Page 55 of Somewhere Without You
Asshe made her way to the bathroom, I let my gaze drift over the unfamiliar faces, scanning the crowd for someone Iknewwouldn’t bethere. Logan would never set foot in here, and yet, his absencewaslike a small hole in my chest—one Iwasn’tready to admitwasthere.
“Are you expecting someone?”Dani asked, returning a few minutes later.
I shook my head, clearing Logan’s face from my mind.“Nobody important.”
Dani slid back into her seat, eyeing me curiously. “Good,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. “Because this place doesn’t exactly scream ‘warm welcome.’ Did you know the toilets are shaped like actual buckets? Seriously, who signed off on that?”
I laughed, and for the first time in a long while, I let myself enjoy it. Itfeltgood. Itfeltnormal. Ihadn’thadsomeone to laugh with, to talk to, tojustbewith in whatfeltlike forever. Daniwasn’tthe kind of person I would’ve hung out with back in California—with her messy eyeliner and chipped black nail polish, but I liked her. Shewasunapologetically herself.Andin some strange way, she reminded me of Gran.
“Thank you,”I said, realizingI’dbeen staring.“Forinviting me out. I forgot what itfeltlike to have a friend.”
Dani gave me a crooked smile, like she wasn’t sure what to do with something so sincere. “Yeah, well. . . you looked like you needed one.”
I looked down at the table, the honesty in her voice catching me off guard.
“I mean that in a good way,” she added quickly, taking another sip. “You just have this vibe—like you’ve been carrying too much for too long.”
I let out an unsteady breath. “Yeah. Something like that.”
Behind us, the front door swung open, and a familiar voice sliced through the music.
“Oh myGod. . . Iknewit,”came Georgia’s thick drawl.“Allie, didn’t I tell you there was something off about Emily?”
Alabama noddedsilentlybeside her.
“Can we help you with something?”Dani asked, her eyes flicking between the sisters and me.
“What are you doing here?”I asked,justas stunned toseethe Baker twins inside a bar as theyweretoseeme.
“The church potluck’s tomorrow,”Alabama said, gently smoothing an invisible crease from her sundress.“The tavern’s donating some of their famous cornbread.”
“Friends of yours?”Dani asked, straightening a little.
“Oh, I wouldn’t go so far as to call us friends,”Georgia said, loud enough to draw attention.“But Emily and I go way back. In fact, everyone in townknowsthe Harts.”She leaned inslightly, eyes gleaming.“What Ididn’tknowwasthatlittle Miss Emily here is a lesbian.”
“A what?”I blinked, unsureI’dheardher right.
Georgia gave a dramatic sigh.“Youheardme. What else would you be doing at the bar at night with the town queer?”She nodded toward Dani.“Iknewsomethingwasoff the minute Isawyou at Hank’s without your wedding ring. This here’s just proof in the pudding.”
“I amnotdating Dani,”I said, rising a little in my seat.“Georgia, you arecompletelyout of line.”
“You’re married?”Dani asked, her voice calm butclearlysurprised.
“Wasmarried. It’s. . . complicated.”
“Oh, I betit is,”Georgia smirked, arms crossed likeshe’djustwon a game no one elsewasplaying. Behind her, Alabama let out a soft, awkward chuckle.
I turned to Dani, realizing she never denied the accusation.“Wait. . . are you? I thought you said you dated the singer’s brother?”
Dani smiled.“What can I say? Life’s better when you have options.”She turned to Georgia.“Notthatit’s any of your business, but Emily and I arejustfriends.Unless, of course. . .you’reinterested?”
“I beg your pardon?”Georgia recoiled likeshe’dbeen slapped.“I’ll have youknowI’m a daughter of the Lord, and your kind of lifestyle is—”
“A sin?”Dani cut insmoothly.“Yeah, I’veheardthatone before. The thing is, the Lord’s not here tonight—but the band is, and so is the beer. So unless you’re planning to grab a drink and pull up a chair, I suggest you move along.”
Georgia’s mouth fell open but all she managedwasa dramatic scoff. She grabbed Alabama by the arm and stalked off toward the bar, snatching up the cornbread boxes before heading out the door.
“Thatwasincredible,”I said, turning back to Dani.“I don’t think anyone’s ever told her off before.”
