Page 57 of Love You Still

Although losing myself in way too many bottles of beer last night helped for a little while, I’m still no closer to finding a solution to my problem. I could call Selina and ask her directly where we stand, but I’m afraid. Afraid of her putting the last nail in the coffin and ending my years of hope that she would come back to me.

“Stop being so dramatic,” I say to my reflection before getting into the shower.

Lying around in bed will only give me more time to focus on everything that is going on and worry about what might happen, which will do nothing for my state of mind.

I shower quickly and dress in a dark pair of jeans and a flannel shirt rolled to the elbow, before grabbing my duffle bag from the bottom of the closet to start packing. I know Connor called Finn and told him I wouldn’t be there until tomorrow, but maybe finding something else to focus on is just what I need. Once I have enough clothes for a few days and all the essentials, I zip my bag closed and grab my keys and wallet off the end table. I pause for a moment before grabbing my phone and unlocking it. I scroll down to Selina’s number, hesitating for a few moments. Shaking my head, I shove it into my back pocket.

“If she wanted to talk to you, she would have called. Just wait until she comes back, and you can discuss things with her then,” I say out loud as I head toward the closet and shove my feet into my work boots before heading down the stairs and out the door.

Once I’m in my truck, I head directly for the coffee shop, in desperate need of some caffeine. I head right for the front counter and place my order, leaving no time for conversations with Katie behind the counter.

She gives me a skeptical look but thankfully says nothing as she rings up my order.

Since the morning rush has passed, I get my coffee in no time and am headed toward the office. I know Connor said I could take my time getting up to Magnolia, but sitting around and worrying about Selina isn’t helping anything. I might as well head up to Magnolia and make sure everything is ready when the rest of the crew arrives.

Our company, Ace and Hammer Construction, is located on the outskirts of Tyson’s Creek, almost exactly between the center of town and my place. We have more than enough space to store all our equipment and any materials we order specifically for a job. I swing my truck into a spot right in front of our offices before climbing out. The entire place is deserted, which isn’t unusual, making it the perfect place to lose myself in work.

After shutting off my truck, I climb out and head right for the front door, pausing for a few moments to unlock it and shut off the alarm system. The inside of the office isn’t anything special. There is a small break room off to the right of the door, where the guys can eat their lunches and relax between jobs. Straight in front of me is Connor’s and my desk, each one pushed off to a corner, facing the middle of the room. It seems like an odd setup, but I figured it would be easier for us to have conversations if we were facing each other.

After taking a quick sip of my coffee, I stride to my desk and take a seat before pulling out my laptop. Now is as good a time as any to get started on searching for a few vendors closer to Magnolia where we might be able to source material. I stay that way for a few hours, only stopping once or twice to go tothe restroom and grab another cup of coffee before my stomach rumbles loudly.

I check my watch and calculate if I have time to make a stop at Crawdaddy’s before heading out of town and to Magnolia. It might be cutting it close, but a big, juicy burger with all the fixings sounds amazing right now, so I shut everything down quickly and head out the door. I quickly climb into my truck and head back through the center of town, passing the diner and a few other shops before spotting the neon sign a few miles in front of me. I pull into a spot and head directly inside, grabbing a stool at the end of the bar.

Crawdaddy’s is what I’d call a typical sports bar. On the weekends, it plays live music and has an entire wall lined with neon signs. The wraparound bar sits in the center of the room, with small tables scattered around and a dance floor tucked into one corner beside the jukebox. There are also some pool tables near the back, making this the perfect place to come when you want to forget your problems.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Vance Kirkland.” Beckett, the owner, chuckles before dropping a menu onto the bar in front of me. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Beckett also happens to be Emersyn’s older brother, although you would never know it by looking at them. They’re stepsiblings, but Beckett is just as protective of his little sister as any brother would be. Beckett is six feet tall, with a broody personality and no patience for stupidity, so most people find him intimidating just by looking at him, but anyone who knows him knows he’s nothing but a big softy.

I eye him skeptically, waiting for him to ask me something about Selina because there’s no way he doesn’t know that Selina has left town again. Beckett narrows his eyes at me for a moment before running his hand through his dark hair and resting his elbows on the bar. Most people in town would ask pryingquestions, wanting to know how I’m handling her leaving again, but Beckett won’t say a word, allowing me to share as little or as much as I want.

“Are you going to order something, or are we going to have a staring contest?”

“Just want a burger before I head off to Magnolia for a new job.”

Beckett whistles softly, grabbing the unopened menu. “You guys must be doing well if you’re getting job requests from all the way in Magnolia.”

“I can’t complain.”

“We’ve got a new microbrew that I think you might like, if you want to try it,” Beckett says as he throws a towel over his shoulder, resting both arms on the bar and leaning forward slightly. “It’s from Big Beach Brewing, called Dixie’s Heart. I’d love to get your opinion on it.”

“Sure. Why the hell not?” I respond, fully aware that having anything else to drink won’t help my hangover. “But only one.”

Beckett nods in response before striding toward the draft station to grab my beer. He is back in a flash, and I take a healthy drink, letting it sit on my tongue for a few moments before swallowing.

“Not my favorite, but I think it’ll be a good seller.”

“Fair enough,” Beckett says, then heads to check on another customer near the end of the bar.

I look around the bar, hoping to notice a familiar face, but come up short. Not wanting to sit here alone, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Connor’s number.

“Hey,” Connor says over the loud voices in the background.

I pull the phone away from my ear. “Having a party you forgot to invite me to?”

He doesn’t miss the sarcasm in my voice. “Asshole. I was just getting ready to call you. We’re having a barbecue at the house.Audrey invited Bristol and some girls from class over. Why don’t you head over? You can help add some testosterone to the place.”

“Nah. Thanks, man. I’m just grabbing a burger over at Beckett’s place before heading to meet Finn.”

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