Page 74 of Cloud Nine Love

As soon as the question was posed to me, I knew I didn’t feel like drinking. That’s not why I was here. I was here because Taylor Hale owned me, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to do about that.

“Just a coke.” I ordered the same thing I had at the airport bar because I’d wanted to keep my wits about me. Little did I know what a pointless endeavor that would turn out to be.

Kenna’s chin dipped in a nod. “Just a coke it is.”

She filled a silver scooper with ice, then dropped it in a glass before grabbing the soda gun, filling it to the brim, and adding a cherry on top.

I pulled out a five-dollar bill, but she waved it away. “It’s on the house.”

“Thanks.”

Kenna moved on to help other customers, and I posted up on my spot. A few women gave me ‘the eye’ and a few even attempted to strike up a conversation, but I made it clear I wasn’t interested in the kindest way possible.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed—maybe thirty minutes, maybe an hour—before I took the last drink of my soda, which was watered down at that point because of the melted ice.

Before I set the glass back down on the bar top, Kenna appeared. “Can I get you another?”

No, I told myself. I needed to leave. It was creepy that I was still here. The best thing to do would be to go home and debrief The Bachelor with my mom.

That was my plan, but when I opened my mouth, I said, “Sure.”

Kenna’s grin turned lopsided as she made me another drink and replaced my empty glass. I could tell she wanted to say something about the fact that I clearly was not here for social reasons or to get drunk, but before she had the chance, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned and saw Sam Whitlock standing behind me.

“Hey, man. I heard I’m gonna be facing you on the field this year.”

Every Thanksgiving weekend, the fire department and police department held an annual football game. When I’d gone to see Captain Dawson, he’d made it clear that my participation was not optional, even though I wasn’t officially starting at the station until December 1st. I’d played varsity football all four years in high school as a quarterback and made all-state junior and senior years.

I’d had several athletic scholarship offers, but I decided to join the Army instead because I felt it was a safer option. I didn’t have parents to fall back on, and I hadn’t wanted to owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans and tuition if I’d sustained an injury.

“Yep, you are.”

“Can’t wait.” Sam slapped me on the shoulder again as he reached beside me and set a hundred-dollar bill down in front of Kenna, who gave him a look like she wanted to roll it up and stab him in the eye with it. He either didn’t notice that if looks could kill, he’d be six feet under, or he chose to ignore the fiery darts she was shooting him. He just winked and walked away.

Once he left, Kenna slid the hundred-dollar bill off the bartop and crumbled it in her hand. For a second, I thought she was going to throw it in the trash, but instead, she put it in the tip jar.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

She pasted a fake smile on her face and spoke through clenched teeth. “Peachy fucking keen.”

She turned and headed down to the end of the bar, and I sat there wondering what the hell actually was the deal with Kenna and Sam. Even after being back in town for a month, I was no closer to solving the mystery. It seemed that in a town where everyone knew everything about everyone, they’d managed to keep whatever their relationship was confidential. No one had access to the top-secret details except them, of course.

My mind was still considering possible explanations for the tension and fireworks the two of them clearly shared when, out of my peripheral vision, I saw Taylor stand up and head to the hallway where the bathrooms were.

I was off that stool faster than a wound-up, spring-loaded Jack-in-the-Box. I barely registered people saying hi to me as I shouldered my way through the crowd. When I reached the hallway, it was empty. I stared at the women’s restroom door and considered entering but decided that would be going too far.

As I paced in front of it, I tried to think of what to say to Taylor. I could tell her I loved her, but I didn’t think this was the time or place. I could ask her what she was doing with Dr. Dreamy, but I was pretty sure I already had the answer to that.

I was still trying to come up with something when the door opened, and she walked out. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me, and she took in a shaky breath.

Without knowing what I was going to say, I just started talking. “I’ve been trying to give you space because I didn’t want you to feel overwhelmed, but that seems to have backfired.”

“What are you doing? I can’t…” She shook her head. “I’m on a date.”

“Yeah, I saw. I just want you to know that I’m staying in Wishing Well; I’m not going back to California. And I plan on pursuing you—pursuing this. There is something between us, something you seem to want to deny, but?—”

“Remi, stop. I’m on a date. I can’t do this right now.”

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