Page 26 of Hidden Vows
It made me even more motivated to do everything in my power to get Abbey back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone step up to the bar. Tilting my head at Gage in apology and lifting my finger to motionone second, I turn to help the unfamiliar face. It doesn’t take long to pour them a couple of pints before I’m back in front of Gage. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m used to it.” He chuckles. “This happens all the time withWalt.”
It doesn’t surprise me that Gage has stayed so close to my dad. Just like Gage’s mom and dad became surrogate parents to me when we were growing up, my dad became a surrogate parent to Gage—especially after Gage’s parents divorced.
I love that Gage still comes around and spends time with my father at least once a week. It’s comforting to know my dad still had someone to take care of in a way.
But it’s also a reminder of how much my father loves this place. His devotion is clear in the way he’s always here, behind this bar, serving everyone who walks through the doors. I love his dedication to keeping these doors open, but when he makes it through this—because I refuse to believe he won’t—things are going to have to change around here, and I can get some of those changes started.
Step one? Hiring some staff to help out around the place.
“Declan is Ava’s older brother, and now husband to Quinn Marks.” Gage lifts his beer, taking the last sip before continuing. “He moved to town about six years ago and is the art teacher at the high school.”
“I heard about the wedding from Caleb earlier this week.”
“Well, there’s not much else to it. He and Ava grew up in Harborview with parents who probably shouldn’t have had children. He got married, got divorced, and realized just how shitty his parents were, so he left and ended up here.” Gage shrugs. “He met Caleb, who dragged him to a family dinner, and you knew Scott…”
“The second he knew about Declan’s family life, Scott pulled him into the Marks family fold,” I finish for him.
“Exactly. The rest, as they say, is history.”
“Do you want another?” I ask as Gage fiddles with the emptyglass in front of him.
“Not right now. I’m waiting for Ava.” His eyes track to the door before falling to his watch. “She should be here soon. She was catching up with Abbey next door.”
My spine tingles at the sound of her name. I haven’t seen her since I walked out of the store Wednesday afternoon. It was intentional, trying to give her space to think about everything we talked about, but it’s been torture for me. Knowing she’s so close and yet still so far away.
The moment I decided to fight for Abbey, I knew it’d be hard. She’s always been stubborn—and I hoped she still was. Arguing with Abbey—though our only real fight was that last one—was one of my favorite things to do. She’s never been afraid to speak her mind or fight for what she thought was right, and I can’t wait to see that fire in her again.
“Well, tell me more about Ava.” The smile that takes over his face has the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head yet again. What I wouldn’t give to have that kind of light in my life. To be happy simply at the thought of the person I love.
“She’s amazing, man.” He aims his goofy grin at the bar, shaking his head slightly before lifting his eyes back to mine. “I don’t know why she picked me, but I thank my lucky stars every day that she did.”
“You’re a good man, Gage. It doesn’t surprise me that she’d pick you.”
And he spends the next ten minutes telling me all about what brought Ava to town—a custody case between Scott and his ex-wife—and how they met—one day at the courthouse—and how they fell in love—sitting here at this very bar with both of our fathers and their meddling nature—and how he has no doubt that she’s the love of his life.
“I’m truly happy for you.”
“Thanks.” His smile falls as he studies me. “I know you have your reasons for being so secretive and refusing to answer my questions earlier, but what about you?”
I sigh and fall forward, leaning against the back of the bar across from Gage. “It doesn’t feel right filling you in on everything before talking to Abbey about it.” I shrug as I speak, standing straight behind the bar again. “I know that doesn’t make sense, but?—”
“No,” Gage cuts me off. “I completely understand that. I may not have a few months ago, but I do now.”
I can’t help but feel guilty at the idea of giving Gage absolutely nothing about my life since I left. He was my best friend, the person I talked to about everything happening in my life. There was only one time I didn’t talk with him, and I imagine if I had my life would be very different right now.
“I’ve truly done a little bit of everything. The first town I stopped in, I got a job as a dishwasher at the local inn. After that, I worked as a custodian in a local law office. There was a period I worked the front desk at a mechanic’s shop. Once I turned twenty-one, I started bartending a lot. I even toyed with the idea of being a tattoo artist for a spell.”
“Now that one doesn’t surprise me.” Gage chuckles, gesturing to my arms, covered in tattoos.
“If I’d been more open to the idea of staying in one place long enough, I would’ve done it. But I never stayed in one place longer than six months.”
“Why not?” There’s that genuine curiosity again, and I find myself giving him the truth.
I let my eyes wander to the floor for a second, swallowing the lump that forms in the back of my throat. “I never wanted to leaveAshford Falls.” I’m so quiet I wouldn’t be surprised if Gage misses the words entirely, but he doesn’t say anything when my eyes meet his. “The idea of staying anywhere long enough for it to start feeling like home terrified me.”
