Page 62 of Mine For The Winter

16

Kris, age 21

“I didn’t mean for it to happen, man. We just…” Lyle shrugged. “She needed somebody. And I was available.”

It had felt like a gut punch when Kelly had told him that she and Lyle were dating. But what right did he have to be pissed at his best friends? He should be happy for them. Lyle seemed to have cleaned up his act, and Kelly was smiling as she worked behind the bar.

“Is she happy?” Kris asked.

“Yeah.” Lyle nodded. “We both are.”

“Then I’m happy for you.” He was. Or at least he would be. Just as soon as his stomach stopped twisting. He shouldn’t be angry. They made that promise years ago. He was just the sap who’d kept it.

“Thank you.” Lyle nodded. “Kelly’s been terrified about telling you. If you could just… I don’t know, tell her it’s okay. That would mean a lot.”

“I will.” Kris hated the idea of her worrying. “I’ll tell her.”

Lyle finished his beer and smiled. “Thank you. I know we had that stupid agreement. I’m an asshole for breaking it.”

Yeah he was.“We were kids when we made it. It doesn’t matter now,” Kris said. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kelly looking over at them. Lyle was right, she really did look anxious. He turned around and winked at her, and her shoulders relaxed.

He was happy for his friends. Or he would be. Eventually. As soon as he didn’t want to punch something.

“You got somebody at college?” Lyle asked him.

“Kind of.” It was a lie. A complete one. “But it’s new.”

“Can I tell Kelly that?” Lyle asked. “She’ll be relieved.”

“Sure. Go ahead.” Kris shrugged. “Want another beer?”

“Let’s have some whiskey instead,” Lyle said. “I kind of got a taste for it.”

“Sounds good.” Mostly because he wanted to get hammered tonight. Forget everything.

Lyle walked over to the bar and leaned across the counter, whispering something in Kelly’s ear. She smiled and nodded then looked back over at Kris.

There was a softness to her gaze. Like she was imploring him. He smiled back and nodded but he didn’t feel better at all.

As the two of them talked at the bar he grabbed his phone from his pocket, opening up his mail app to see the email he’d received today.

A job offer. For a summer job with an investment bank in New York.

He hadn’t planned on taking it, thinking he’d spend the summer with his family and with Kelly. And yeah, maybe with Lyle.

But the thought of watching them together for two months made his stomach twist.

He was going to take the job.

* * *

Kelly’s mind was a whirl of thoughts as she opened the door of the Tavern. The sound of conversation and laughter hit her ears as she let the solid piece of wood close behind her and headed for the bar.

She’d kissed Kris Winter. No, that wasn’t just a kiss. It was a battle. They’d practically eaten each other for dinner like wild animals.

Probably would have done worse if Cole hadn’t walked out and broken things up.

And then her cheeks heated again, because what if her son had caught them? How would she have explained the fact she was curled around her ex-friend like a monkey clinging to a tree?

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