Page 28 of Made for You

There was a book left behind in the last cabin I cleaned that I know Violet would love.

I head straight to the inn to steal a cookie and give her the book. Maybe I can invite her to read again by the fire in my living room. Or the bedroom.

Today has been one of the longest days in a while. We are a packed house this weekend and it took all my energy to clean and set up, plus manage the check-ins, and carry all the luggage. Somehow my ever so helpful brothers were never around when it came to lugging all that upstairs.

I pull the book out of my coat pocket and leave my coat on the hooks by the door before going to the kitchen.

“... so Liam is nothing like the other guys I’ve ever dated.” I hear Violet talking to someone, probably Emma. “I mean he’s the nerd of the bunch really. His version of the perfect date isdinner by the fire, followed by books and reading. I just…don’t know what’s going on between us.”

I can’t listen to anymore from her. I open the kitchen door, slap the book on the counter and stalk out.

The look of surprise on their faces was just about equal to the hurt I feel at hearing Violet point out everything I’m insecure about. No one wants thenerdy guy who reads.They all want the jocks. The guys like my brothers.

Old wounds flash to the front of my mind of high school. Girls using me to get to my brothers. Girls using me after a bad breakup because I’m the nice guy. I am always just a stepping stone.

“Liam, wait!” Emma follows me out to the coat room.

“For what?” I growl out.

“It’s really not what you’re thinking, Lee.” She places an arm on my shoulder but I shrug her off.

“I don’t care what it was, or wasn’t. I’m outta here. You got the night shift. I’m going to Rebels.”

I stomp out the door. Fuck, a beer sounds good tonight.

I hop in my truck and peel out. I don’t bother going home to change, or shower. I’m not going to make friends. Per usual.

Blissfully the parking lot at Rebels isn’t full yet. I can have a beer, and dinner and get the hell out before people pile in.

I take my favorite table in the corner, purposely facing the wall to avoid anyone.

“Hey, Liam, what can I get ya?” Roman comes over with a menu.

“I just want a beer and whatever the special is.” I stop him from handing the menu over.

“Oookay. That kind of night I take it? Rumor has it you had a sleepover last night, I thought maybe you’d be in a better mood than you seem to be.”

“Just get me my food.” I open my phone, effectively ending the conversation he seems hell bent on having.

He walks away thankfully. Taking the hint to leave me the fuck alone. I scowl into my phone, scrolling some mindless social media app.

How was I so damn wrong about Violet? I guess she isn’t the girl I remember, or I was just holding on to some unattainable dream.

Roman sends one of the other servers to deliver my beer and food, and they must have been instructed to drop and run based on the fact there was no attempt at conversation.

Sometimes I feel like I’m destined to be the town’s grumpy recluse. A fact that gives me solace and fear. I don’t want to end up alone and grumpy. But today just proved that maybe that’s all I’ll get and I should just learn to be okay with it.

“Liam Keaton? Is that you?” A busty blonde approaches my table.

“Hey, Tiff.”

“Is Wyatt meeting you here tonight?” she asks.

Wyatt had a casual fling with Tiff until she started to get a little clingy for his liking. Now she tries to get to him through any member of the Keaton family since he won’t answer her calls anymore.

“Nope. Just me.”

She slides into the booth, resting her cleavage on the edge of the table.

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