Page 2 of Not A Whisper

“Groveton is a great place. Don’t let that one bar give you the wrong impression.” I sip my drink before adding. “Why’d you move here?”

“I have a daughter. Her mom moved here, and I wanted to be close. I’m looking for a job, but I have funds that will keep me afloat while I figure that out. I can sacrifice a few retirement years just to be close to my little girl.” A proud fatherly smile stretches across his face as he looks away.

Oh. “That’s sweet of you.”

Lance shrugs. “Yeah, well. I hope my daughter knows I love her because now, here I am, alone in a bar trying to assimilate to a new way of life.”

Again, I find myself laughing. “I moved to Groveton a few years back. Trust me when I say that assimilating is easy.”

The news anchors on the television sets around the bar give the three minute warning. Around Lance and I, people hoot and holler. Couples scoot closer to one another. The two women on the other side of Lance wrap their arms around each other. I can see their smiles as they gaze into one another's eyes. My heart twists in envy. Something must be on my face because Lance looks over his shoulder then back at me.

"Do you want to go outside to get some fresh air? I think I'm ok missing the ball drop this year," he offers. “I have a car on its way and it’s almost here.”

Leave?Yes. Tonight was supposed to be fun. The four of us have been sneaking around the past few weeks, trying to keep under Garry’s radar. While the thrill of finding myself in their arms is exhilarating, the failed meetups are more than a little disappointing and they’ve been happening more frequently. Tonight is probably the worst I’ve felt from their absence.

I nod. "Yeah, I'll walk you out then order my own car."

Together, we make our way through the crowd, which is easier than I expected. Maybe it’s because Lance’s size makes people automatically want to move out of the way. On the stairs and down on the first floor, people part like the sea for us. I don’t think a single person bumps into me all the way to the coat drop-off station. Just as I snag my jacket from the club’s employee, the countdown to midnight begins. Around us, the crowd chants. My disappointment increases with each number.

The bouncers by the exit open the door for us, giving Lance and I a tight nod as we move past them. Just as we step out into the cool night, the crowded bar erupts into cheers.

"Well, happy New Year," Lance says as we move away from the door.

I shrug on my jacket with a sigh. “Yeah, you too.”

Just as I zip up the front of my coat, a car pulls up in front of us.

Lance steps toward the car but pauses to look over his shoulder at me. "Do you want me to wait until your ride gets here?”

Around us, partygoers are walking by, kissing or laughing. There’s plenty of people around, leaving me feeling safe despite being in a new place way out of the Groveton city limits. There are also two bouncers lingering by the doors behind us. I should be fine.

“I’m alright, but thanks.”

Lance nods and shoots me a friendly smile. “Hopefully your friends treat you better in this new year. If they don’t, find new ones."

“The same goes for you.” I can’t help but smile as he chuckles—the sound is deep and warm.

“I did find a new one tonight. If everyone is as friendly as you, I think I can probably find a few more.” With a wink, Lance waves his farewell and climbs into the back of the sedan.

I watch as the taillights grow smaller and smaller before they disappear around a corner. When he’s gone, I pull my phone out to order myself a ride. Once I have a driver headed my way, I send a quick text to Pianna, wishing her a happy New Year.

Just as I shove my phone into my jacket pocket, it vibrates. I roll my eyes. It would be my luck that my driver canceled and I'd have to get another one. Unlocking the screen, I find two messages from an unknown number. I open the thread, ready to mark it as spam. My finger freezes halfway down, however, when I read the messages:

Unknown: Happy New Year, dollie. Sorry we missed you. Something came up.

Unknown: Save this number, it’s my new one. I’ll make sure the others send you theirs when I see them. - J

I start to text back a response but stop. Annoyance creeps into my veins and provides a little warmth to my face. He couldn’t have texted me earlier? What could possibly have stopped them this time?

Rather than continue my message, I pocket my phone. I’m sure if Jason was waiting for my response, he’d have seen the little bubbles of me typing then stopping. Whatever. Let him wonder what I was going to say.

This is what I get for trying to date three younger guys: stupid fucking baggage. They’re lucky I adore them enough to have stuck it out this long. It’s not that I don’t understand. Grant had made it very clear the evening his father accosted me outside the library why being cautious was important.

“If he thinks that you might be a distraction for me, there’s a very real chance he’ll destroy you in any way that he can. He’ll strip everything from you and there won’t be anything I can do to stop it. He’ll make sure that his progeny follows in his footsteps— no matter the cost.”

Grant’s warning, given with a heavy solemnity after a passionate moment, haunts me. He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask for more details. I didn’t want to know what Garry could do to me.

But now I wish I could, if only to hear his voice again. It’s been nearly four weeks and I’ve barely seen any of the guys at all. Jason and Trip have put insomeeffort into coming around. Their sneaking always comes at random times. Like meeting me in the parking lot just before work or finding me at the grocery store. But Grant? He’s been MIA completely.

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