The Whiskey Effect: A Small-Town Standalone Romantic Comedy

by J. W. Ashley

  But with Leo—everything is just so damned easy. And that ease is terrifying to someone like me because it means I could get attached.

  Clearing my throat, I lie back down, nestling beside him.

  “You told Lena you’re here yet?”

  “Nah, not yet. She’s spending the weekend with Graham, and I don’t want to bug her.”

  Leo chuckles. “Guy was practically floating when he left work this morning.”

  “Morning?”

  “He nearly killed Jackson.”

  I shoot up. “Wait a minute.” I’d been so distracted earlier that I missed the meaning of what he said. “Jackson was your sister's boyfriend?”

  Leo nods, and my stomach churns. “And I pushed Lena to go out with him.” Shaking my head, I lie back down and consider all the ways I should let my best friend kick my ass for that one.

  “In my defense, I tried to warn you.”

  “That’s true,” I admit. “You did. Oh well, I guess it all worked out.”

  “Guess so.”

  Leo slides down, and I lift my head so he can slip an arm beneath it, pulling me closer into his side. “What made you want to come back here again?”

  Umm, let me think. I missed you. The thought of not being around you was literally driving me batty. “I was bored,” I say, not voicing the dozens of other reasons floating around in my noggin.

  “I’m more than happy to relieve your boredom. Anytime, anywhere.” He presses a loud kiss to my hairline, and I smile, my heart somersaulting even as the pit of my stomach fills with imaginary rocks.

  What the hell am I doing? This is dangerous territory I’m crossing, and I know it. I just can’t seem to care. So what if I’ve been against relationships in the past. That doesn’t mean I can never be happy in one, right?

  Claudia

  Sun streams in through the windows, and I stretch, rolling over. Something wet runs over the side of my face, and I squeal, jumping away from the edge of the bed. Mind still groggy, it takes me a moment to see Lila at the edge of the bed, large ears straight up as her tail wags mercilessly.

  “Hey there, sweetheart,” I coo as I slide back toward the edge of the bed and lie down on my belly, scratching the top of her head. She turns and rubs her body against the edge of the bed, and I chuckle. “You can’t get enough love, can you?” Turning, I study the loft, disappointed to see it empty of its sexy-as-hell owner.

  The clothes that littered the floor last night have been picked up and neatly folded on his dresser, my bags sitting on the floor beside it. I smile. So thoughtful. “Shall we go find your daddy, sweet girl?”

  I get out of bed and grab my underwear off the top of the pile of now folded clothes. Following closely are dark jeans and a white crop top that shows about an inch of skin around my midriff.

  Then, after pulling on socks and stepping into a pair of black chucks, I lean down and pat Lila one last time before heading for the stairs. She beats me to them, her lanky puppy body nearly sliding the entire way down.

  The room below is empty as well, no Leo to be seen, so I venture out into the barn. The scents of hay and horse fill my lungs, and I inhale. I know it probably shouldn’t be an alluring smell—horse shit and all—but I can’t help but breathe it in, feeling it seep into my lungs and relax me.

  I can imagine it has a lot more to do with the reminder of my first date with Leo and less to do with the actual smell. The breezeway is empty, but the large bay door across from me is wide open, so with Lila at my side, I walk down, stopping in front of the horse’s stalls. They are empty, the paddock’s open, which means Leo must have been here at some point.

  Following an old path that winds around to the other side of the barn, I finally spot him kneeling amongst the plants in his garden. It’s crazy to me that a man with such strong hands can be tender enough to actually grow plants. God knows I can’t. I’m a plant murderer. Lock me up and throw away the key.

  He stands, arching his back and stretching. I can see the moment he notices me. It’s like someone flips on a light switch, lighting up his entire expression. Wide smile and bright hazel eyes greet me as I reach the edge of the garden.

  Leo is already there, leaning on the open gate. “You know, as happy as I am to see you, I was looking forward to waking you up later.”

