Page 11 of Tide Over

“Coming right up,” she says cheerfully, then takes off behind the bar.

I bring my attention back to Liam, but some of his discomfort seems to dissipate as his eyes wander over the old photos, paddles, signs, ropes, and maps covering every inch of the wood walls and ceiling.

“This is a cool place,” he says.

I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “Yeah. The owners of this place are collectors. Most of this stuff they got from local fishermen over the years.” I point to a buoy hanging from the ceiling near the bar. “That’s my most recent contribution, when they cornered me at the marina because the pub was apparently lacking a ‘MacKinnon touch’.”

Liam turns to look at the buoy and smiles with a soft laugh. And I try to ignore the flip in my stomach at the sight and sound.

“Hey, bud.” A hand lands on my shoulder, and I look up to see one of my crew members, Mitch.

“Hey,” I say, nodding a greeting to his wife, as she takes her seat across the pub and waves to me. “Didn’t think you’d make it out tonight.”

“Dropped the kids off with my mom, so we’re getting a couple free hours,” he says, then his eyes slide to Liam. He reaches across the table, extending his hand to him. “Hey, I’m Mitch. I work with this asshole.”

Liam huffs out a laugh and shakes his hand. “Liam.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes at Mitch. “Liam is staying in town for a bit, at my house. He just got in yesterday.”

“Oh, nice.” Mitch smiles between me and Liam. “How do you guys know each other?”

Liam looks at me, the unease flickering back into his eyes.

I shrug a shoulder. “We just met yesterday.”

Mitch’s brows lift slightly as he glances between us again. Then he smiles widely, tossing his hands in the air. “Hey, alwayshappy to welcome a new friend! Hope you enjoy your stay here.” He quickly glances over his shoulder as Allison starts talking to his wife. “But I gotta go before she orders me a sugar-free vodka soda or some shit. Nice meeting you, Liam.”

“See ya,” I chuckle as he hurries over to his table and grabs Allison before she can go fill their order.

“He’s nice,” Liam says, watching him as he mindlessly rolls the coaster on the table.

I nod. “Yeah, he’s been on my crew for years now.”

Liam’s eyes snap to me, and some questions seem to swirl within them. And surprisingly, I want him to ask them.

But if he was going to, he doesn’t get the chance.

“Here you go.” Allison plops our drinks down in front of us, her usual smile in place.

“Thanks, Allie,” I say.

“Of course. Anything else?” she asks, looking between us.

Liam shakes his head, and I do the same, looking up at her. “No, we’re all good. Thanks.”

“Sounds good. Let me know if you need anything.” She squeezes my shoulder as she leaves, greeting some people as they enter the pub.

We each take a drink of our beer in awkward silence, the sounds of everyone laughing and talking around us seeming to get even louder. But even though it’s a bit awkward… it's not uncomfortable.

Caleb and Emily settle onto their stools in front of the mics, and the pub fills with excited whoops and cheers from the surrounding tables. I turn to Liam and lean in a bit closer to him, gesturing to them with a tilt of my head.

“Caleb and Emily play here often. They live in Mahone Bay, but Caleb grew up here.”

Liam nods, shifting his gaze to them as they laugh and chat with some people at a table close to them. “Seems like a pretty tight crew here.”

I huff out a laugh. “Tight is an understatement.”

“Hello, hello.” Caleb says into the mic. “Happy to be back here in The Thistle, with a view of all your ugly mugs.”

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