Page 4 of Making Home with You
I nod.
She smiles, walks toward me before pressing up on her toes and planting a soft kiss against my mouth.“Then I’m sure I’ll see you around,” she says before turning and walking out of the restroom.
I stand there, half dressed and my brain a scrambled mess as I try to figure out what the hell has just happened.Never in my life have I experienced a one-night stand, if that’s what you could even call it, like this.
“Shit,” I say, grabbing my phone and fixing up my shirt before quickly exiting the restroom and heading back into the bar.
“Jesus,” comes Beck’s voice, followed by laughter.“You sure you’re alright, dude?You look like you’ve just been put through the wringer.”
My eyes scan the room, ignoring Beck’s remarks as I search for the mystery woman who did in fact just bring me to my knees in the ladies’ restroom.But she’s nowhere to be found and despite her assurances that she’d see me around, I know that can’t possibly be true.
Especially considering I’ve never seen her before in my life.
Chapter One
Present Day
Sarah
I pull into Erin and Ryan’s driveway, but it’s late, nearly eleven p.m.on New Year’s Eve.I had no intention of arriving this late, but I ended up working a double shift at the bar forcing me to leave far later than I wanted.
In order to get the next few days off, I had to work lunch and the dinner rush.I use the term “dinner rush” loosely because in a small town like Eddington the dinner rush starts at 4:30 and comes to a screeching halt at six, even on New Year’s Eve.
I rushed home; showered, changed and packed my car and headed down to Rockport, making it here later than I wanted, but at least I’m here and not in Eddington.
I got a text from Erin about an hour ago telling me to meet her and Ryan at O’Loughlin’s, a local place I’m quite familiar with.
I grab my bag from the car and head up to the porch, grabbing the key from under the mat.I know Ryan would lose his shit if he knew Erin had stashed it under there for me, but the convenience factor outweighed one of them having to come home and let me in.We’ll explain it to him later.
I open the door somewhat cautiously since the last time I was here Ryan had that hired thug watching over Erin’s house.When I call out and no one answers, I walk in and toss my bag in their extra bedroom.
Digging out my makeup bag, I walk into the bathroom and run a brush through my hair.I add some makeup before quickly checking myself out in the full-length mirror.
I look decent, good enough if I happen to get hit on tonight, or better yet, maybe I’ll run into the guy I met at the pub last time I was in town.Maybe I’ll even be able to convince him to hit the bathroom with me again.
It’s been a few weeks since we had our tryst, and I’d be kidding myself if I said I haven’t thought about him.I’ve even wanted to confess to Erin what happened, but my fear of Ryan finding out and hunting the guy down stopped me in my tracks.
Living in Eddington without any friends, or normal people for that matter, has me wishing I was back in Boston or at least in Rockport.And I pretty much spent the ride here wondering when the hell my life is going to pull itself out of the shitter.
As soon as I graduated with my MBA, I moved in with Ryan in the hopes of landing my dream job, but after months of resumes and only a couple of interviews, I found myself jobless and back in Eddington.
I don’t blame Ryan for kicking me out, although I suspect it had more to do with him hooking up with Erin than with me not having a job.
Regardless of how it all played out, I’m even more determined to get out of Eddington.I’ve spent the last few weeks sending my resume to anything that requires a degree at this point.
I add another swipe of lipstick, and slide my feet back into my boots as I put the house key on my key ring.
It’s a decent walk to the pub, so I end up driving over there knowing my car will probably be left in the parking lot.Erin had already assured me that she would be our designated driver given that she’s pregnant and can’t drink anyway.
The pub is busy, crowded actually, and it takes me a few minutes to make my way to the bar and order a drink.
With a beer in hand, I find my brother and Erin near the back of the pub sitting at a high-top table with Ryan’s old partner Beck and a woman I assume is his fiancé.
I greet Ryan and Erin with hugs and Beck gives me a nod of his head and introduces me to Kelsey.
It’s nearly midnight and as I look around at the little group I’m with, I’m once again hit with the reality that I’m the fifth wheel.I roll my eyes and stop the shot girl as she strolls by.
“Anyone?”I ask, a smile on my face, knowing that despite being alone it’s better than being in Eddington.