  Grinning, I meet his gaze. “I can go pretend to be asleep.”

  “Nah. This is good.” He reaches for me, and I go to him before I’m even thinking about the action. Leo leans down and presses a tender kiss to my lips. They’re soft against mine, a gentle caress that I can feel all the way down to my toes.

  “Good morning,” I say softly when he pulls away.

  “Morning.”

  Leo rests his forehead against mine, and we stand there, a breath apart, as my heart hammers against my ribs. What am I doing? Terror hits me hard and fast, a tidal wave of fear over what I’m feeling for this man.

  The butterflies in my stomach seem to all die at the same time, leaving a sinking feeling of impending doom. Dramatic? Absolutely. But I don’t trust emotions like this.

  Falling for someone—giving them that power—it only leads to getting hurt. Something I witnessed time and time again with my mom.

  A relationship could have been doable if I wasn’t at risk of losing a part of me I don’t want to part with.

  17

  Bringing Out The Big Guns

  Leo

  “Where are we?” Claudia asks as I put my truck in Park outside my grandparent’s house. It’s all part of my plan to convince her to give us a real try.

  Show her that I come from love—that I have it in my blood—and maybe she’ll see that we have the start of something real. And let’s be honest, there isn’t another couple as adorable as my grandparents.

  “I need to check on some work I did for my grandma,” I tell her. It’s not a complete lie. I do need to check to make sure the paint set fine and there aren’t any weird sheens.

  Not waiting for a response, I climb out and stroll around to her side, pulling open the door and stepping out of the way so she can get out.

  She’s been weird ever since this morning in the garden. I can feel the distance she’s trying to put between us, and I refuse to allow it. Not when I know she feels the same—or at least close to the same as I do.

  My grandmother is pulling open the door, a wide smile on her aged face, before we even reach the front porch.

  “Leo! What a surprise!” she greets, her gaze traveling from me to my guest. Reaching out with a wrinkled hand, she offers Claudia an even brighter smile. “I’m Betty.”

  “Claudia.” Reaching forward, Claudia takes her hand gently, all tension from the ride over erased.

  My grandmother has that effect on people. I’ve seen her diffuse even the tensest situations with just a look.

  “So nice to meet you, Claudia. Please come in. Your grandfather is out back, staring at my plants,” she adds as we head inside.

  I chuckle and shake my head at Claudia’s questioning look. “It’s a long story.”

  “I’m telling you if he keeps it up, he’s going to smother the plant.”

  “With too much attention? Doubtful,” I add with a grin.

  “Men.” She scoffs, directing her attention to Claudia, who grins widely. “Am I right?”

  “Definitely.” Claudia shoots a look back at me, and I shrug. “Your house is beautiful,” she says, her voice trailing off at the end.

  I don’t know what it is, but I feel like she’s taking in every inch of the place, studying every single thing as though searching for something. The scrutiny makes me uncomfortable even as I can see she appreciates it.

  “It’s come a long way in the last few years. Leo’s seen to that.”

  Claudia whips her gaze back to me. “You did this?”

  I nod. “I like to work with my hands.”

  A smile tugs at her full mouth, and I know she’s taken a double meaning at my words.

  Based on my g
randmother's loud bark of a laugh, I assume she’s caught on too. Dirty bird. I smile. Best grandmother ever. I’m sure of it.

  “Who’s here?” Grandpa’s voice carries inside from the back patio.

  “It’s Leo and Claudia! Do you want anything to drink?” she asks Claudia.

  “No, thank you.”

  “Who’s Claudia?” Grandpa’s voice cracks at the end, and he coughs loudly. I pick up my casual pace to get out and check on him. He’s sitting on his usual bench seat in front of a terracotta pot boasting a bright green plant. “Leo!” He smiles. “And this must be Claudia.” His smile turns soft as he pushes to his feet to shake her hand.

  “Nice to meet you,” Claudia greets with the same sweet smile she gave my grandmother earlier.

