Page 130 of April

Asher laughed and said, “We’re having sex again now, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are,” Linden replied. “And, babe?”

“Yeah?”

Linden lowered her lips to hover just above Asher’s and said, “I am so proud of you. I can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to have this with you.”

“I love you,” Asher replied.

???

“Whose bar is this?” Bryce asked.

“My friend’s friend,” Linden replied.

“And we’re here instead of our regular ones because…”

“This place is not open yet, so it’s less crowded, plus free booze if we help paint or tear down something,” Linden explained.

“Hey,” Asher said, walking over to them and hugging Linden from the side. “Is she trying to convince you to do manual labor, like the rest of us?”

“Yes,” Bryce said. “But, apparently, there’s free booze involved.”

“Where’s Soph?” Asher asked.

“Late work meeting, but she’s on her way now,” Bryce replied. “We can’t stay long, though. I’m going back home tomorrow, and then it’s back to LA in a few days, so we want tonight to be just us. I can help paint something for about an hour.”

“Hi,” Rory said, walking over to them. “This is Candace. This is her bar.” She motioned to the woman who was following close behind her.

“Hi, everyone. Thanks for helping. I need to get this place up and running soon.”

“Didn’t you win the lottery?” Linden asked.

“Yes. Now, I have enough to buy the place, remodel it a bit, and stock the alcohol, but I need to open it fast if I want tokeepit open. I didn’t win millions, and this has been my dream for the past few years.”

“Can I ask you how old you are to have had the dream of owning a bar?” Bryce asked.

“I’m twenty-four. My uncle owned a bar before he sold it, so I grew up in the business. I went to bartending school, and I was planning on getting an associate degree in business or something, but then, I won the lottery, and this place was for sale. I snatched it up.”

“Well, I’m good with a hammer. I’m actually redoing my aunt’s place now,” Bryce shared. “So, point me wherever until my girlfriend gets here.”

“Cool. Thanks,” Candace replied before she walked off with Bryce.

“I’ve got more friends coming, too,” Linden told Rory. “I’m not sure how much help they’ll be, but there are four of them, and if you give them a beer, they can at least hold a paintbrush and aim it at a wall.”

“Thanks,” Rory said. “I wasn’t sure we’d getanyoneto help. Candace doesn’t really have any family these days, and mine doesn’t live here. She has friends, obviously, but none of them could make it tonight because most of them are bartenders themselves, so they work nights. You two look good together, by the way.”

“Yeah, I think so,” Linden said, smiling over at Asher.

“So, it’s new, right?”

“A couple of weeks,” Asher replied.

“Or, ten years, depending on how you look at it.” Linden winked at her.

“Are you and Candace…” Asher pointed from Rory to Candace.

“Oh, no. Candace is straight. She has a boyfriend of, like, four years, I think. He’ll be by later to help.”

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