Page 16 of It Never Happened
I laugh and drop my head. “I know, I was there last night. But I need something a little simpler tonight.”
He pours the drink and slides it in front of me. “There’s nothing simple about this place.” His tone makes me raise my eyes to his. I feel like he knows me. “I haven’t been here long, but I’ve heard a lot of stories about this town. It’s amazing how fast any type of news, new or old, flows through the gossip chain.”
“Tell me about it. I moved away from here over ten years ago and I still hear it all.”
He stands with his hand on his hip and the other on the bar. “Just so you know, you’ve been here for a handful of days, and every one of those days I’ve heard a story about you, Courtney, and your son, Joey.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, sometimes I forget how quickly gossip moves. So you probably think I’m an asshole too, right?”
The bartender extends his hand. “My name is Cole, and from one asshole to another, yeah, I kind of think you are.”
We both chuckle together. “So what’s your story then? Are you the new resident asshole since I left?”
“Oh no, you secured that title by not coming to see your son more often.” His tone is as off-putting as hiswords, but I deserve it. FaceTime calls and yearly visits don’t make me a father. And it is a shitty thing to do on my part.
I gulp down the scotch, letting it burn, and slide my glass in front of him, tapping the rim. He fills it again and slides it back.
“So how long have you been here?”
“Oh, just about three months now. I kind of stumbled through here, not expecting to stay, but here I am.”
“Three months isn’t a long time. Are you looking to leave again?”
“I was. But something caught my eye.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “What's her name?”
The bartender drops his head, shaking it side to side. “Meadow. She’s a handful, but she struck me like lightning the first time I saw her. My buddy and I left our hometown looking for something completely different. Something about this town sucked me in, so we stayed.”
I furrow my brows. Meadow. The only Meadow I know is Lief and January’s baby sister. “Do you mean Meadow Nilsson?”
He rolls his lips inward. “I’m surprised it took you this long. Small town andyoudon't know the gossip?”
I feel like a jerk because no, I don't know. The rest of the town not dishing the local gossip to me isn’t a surprise, but Leif and Courtney not telling me this feels like I'm pushed out just that much more.
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t heard. To be fair, my only concern is Joe and Courtney. But I will say, Lief and I are tight.”
“I know, man. I actually thought you were coming in here to set me straight.” We have a laugh together and hepours me another scotch. They're going down way too easy tonight.
“I’d never tell you who to fall for or not to fall for. Just make sure whoever it is wants you back.” I’m showing my hand, but the scotch is telling on me tonight.
“She’s a bit wild, but I don't mind. My buddy Drake said I could use the shakeup in my life.”
I smile. Courtney was a bit wild too. Until I dulled that part of her. She was always down for anything. We used to ride these back roads on snowmobiles during the winter and during the summer, we’d take the horses from Limitless Ranch and ride all day. She was carefree until we decided moving away was the best thing. And even then, she supported and did whatever I needed.
The day we got married was even a spur of the moment thing. A wild, off-the-cuff ‘let’s do this’ type day. I’ll never forget it and wouldn’t have it any other way. I woke up wrapped around her, knowing she was it for me.
“What do you want to do today?”
“Anything you want.”
“Want to get married?”
She sat up, jerking the sheets from us, leaving our naked bodies exposed to each other. “You’re serious?”
“I know it’s not a glamorous ask, but yeah. How about it?”
Her slow smile spread as she ran her hand down my chest and to my cock, stroking it twice before answering. “I’ve got nothing else on the calendar. Let's do it.”