  “You too. Have a seat.”

  “Gran says you’re out here smothering plants.”

  He scoffs and shakes his head as we take seats set up next to the wall. “That woman, she has to control everything.”

  “You and I both know you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  He leans in and lowers his voice. “Don’t tell her that.”

  Claudia and I both laugh as he leans back and my grandmother walks out carrying a tray of lemonade. “Grandma, you didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know, I know. But it was no fuss, and I wanted to.” She pours the lemonade into four glasses, handing one to my grandfather before handing another off to Claudia. Before she can serve me, I reach forward and grab a glass off the tray so she can take a seat.

  As usual, she tucks herself against my grandfather, and he casually slings an arm over her shoulder.

  “What are you two up to today?” my grandmother asks as she sips from her glass.

  “We’re going to head over to the parade in a few, but I wanted to come check the paint first.”

  “The paint?”

  “I wanted to make sure the sheen didn’t dry weird.”

  My grandpa opens his mouth to say something, but my grandmother reaches over and stops him with a hand on his leg. I can see the subtle smirk playing at her lips, so I’m assuming she knows I just wanted to introduce them to the woman beside me. “You know how that sheen can dry strange in some places,” she says quickly. “So, Claudia, are you local?”

  “No, ma’am. I live in Idaho.”

  “Oh! How long are you in town for?”

  “Just this weekend. My friend Lena moved here last month, so I’m here for a visit.”

  “How nice. Is she the one who moved here with Graham’s daughter, Rebecca?”

  “Yes.”

  “How great! I talked to Midge the other day. She said that she is over the moon over the little girl. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “Becca is a sweetheart,” Claudia says softly. “Best kid around.”

  My grandmother smiles.

  “Well, I’m going to go check on the paint. No embarrassing stories,” I add with a glare at my grandmother even though I know she won’t listen.

  Claudia

  With a quick kiss to my forehead, Leo is pushing to his feet and abandoning me. Albeit with his charming grandparents. But when his grandmother keeps looking at me like I’m going to bear the next line of Hayeses, I can’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable.

  I shift in my seat, the hard wood beneath my butt not the only reason I wish I was standing.

  “So, Claudia, how did you and Leo meet?”

  Well, I asked Graham to hook me up with a fuck buddy while I’m here didn’t seem like an appropriate answer, so I say, “We met through Graham when they came to the house to meet Becca.”

  “Becca, such a sweet name. I knew Graham’s mother when she was alive.” Betty looks back at her husband before returning her gaze to me. Eyes a little misty, she shakes her head sadly. “Such a sweet woman. I wish she’d been able to meet the little girl. She would have loved her.”

  I was prepared to come to Lena’s defense should I need to, but Betty leans forward and puts her hand on my knee. “I think what your friend did was very brave. Even while I do wish she’d have let Graham know sooner.”

  I smile. “I appreciate that. She’s had a rough time of it, but they’re working things out now.”

  “Better late than never,” Leo’s grandfather says.

  If it were anyone else, I might have been mad. But the soft tone of their voices, the kind smiles, I doubt they think any less of Lena.

  My gaze follows the sharp planes of the cedar porch, over potted plants and bright greenery, and over to three handprints in concrete. Leo’s name is etched beneath the largest imprint, and when I see the much smaller one beside his, sadness wraps around me, settling on my shoulders as I read the name Stella written carefully.

  “Stella would have been twenty-four next month,” Betty says sadly. “Has Leo told you about her?”

  I nod. “And about what happened after with his father and brother,” I add. I don’t know what possesses me to bring it up, but ever since Leo told me, I’ve needed to get it off my chest.

  Betty’s cheeks flush. “Yes, we heard about that. About a year after it happened.”

  “A year?”

  She nods. “Leo didn’t want to trouble us. He never wants to trouble us.”

  “Because we’re old,” his grandfather adds, and with that comment, the mood lightens.

