Page 92 of Firefly Effect

Patrick grins. “You sure did. So, what’s been going on with you?”

“Oh, you know,” I say, cleaning off the counter to avoid his gaze. “Just trying to keep things afloat.” When he doesn’t respond, I begin to think I’m in the clear.

“And how are things with my new tenants? Doctor Reed taking care of the place?”

I shrug, trying to give him my best nonchalant attitude. “Yeah, I think everything is all good over there.”

I finally look up to find one of Patrick’s brows raised. “You think?”

Cringing inside, I smile as widely as possible. “I helped them with the furnace in the guesthouse. Lucy, Lincoln’s little girl, loves my old room. I think they’re really enjoying it here.”

Patrick sits back, seemingly satisfied. “Great. Sounds like you’re handling everything really well. Thank you, Evie.”

Relief floods me now that we’ve entered a new topic. “You’re welcome, Patrick. Glad I could hold down the fort while you were away. When do you think you’ll head back out?”

“In about a week or so. I want to get some maintenance done on the RV and check on my rental properties before we head out for a longer period of time. And…” He bestows on me a bigger smile. “I want to officially hand the bar over to you.”

My jaw drops. “R-really? I mean, I know you’ve been talking about it, but so soon? Are you sure?”

Patrick brushes his hands together in two claps, gesturing that he’s washing his hands on the place. “This isn’t my dream anymore, Evie. It’s yours.” He looks around proudly. “You’ve earned this, you know? From the first day you stepped foot in this space as a kid, when it was nothing but concrete floors and bare-brick walls. You may not be getting the Vaughn fortune from your parents, but you’re getting something that means a little bit more to the both of us.”

Emotion clogs my throat. “That means a lot to me, Patrick. Thank you.”

We exchange smiles, the sentiments running deep. I don’t know what would have happened to me if Patrick wasn’t there to step into the role as parent when I needed one so desperately. He hasn’t missed a single milestone in my life, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.

I hold up the bottle of scotch. “Another?”

He sticks out his glass. “You need not ask. It’s a keep-em-coming kind of night.”

Laughing, I finally feel some sense of normalcy, and I’m grateful for that. Weight feels like it’s been lifted off my chest. For once in a very long time, everything seems like it just might be okay. At least, that’s how it feels until Officer Gabe walks in with a sour look on his face.

He walks straight up to the bar and sits down next to Patrick. He doesn’t even look at Patrick when he claps him on the back. “Nice to see you home, old man.”

Patrick elbows him in the side, causing Gabe to wince. “Watch yourself, son. I’ve got more powerful pistols than that one in your holster.”

Gabe chuckles. “Only you would threaten an officer.”

“And only you would be stupid enough to fuck things up with my niece here.” Patrick winks at me.

Gabe turns his amused eyes on me. “Oh, you haven’t heard? Our little Evie is spoken for.”

Patrick’s face twists in confusion. “What?”

Gabe leans back in his chair and raises his brows at me. “Well, go on, Evie. Tell your uncle what you’ve been up to while he’s been gone.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head, wishing I could ignore him. “Shut up, Gabe.”

Patrick leans toward me. “You hiding something from me?”

Groaning, I turn away to help the customer next to Gabe, but that doesn’t stop me from listening.

“Evie and her therapist have entered into a rather illegal affair.”

Patrick snaps his head back in my direction. “What?”

I slam down the bottle I’m holding and glare at Gabe. “For the last time, he is not my therapist.”

“Is that true, Evie? Are you dating Doctor Reed?”

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