Page 14 of The Holiday Fail

“What are your plans tonight? I don’t think I’ve seen you do much else besides work since you got here.”

“I visited the town for a bit on my day off yesterday, but I mostly stayed in,” I said with a shrug.

Even when I lived in New York, I wasn’t the kind of person to explore the city. My friends liked to joke that even a tourist knew the city better than me, who was born and raised there. They weren’t wrong.

“Now that won’t do! You can’t just hide here for the rest ofyour six-month contract. Come on, we’re going out tonight. Go get changed,” he said and started pushing me toward my room.

“You don’t need to play host. Besides, didn’t you already have plans tonight?” I tried to argue, but he didn’t stop until we were in my room.

He waved my words off. “I’m just meeting some friends down at the pub. They won’t mind if I bring you. Now go get changed,” he instructed, leaving no room for argument.

Since the only plan I had for the night was to put on a show to fall asleep to, and I probably shouldn’t be a complete hermit, I changed as instructed.

Twenty minutes later, Levi had driven us to where we first met.

Considering it was a Wednesday night, I was surprised to find Dove’s Fountain to be as packed as it was. Levi must have seen my shock because he turned to me and laughed. “It’s the only establishment in town that serves hard liquor, and there isn’t much to do at night around these parts,” he said with a shrug.

I nodded like I understood when I really didn’t. I was the type of person who’d stay at home if there was nothing to do in town.

Did that make me a homebody?

We waded through a crowd of people who’d made the middle of the pub into a makeshift dance floor. Couples in skimpy clothing danced, grinding against each other like this was a club.

Maybe I was too distracted my first night here, but I didn’t remember the place being thisactive.

I was surprised to find how many same-sex couples I saw dancing together too. From what I heard, small towns were usually close-minded about homosexuality, but apparently not this one.

“Oh, this is a popular hookup spot too,” Levi mentioned casually. He leaned in close. Hot breath tickled my ear, causing a shiver to go down my spine. It reminded me it’d been a while since I’d last gotten laid.

Maybe it was a good thing I came out tonight, after all. I could relax with some friends, then find someone to release some steam with.

I glanced at the dance floor again and saw a few women who’d caught my eye. They were all dressed up in their club outfits, makeup, and hair done to perfection, and the way they were surveying the floor, I knew they were out on the hunt tonight.

“My friends are over there,” Levi said, tugging my clothes to get my attention.

I followed him to a booth in the back where two men were sitting almost in each other’s lap. They were snuggled against each other, talking and laughing, and their hands all over each other.

“Hey, guys!” Levi called out, and they looked up as we approached the table but made no moves to get off each other. I guessed clinging like this was normal for them.

There must be something in this town’s water for all the couples here to be so damn sweet.

“This is Andy, our new chef. I hope you don’t mind that I brought him,” Levi introduced me as he slid into the booth opposite them.

“A friend of yours is a friend of ours,” the bigger man stated. “The name’s Jim. And this is my boyfriend, Austin.”

The smaller of the two nodded at me and gave me a soft smile. “You must be the one from New York,” he said, then waved down the passing waiter for another glass.

“News travels fast around here,” I commented and accepted the glass of beer he poured for me.

“Not many secrets around these parts. Plus, my job is basically just listening to gossip,” Austin said with a chuckle.

I stared at him blankly, not sure what kind of job that was.

“He’s a taxi driver,” Jim supplied. “And you’ll be surprised to know the kinds of secrets his passengers spill.”

I leaned closer to the table. “Do tell,” I said with a curious smirk.

Laughter came from beside me as an arm landed around my shoulders.

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