The vibe inside was most definitely the culture of the bar. Framed, autographed sports memorabilia surrounded the rooms’ rounded walls. It was cleaner in here. The smell was still of alcohol, but swankier somehow.

There were a handful of people already here. Most college aged, some older, but definitely our type of crew. I spotted a few I recognized. And since Becky was the only one not tied by the hip to someone else, I sat next to her at a booth across from James and Bella.

“Good to have you back, Paige. Really, we missed you. And sorry about…” he coughed and I realized that Bells had nudged him hard on his side.

“Uhh…the job. Sorry, you lost your job,” he squealed.

“Thanks. It wasn’t meant to be.” The job or the man, I thought.

Becky waved her hand frivolously, shutting down our dull small talk. “So are the rumors true about the Knightwing’s being here tonight?”

James glanced at Bella. “Yeah…actually, Carson and a couple of others from the team are here. Bryan Sawyer, the rookie on the team last year is out.” He picked up his phone. “Not sure who else. They were just out front when I got here. Should be coming in soon.”

It was at that moment that Carson strolled in. He was with two other large guys. They were nothing like him. Carson wasn’t huge. He was tall, with broad shoulders and chest, incredibly defined muscles beneath a black t-shirt—but nevertheless, more on the slimmer side comparatively. And his hair… still as dark and silky as I remembered.

Though seemingly better looking than the last time I saw him, something was different. There was no trace of that polite smile he’d sparkle when people crossed his path and greeted him. He appeared much less approachable with his laxed swag and tight jaw.

His gaze swept over our table; his green eyes faltered on mine for a millionth of a second—more than enough for me to see how distant, uninviting, and cold they were. Though somehow they more beautiful than I remembered.

Not more beautiful in a way that it was more appealing for him to bear such sad eyes, but they were more honest than I’d ever seen him. Out here and in the open for everyone to see.

This Carson… he wasn’t trying to cover anything up. There was no fake smile lingering on his lips. No front, no show.

Is this the you that you’d been hiding all those years?

My gaze dropped, memory wheels on overload, trying to remember the last time I saw him and looked into his eyes. When he’d met mine and held my gaze, silently letting me in on something no one else could see. What were they like back then? Were they like this?

Nothing came. All I could see were the vacant ones he bared right now.