Reagan sat at the bar, staring at her phone. She had been staring at it all night. Ethan had been out of town for the past couple of weeks, working on securing a very important account for the firm. Most nights she spent waiting around her apartment, unsure if he would call or not. That was how she had ended up at the bar. She was going to go crazy if she had to spend on more night alone, just waiting for a phone call or text that might not come.

"Ever heard the one where a watched pot never boils?"

"More sage advice? Maybe you should think about a career change, Austin. It could be a real cinderella story, from bartender to life coach." Reagan remarked cooly as she lifted her face, giving him a victorious smirk.

He chuckled as he dropped himself down in the booth across from her, "So, who's got you staring at your phone? The boss."

She narrowed her eyes, "The boyfriend."

"Oh? So he graduated titles? Well, good for him." He drummed his hands against the table. Reagan couldn't help the bubble of annoyance building in her stomach. She couldn't understand why Austin felt the need to always poke at her like he did. It was like he was a man-child, pulling her figurative pigtails.

"So is he meeting you here?"

She stiffened up at his question, tonguing her cheek as she looked away, "Actually he is out of town on business, not that any of this is your business."

"I see." She turned her gaze back to him as he stood back up, "That mean you're free to hang out then."

"With you?"

Austin crossed his arms over his chest, "I like to think I am better company than a phone."

Reagan let out a snort, "That's debatable."

"Come on, Red." He leaned forward, pressing his palm to the table, "Do you really have anything better to do tonight?" Austin lifted a brow as he shifted his gaze from her to the phone and back again.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Reagan questioned him with a bit of curiosity, "Wouldn't your boss be a little upset with you skipping out in the middle of your shift?"

"I don't think it'll be a problem."

Reagan inclined her body towards him, smiling, "You must have a very understanding boss."

Austin chuckled as he pulled back, running his hand through his hair, "I'm the boss, Red. This is my bar."

Reagan found her mouth falling open at his comment, "You? You own this bar?" This was a bit of a shock to her. He had never struck her as more than a man content to live life free and fun, being a business owner seemed out of character, "Are you sure?"

He smirked, glancing away from her as he shook his head, "I'm sure, Red. Don't seem so surprised."

"Well, I am. I mean can you blame me? Considering all the wise things you say on a regular basis." She remarked sarcastically.

Austin met her gaze again, "I'm sensing some very judgy vibes." He was using Reagan's own words against her in a playful manner.

She rolled her eyes unable to keep the smile from dancing across her face, "I apologize for judging you. I think it's awesome that you own and run a business." Reagan was only slightly sincere in her tone because she could tell Austin was only pulling her leg.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me, Red. I accept your apology." He held his hands over his heart in his own mocking sincerity.

Reagan ran her tongue over her teeth, shaking her head, "You're completely ridiculous."

"Definitely, but that's what so endearing about me." He held out his other hand towards her, "Now, Red, no more stalling. We're going to hang out.

Reagan stared down at his open palm, "I don't think that's such a good idea." She remembered quite clearly what had happened the last time they were alone together. Not that she hadn't enjoyed herself because she definitely had. Austin may be a pig but he knew what he was doing in the bedroom.

"Come on, I promise I don't bite."

"I think we both know that isn't true." The words slipped from her mouth before she could think about what she was saying. He chuckled at her response and her face heated with embarrassment, "I have a boyfriend, Austin."

His lips twitched, brows furrowing slightly, "I know. I haven't forgotten in the past twenty minutes since we started this conversation. I'm not asking you to have sex, Red. I'm asking you to hang out...like I don't know...as a friend."

Reagan tilted her head to the side, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear, "As a friend? A female friend?"

"I believe that's what I am saying, yes."

Now she was curious, "Do you even know how to be just friends with a female, Austin?"

He held her gaze in silence for a moment, an unnamable expression passing over his face, "I guess we can figure that out together. All I know is that you have nothing better to do and I want to spend more time with you."

Reagan pursed her lips, "Only as friends?"

"Just friends." He confirmed again, with a firmer tone.

Surprisingly she found herself warming to the idea of having another friend, one of the male variety. It might be nice to have someone to go to that didn't have expectations or wants from her. Reagan lifted her hand and placed it onto his, "Alright, fine. We can give this being friend's thing a try."

"Wonderful. This will be fun."

She laughed to herself as he helped her up to her feet, "Yeah, fun."

"That's the spirit." He bumped her shoulder with a fist, causing her to look at him with a lifted brow, "Yeah that was weird for me too."

Reagan rolled her eyes, "Come on, let's go do whatever it is friends do."