No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 97



I was at a bar from 3 PM to 9 PM, sipping drinks more to pass the time than to get a buzz. Eventually, I reached a state of mental blankness and physical lightness.

The owner, James, knew me well enough to keep an eye out, ensuring my solitary drinking sessions didn't end in trouble.

"When are you planning on heading out? Someone coming to pick you up?" James had this fatherly concern about him, looking to be in his fifties, reminding me of what my dad would have been like had he still been around.

"I guess now's good," I mumbled, not really wanting to leave.

But, work awaited me tomorrow, and I needed to rest up. Tonight marked the definitive end of whatever was left of my connection with Conrad.

I started to get up, but James intervened, "I can't let you leave like this. I'll get someone to drive you."

his bar, tucked away in a little alley, into a

seeing Conrad dance with a girl who had a crush

drank till I passed out, waking up to an empty bar and some soup prepared by James. He advised me then, "Whenever you feel down and out,

away but made sure I was safe. His protective nature stemmed from a personal tragedy-his daughter, at 16, fell victim to abuse after seeking solace in

his mission to protect girls like me, offering a safe

not wanting

go wandering off,"

familiar voice

to find

looks like I won't be needing that ride after

before under this very roof. Meeting him

the tab," I

velibe

time," James refused, but Dustin, without a word, scanned a