Page 120 of Finding Home
IS GRIFFIN BARLOW A ROMANTIC AT HEART?
Griffin
As much as it pains me to say this, Founder’s Day might be my favorite day of the year we have here in town. It’s our busiest day at the bar. Likely, the only two places someone can drink are here or buying something from the General Store to bring back home with you.
When it comes to Founder’s Day, though, everyone always wants to be in the heart of the town. I don’t blame them, because we go all out. They set up a live band in the middle of Main Street and balloons are set up on every streetlight.
Schools and construction sites are even closed.
Thank fuck, because it’s a day where Ineedthe extra hands behind the bar for the afternoon shift. Tucker could spend the whole day here without a single complaint. His coworker, Levi, also volunteered some time for the evening shift since they both know I hate the crowd.
However, tonight…part of me wants to stay.
A totally new revelation for me.
My sisters are planning to come by, and I hope that Blair is coming with them. I’m finding myself consumed by her everyminute of the day. I wake up to thoughts of her, go to sleep with thoughts of her, and everything in between isher.
If she comes in with Poppy and Lily, I’m not so sure I’ll be able to tend this bar. I know I won’t be able to keep my hands off of her. They crave to touch her. The desire burns inside of me to always keep her nestled in my arms and protect her. From what? I don’t know, because there’s no need to protect her from anything in this town.
Just as the thoughts race through my mind, the bell chimes for the front door.
“I thought I told you to disconnect that shit,” I shout across the bar to Tucker, who’s delivering drinks to a table.
“Did you?” He smirks.
That smug son of a bitch.
I shake my head, but don’t have time to respond because my sisters are standing in front of me. I scan their features and they each have shit-eating grins on their face.
“What’s wrong with your faces?” I ask, my tone laced with question.
“My girls.” Tucker beams before they can even respond to me. “You finally made it.”
“Hey Tuck,” they both say in unison.
“You ready to turn up?” Tucker asks them.
“Are you a teenager?” Poppy barks out a laugh. “No grown adult says that these days.”
“I’m forever young at heart,” Tucker says with a hand to his chest like he’s proud of himself.
“But you’re twenty-three,” Lily scoffs. “Let’s act like it.”
Tucker pouts. “You’re no fun, Lil.”
The conversation is cut short when shouting starts from the other side of the bar. “Hey, Seven Stools!” Nan commands the room. We all turn our heads to find Nan standing on a chair. “It’s Founder’s Day!” Nan screams with a bottle of beer in each hand, raised in the air. “Best day ever!”
And the crowd surrounding her follows her cheers.
“Do you think she knows any of those people?” Poppy asks.
“Nope,” Tucker, Lily, and I all say in unison.
“See, Lil?” Tucker points to Nan. “I aspire to be as cool as her all my life. Young at heart.”
“Give it up, Tucker. There’s no one out there like Nan.”
Tucker huffs and wrinkles his face in disgust. “Again…no fun.”