  “Speak for yourself, Father Time.”

  I nearly choke on my lemonade, earning a wide grin from Betty. “Sorry, honey. Never can tell what we’re gonna say around here.”

  “I love it.”

  “You two being nice?” Leo asks, stepping out on the back porch.

  Both grandparents feign shock, his grandfather’s mouth falling open while his grandmother presses a hand to her heart. “Can you believe him? Thinking we wouldn’t be nice.” Betty clicks her tongue.

  “You two are troublemakers. Don’t deny it.” He turns his bright hazel gaze to me, and I swallow hard. Being pinned beneath those bright whiskey-and-green-colored eyes is enough to make me want to confess my feelings right here.

  But that would be a mistake.

  And I don’t make those.

  At least, not when it comes to my heart.

  “Ready? If we head over now, we can get a good spot.”

  “Sure.” I get to my feet and start to grab my glass. Betty shakes her head and covers my hand with hers.

  “I’ve got it, honey.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  “I’m sure. You two have fun!”

  “Want to tag along?” Leo asks, and Betty shakes her head again.

  “No, we’re going to go take a nap.” She winks at Leo’s grandfather, and I get the distinct impression that a nap is not on their minds.

  It makes me happy to see love that has withstood the test of time. Two people so destined to be together that no matter what shit life threw their way, they survived. It’s rare these days.

  “Love you.” Leo leans over to kiss Betty on the cheek before shaking hands with his grandfather. Then, with a hand on my back, he guides me out of the house and back to his truck.

  18

  Nope. Not Going There.

  Claudia

  “This is insanity,” I say as we stroll through the barricade blocking the street leading into the town’s square.

  “This is Independence Day in Whitefish.”

  “I love it.” Bright streamers in red, white, and blue hang from every single antique light post, patio overhang, and business sign. A man on stilts is dressed like Uncle Sam and making his way around the square that’s already packed with patio chairs and smiling people.

  Someone has set up a concession stand and is working on making what smells like delicious hot dogs while someone else sets up condiments on a nearby picnic table.

  They’ve fenced off an entire area for a mini-carnival, where children are waiting in lines to ride rides that will only last two minutes but make memories that will last lifetimes.

  The entire plac
e is happy, and it helps to push the remainder of my nerves aside. Even if Leo and I can’t be anything more, at least we have this weekend.

  And that’s what I’m going to focus on because I know that I can’t come back here again. Not until he’s moved on or I have.

  “This way,” he says, guiding me over a grassy knoll to a black canopy where Graham’s aunt Midge is sitting with a group of other people I don’t recognize.

  “Claudia! So great to see you.” Midge gets to her feet and wraps both arms around me in an embrace I’ve come to expect from the older woman.

  “You too, Midge.”

  “I’m glad you came back.”

  There’s that sinking feeling again. “It’s only for the weekend.”

  “Still.” Midge winks, and I take a seat beside her as Leo sets down our cooler. “There they are!”

  I turn as Lena, Graham, and Becca come into view. I smile, waiting for Lena to recognize me since I never told her I was here.

  “Claudia!” she yells, running toward me.

  “Hey, Lena!”

  “You didn’t tell me you were coming!” Lena pulls me in for a quick hug before stepping back.

  “Because it was a surprise.”

  Becca runs for me, and I drop to my knees again to wrap my arms around her. As soon as she’s pulling away from me to get to Midge, I stand again. “Hey, Graham.”

  “Hey, Claudia.”

  My friend is beaming, happiness practically radiating off of her. It’s contagious, and I find myself smiling right along with her.

  Graham sets the cooler down and turns to the people sitting beneath the canopy that I’ve yet to meet. “These are my cousins. This is Rick and his wife, Melody.” He gestures to a blond man sitting beside a very pregnant woman with hair a few shades lighter than my own. “This is Jamie and his fiancée, Kerry. Jack and his girlfriend, Melissa, and this lonely guy over here is Rob.”