Page 74 of Drawing Home
Alexis waved to someone over Emma’s shoulder. “Here comes your favorite person.”
Kyle crossed the dock carrying a toolbox and with a knapsack over his shoulder. He wore faded jeans and a T-shirt that hugged his torso. He had a sunburn.
“Hey,” he said to Alexis with a quick nod to Emma. “Is Sean on his way? I’ve been texting him but haven’t heard back.”
“We were just with him but the dockmaster needed help with something. Sorry about that.”
Alexis gave Emma a quick good-night hug before taking off. Emma stood awkwardly on the dock with Kyle. A cabin cruiser pulled in across the dock, music blasting. The moment was vexing enough without the added indignity of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.”
“You heading back to the house?” Kyle said.
“No.”
“Want to grab a drink?”
“With you? No, thanks.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Murf’s was crowded. Emma took a corner stool under a string of pink and red Christmas lights. At the other end of the bar, Katie Cleary poured a row of Jaeger shots for three guys and knocked one back herself.
“What are you having?” Kyle said from the seat next to her. Despite her initial protests, she hadn’t been ready to go home and deal with the reality of losing her job. She wanted company—even if that company was irksome Kyle Dunlap. And, frankly, she needed more than a beer.
“Shot of Tito’s.”
“Going for the hard stuff tonight?” he said.
“It’s been that kinda day.”
“Sorry to hear it. Does your less-than-stellar mood have anything to do with your ex being in town?”
She looked at him. “What do you know about that?”
“He was at the house the other day. With Penny.”
Was that true? How could Penny have kept that from her? “Damn it,” she muttered.
“Seems like a bit of a jerk, if you ask me,” Kyle said.
“I didn’t.”
Katie passed Emma’s shot and Kyle’s beer across the bar.
“Bring me one more, Katie? Thanks,” Emma said.
“Um, maybe the next one should be club soda?” Kyle said.
“Spare me. I’m fine.” Emma watched Katie. The way she handled the bottles, the way she flicked her wrist to end a pour, triggered Emma’s own muscle memory of her time behind the bar. “I’ve known the bartender since she was younger than my daughter.”
“Oh, is she older than your daughter?” Kyle joked.
Emma didn’t crack a smile. “I was tending this bar when I was her age. Nothing’s changed in this place. And in ten years, it might be Penny back there.” She shook her head. “Penny’s right about this town. It’s hard to leave, but it’s hard to stay.”
“It seems like a great place to raise a kid,” he said, picking their drinks up off the bar. “Let’s take these over there,” he said, nodding to a table by the door.
“Why?”
“I’m in the mood to beat someone at darts,” he said.
