Page 12 of Always in Watch Hill
“Well, so far, so good.”
“I appreciate that.” I drank some more of my beer. “So, once you’re finished with all the editing, what’s next on your agenda?”
“I have a lecture next week at the Midwestern Club.” She grinned again. “Tips and tricks for finding the best travel deals for this year and beyond.”
“I’m sure you’re the best person to talk about something like that.”
“They billed me as an expert, though I feel like I’m totally out of practice. This trip to Watch Hill is the first one I’ve gone on in over a year.” Lynne laughed. “But I’ll manage somehow.”
“Yes,” I replied, staring at her over the glass. Lynne was bright, vivacious, and gorgeous.She’ll have them eating out of her hand.“I am sure you will.”
SEVEN
LYNNE
It wasn’t a date. Iknew that.
It was simply two people having dinner at a bar after what had undoubtably been the strangest year of our lives. Everyone I knew felt that way, and it was clear to me that Justin did too. He was out of practice when it came to face-to-face social interaction, and so was I. But in a lot of ways, it was like riding a bike. We had muscle memory, and it felt great to use it.
“Thanks for showing me the brewery,” I said when we arrived back at his property. “I’ll be sure to mention it in my online review of this place. Maybe I get you to super host status on the app.”
“Super host? You think you can do that for me?” Justin took off his helmet and smiled at me, a hint of five o’clock shadow showing where the strap rested against his jaw. “That would really change my life.”
“Changing lives is what I do best.” Smiling at our joking banter, I removed my own helmet and kicked down the bike stand before chaining the bike to its spot. “So, if it happens, I suppose my work is done.”
He attached his bike to the rack. “I know you just thanked me, but I should really be thanking you, Lynne.”
I sucked in a deep breath. His voice had changed, and I heard something that I couldn’t place. Whatever it was, it opened emotions I also hadn’t felt in over a year.Anticipation... thrill...“Why?”
“I’ve been... it was easy to separate myself during the quarantine period. I was... it was rough.” He moved a bit closer to me, his gaze locked with mine. “Early on in the pandemic, my uncle died.”
I recoiled. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.”
“He got sick at work. At least that’s what they said. I don’t think they really know how he got the virus.” Justin braced himself on the nearby steel bar. “Anyway, it wasn’t long. Ten days, maybe less, and he was on a ventilator for most of that time.”
“That must have been awful,” I managed, struggling for something to say. How terrible that must have been. How heartbreaking. How unthinkable. “I... I can’t imagine.”
