Page 43 of Roommate's Guide to Love

She drops her notebook and sprints to the back, leaving me to make the drinks. They aren’t anything hard—just two gin and tonics. I also notice she needs some food rung in, so I do the nice thing and send it back to the kitchen when I hear a “psst” from the end of the bar.

When I look over, Harry and George are leaning down, signaling me to come over to them.

“Why are y’all whispering, you weirdos?”

Seriously. What the fuck is going on in here today?

“Did you hear?”

I want to chuckle, because there are a few things this town could be known for. One is Mona’s Diner. Best fucking pancakes and french toast in the world. And the second would be this town’s gossip mill. It’s unparalleled and could put any national tabloid to shame. Who needs theNational Enquirerwhen you have George and Harry, the mean old men who sit at the diner each morning, and the Bingo ladies on the case?

In my week working at The Joint, I’ve been more than caught up on the town news. There are the few rumors about some marriages that might be on the rocks—of course solely based on people’s Facebook profile pictures. Whether or not the empty lot on the outskirts of town is going to become another dollar store. My favorite, though, has been Harry learning what Only Fans is because a girl who graduated with Stella is apparently now making a killing on it.

That was hilarious.

“Did I hear what? Is it why everyone in here looks like they’re playing a bad game of telephone?”

“Yes.” Harry signals me to come closer. “When we walked in today, Porter was here. Alone. With a woman.”

I take a step back from the bar as my heart drops into my stomach. I think my face is turning white. Am I about to pass out?

Wait. Stop. No. Wrong reaction to have. If he was here with a woman, that’s his prerogative. We’re nothing. Especially now. And even before, he could see whoever he wanted.

I quickly fix my face to make sure that I don’t have a visible reaction. Not that these two would’ve picked up on it. I’ve seen the size of their bifocals. “Do we know who she is? An ex?”

George shakes his head, his white hair sticking out of his trucker hat. “Not an ex. His sister. Well, half. Daughter that his mama had after she ran off and left Porter and Frank.”

“Sister?” I say as I let out a big breath. Couldn’t these two have led with that? “I didn’t know he had a sister.”

“She’s never been here,” George continues. “When we walked in here today, boy looked like a deer in headlights.”

I look back into the office, the sudden urge to run back and check on him is overwhelming.

“You’re the best,” Jenny says as she ties her apron back around her waist and interrupts my gossip session. “I’m good now.”

“No problem,” I stutter. “I think I’m going to go back and check on Porter.”

“You do that. Just don’t you disappear on me, too.”

I quickly weave out from behind the bar, through the tables, and down the hallway to Porter’s office. I gently knock, but no one answers.

“Porter?” I ask as I try the knob, but it’s locked. “Porter? You in there?”

I stand there for a second, but I don’t hear anything. I start to grab a bobby pin from my hair, wondering if I still remember how to pick a lock from the time I broke into the teacher’s lounge. Which I wouldn’t have had to do if they would’ve just put a microwave in the cafeteria.

“Quinn!” Just as I’m about to insert it, I hear Jenny calling for me. “Need ya. Bikers just came in off a ride.”

“Be right there,” I say, looking to the door for a second before I move.

“You should’ve called me,” I whisper, giving one more look to the door before hustling back to the bar.

* * *

Eight hours, three birthday shots, and one minor bar fight later, The Joint is finally closed up for this Saturday night.

“Holy shit,” I sigh as I collapse on a bar stool, Jenny across from me pouring herself a Diet Coke from the soda gun. “Should I be this tired?”

She laughs. “You’ll get used to it. You did good tonight, kid.”

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