Before I could even process it, he slammed my truck door and disappeared toward his own. My head spun as his diesel engine fired up, and he flashed his brights at me, waiting on me to go first. I threw the truck in drive, and whipped it around, taking off down the dirt road—much faster than I should’ve.
But Ihadto put distance between him and me.
Whether he liked it or not, I was already in his mess, and I understood, but it didn’t lessen the fresh heartache that came with dissipating hope. I had no idea what that phone would point to, and all I could hope was that the nagging feeling inside of me waswrong.
I should’ve gone home,but when I made it to the highway, and saw that Garrett’s headlights were no longer behind me, I took a left and headed into town. I needed a drink and to avoid my mother’s questions for just a little longer, so I made my way to Outlaws, praying that Garrett wasn’t headed to the same place.
Once I had parked in the lot, I smoothed out my hair, and pulled myself together. I looked like a bit of a wreck, but I waspretty certain that it wasn’t something to be worried about in this town. I slid out of the truck and headed inside, noting there was no one standing outside like there had been before. I pushed through the saloon-style doors, the smokey haze immediate as I took a few steps into the entrance. The guy at the door didn’t even give me a second look as I made my way toward the bar, already preparing to see familiar faces of some sort.
“What can I get for you, Beth?” the woman behind the bar asked me, her use of my name a little startling.
“Um,” I paused. “Do I know you?” I took in her blonde hair, piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She had on a tight white t-shirt, that accentuated her large chest and tiny waist—but still, I didn’t recognize her.
“Really?” she raised her brows. “... Lauren.”
My mouth dropped open as I met those familiar blue eyes. “Oh mygosh.I amsosorry, Lauren. Your hair was always dark, and,” my eyes dropped to her chest. “I don’t... those...”
“Are fake,” she smirked, shaking her head at me. “I got them thinking they’d help me make it out in Los Angeles. It turns out thateveryonehas them out there.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, strange comfort rolling through my body at the sight of her. “I can only imagine, but seriously,” my giggle faded. “What’re you doing back in town? I thought you had moved and would never come back. You’d been telling me that since fourth grade.”
“Ah, yeah, those were the days,” she said with a sigh. “What do you want to drink? I feel like you need it more than I do tonight. You look exhausted.”
“Just a Jack and Coke will do.”
“Single or double?”
“Single,” I answered as she started making my drink. “So what’s up with you?”
“Well, I have a five-year-old daughter, Bria,” she began as she made the drink. “Her dad is some high-class talent agent out in LA. He pays a monthly stipend of child support, but that’s the extent of his involvement. Other than that, I moved home because I was tired of the fast life. I guess it turns out that I belong here.” She sat my drink down in front of me. “But given how crazy things are here, I don’t know if it’s much better.”
“I hear that.”
“Why’re you here?” she asked, leaning against the bar across from me. “I mean,here.Not in town. I know why you’re in town, and I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, still getting used to the idea that he was gone. My mind might be overwhelmed and laser-focused on Sarah and wrecked by Garrett, but the grief still felt like a ton of bricks. I ran my fingers through my hair, forcing myself to watch Lauren make my drink and empty my thoughts.
“Yeah, well, it’s good to see you. I know you’ve heard about Sarah by now…” Her voice trailed off as she sat my drink down and leaned against the counter, letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry you’re pulled into that mess. You know how the town likes to talk.”
I picked up my drink. “Some things never change.”
“Oh, I know, right? Not to speak ill of the dead, but seriously, any time that she and Lucas had a bad spell, even after they were married, she’d be out surveying the town without her wedding ring. Everyone was always talking about her to some degree. I witnessed so much. She is—well,wasa mess.”
“And yet the men still flocked to her,” Ichuckled, shaking my head. “I never understood it, or maybe I was just jealous? I don’t know. Regardless, she didn’t deserve what happened.”
“Yeah, and I hate that Garrett is at the center of it, and the things Lucas is spreading is just…vile.” Lauren frowned. “But…” She paused. “Areyou actually even talking to Garrett?” Her voice was tinged with curiosity.
“Uh… Yeah, kind of. I don’t know,” I groaned, resting my head against my hand.
“Um well, you know...” her voice trailed off as she scanned the crowd. “He usually is here every single night that we’re open, but he hasn’t been here much since that night.”
I nodded, shifting on the bar stool as I forced myself to stay in the uncomfortable conversation. “Well, I guess maybe he’s trying to make a change?”
“I heard about what happened at the funeral,” she commented, her eyes dropping to her clasped hands on the bar. “I think that’s pretty terrible that he came storming in there looking for you, so I don’t know about all that changing. I really wouldn’t get your hopes up. He’s got a lot of baggage, Beth.”
“Yeah, I get that.” I downed about half my drink in one go, inviting the burn that came with it. “He says he still has feelings, but I really don’t… I’m trying not to let it screw with my head.”
She shrugged. “He probably means it. When I made it back here, he still was hung up on you, I think. I mean, he never really said it, but you know how people talk. I don’t ever really take people for their word though, honestly. I hear the wildest stuff—though I do know something...” Lauren chewed her plump red lip. “And Ireallythink I need to tell someone.”