presence.

“Thank you,” I mutter as I take the menu and walk toward the bar. The man washing dishes heads toward the back and the waitress with her name, Laini, printed on her nametag greets me.

“What can I get for you to drink?” she asks, and I fumble with my thoughts before I finally blurt out, “Titos with soda and lime.”

She smiles at me and winks.

“Good choice.”

I feel her watching me while she prepares my drink. “Meeting somebody?” she asks.

“Umm...no,” I stammer. I’m a terrible liar normally. I hate lying. It makes me feel so exposed and vulnerable, but I suddenly pull out some random inspiration. “Long week. Needed a good drink.”

“Gotcha. What do you do?” she asks.

“I’m a hospice nurse,” I answer without thinking. I’m not comfortable coming up with a fake name and job. Besides, this is a small town. A lie that big would definitely come back to haunt me.

“Oh,” she says, looking impressed. “Well then, this one is on the house. Nurses should always drink for free.”

“Thank you,” I smile, and for a moment, I don’t want to do this. I like her. She’s down to earth, and if she’s already been through dating Rafe, she hardly needs some jilted nurse coming in to give her hell. And she’s probably not going to like rehashing those old memories at all.

But I do it anyway. As I take my first sip, I squint my eyes at her and she pauses. “I’m sorry. It’s just…you look so familiar!” I say, staring at her with as genuine an expression as I can muster.

“Well, I’ve been tending bar here for ten years, so maybe that’s it.”