Page 10 of Resisting my Roommate

“And after that?” Bernie asks, captivated by her.

He’s not the only one, either. Everyone seems to be looking her way. Then again, that could simply be due to the lack of excitement in a small town. Locals will cling onto any big story and talk about it to death, to hell with how it might affect anyone.

“Not sure.” She shrugs. “But I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

“Well, let’s get you on the path to figuring it out. Jude, can you get my new friend…” Bernie arches a single brow her way.

“Abbey,” she says, picking up on his unspoken question.

“Can you get Abbey something to drink? My treat.”

“All we serve here is beer,” I tell her curtly. “There’s a bar a few miles up the road.”

“Do you want me to leave?” she challenges. “I’m not sure the owner of this fine establishment would appreciate learning you’ve been chasing away paying customers.”

“Oh, no,” Bernie interjects. “Jude’s not?—”

“Just giving you an option in case beer isn’t your thing,” I cut him off before he can finish his statement.

She smooths a hand down her dress. “I’ll have you know I quite enjoy a good beer. During my time in the Peace Corps, it was one of the few treats we were able to get our hands on.”

I keep my expression even, not wanting her to pick up on my increasing curiosity. I’m not sure what I expected, but based on the enormous rock she wore the other night, plus the wedding dress I can only assume cost five figures, she doesn’t come acrossas the type of woman who’d willingly volunteer two years of her life to work in some third-world country.

“Can I have the imperial?” she asks after scanning the large chalkboard hanging overhead containing my current tap list.

“It’s heavy. And strong. It has nearly twelve percent alcohol by volume.”

“I’m firing for effect tonight.”

With a subtle nod, I turn toward the wall of taps, pouring the honey brown ale into a glass before setting it down in front of her.

“Out with the old, and in with the new.” She lifts her glass, her voice filled with determination. “Here’s to new beginnings.”

I watch as she clinks her beer with Bernie, unsure what to make of this woman who should be devastated but instead is toasting to a new beginning with a man she befriended mere minutes ago.

How can she be so resilient? How can she be smiling?

How can she act as if her world hasn’t been flipped upside down?

It both angers and intrigues me, leaving me torn between wanting to find hope in her optimism and wanting to resent her for it.

Because my world was flipped upside down.

And I still feel like I’m drowning every second of every day.

Why isn’t she?

CHAPTER FIVE

JUDE

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in tomorrow?” Dylan asks as I arm the security system in the taproom before stepping onto the sidewalk, holding the door for my sister to follow me.

“I’m positive, Dyl.” I slide my key into the lock, checking to make sure the door is secure. “Lindsey and Stacy are on the schedule. They can handle it.”

“I don’t mind helping if you need me.”

“I’ll be fine. You deserve some time off.”

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