by Sandra Marie
“I gather you’re not a fan of horror movies then?”
“Not really. The world is terrifying enough. When I watch a TV show or read a book, I want to escape the hardships and sadness.”
“The world isn’t all that scary though. You just have to look in the right places.”
“That’s easier for some people,” she said, trying to hide the years of disappointment in her voice. Being abandoned by her own parents when she was only a child made it hard for her to escape the sadness. She hated that after all these years, her parents still had an effect on her, but when they made the choice not to want her, they had permanently broken a piece of her heart.
His eyes narrowed, and she felt like he was shining a spotlight above her head. “Not for you though?” he asked.
“I see what you’re doing.”
“What?” His head snapped back in confusion. “What am I doing?”
“Pulling that bartender mumbo jumbo on me. Asking me questions to get me to open up and give you more information without actually asking me.”
He held one hand over his heart and the other up in front of him. “I wasn’t doing it on purpose I swear.”
“It’s all right.” He was a bartender and she was sure that curious nature to figure out someone’s issues was in his blood. He probably dealt with more people’s problems a day than a therapist. “Anybody else I wouldn’t have acknowledged it and would have made a random subject change.”
“So why haven’t you?”
She shrugged. “I guess… I like talking to you.”
A smile titled his lips. “I like talking to you, too.”
Heat exploded in her cheeks, but she ignored the sudden rush of shy joy. “It’s your job to talk to people.”
“Doesn’t mean I enjoy everyone I speak to. Besides, most people don’t care about me. They just need a sounding board to figure out their own problems. Usually, I just give them a few words of guidance, and they find their own way. Once they do, they never stick around to ask about me. They’re gone before I can even say ‘here’s your change.’”
“But you love it anyway?”
“I do.” It was obvious in the way he would stand back and look around the bar and smile. How he talked to everyone even the girl who tried to hide in the corner with a book. There was a tangible joy that flowed off of him when he stood behind that bar.
“Lauren, we have to get going,” Ginny said, and Lauren’s heart sunk a little. She went from not wanting to leave her bed to not wanting to return to it. Ginny waved to Gavin. “Bye, Gavin. It was good seeing you again.”
“You too, Ginny. Take care.”
“I’ll just be over here,” Ginny said, pointing to where Steven was saying goodbye to everyone. Cassidy and Jon were there. Lauren didn’t even realize they had shown up and now she felt a little guilty for not acknowledging her friends. She hoped they’d understand and not hold it against her, though that definitely wasn’t their style.
Lauren grabbed her purse and took out her wallet. Gavin held up his hand and waved her away. “On the house.”
“No, I don’t expect you to pay for my drink.”
“I’m just happy you liked it.”
She bit her lip then met his green eyes. “But if I don’t pay, then I can’t wait for you to say ‘here’s your change.’”
He smiled. Their eyes locked, and if this were a book, this would be the moment the hero realized he was head over heels in love with the heroine. But this wasn’t a book… this was real life, and moments like that didn’t happen, at least not so quickly.
“Thanks for the drink and the chat.” She gave a wave and before she fell victim to the fantasy, she walked away, reminding herself that reality never lived up to her expectations.
Lauren took the spinach and artichoke dip out of the oven and placed it on the counter. The desire to dive in was held at bay as she watched the cheese on top bubble. She was hungry but not enough to scorch her mouth. While she let the dip cool, she cut up cheeses and cured meat to place on the charcuterie board. She didn’t even know what a charcuterie board was until Lily May joined book club and brought one over. Ever since then, they switched off who was responsible to make the meat and cheese filled board since it could be a bit expensive. Though, while everyone’s was always delicious, Lily May still held the title for the best one.
Lauren arranged the cheeses and meats then added olives, crackers, and some crusty sliced bread to the board. It was like a work of art, and she took a moment to admire it before bringing it over to the coffee table in the living room where they would all meet.
The wine and glasses were next, and by the time Lauren poured her first glass of wine, everyone was sitting in a chair around the coffee table with their book in their lap. Lauren had started book club almost on accident. One day she was sitting on the couch reading, and Olivia, one of her roommates, asked what the book was about. From there Lauren started talking about the story, and by the time she’d finished, Ginny and their other roommate, Ashlynn, had joined. After that they decided to make it a monthly thing where they drank wine, ate finger foods, and talked about books.
Over time new members joined, and they welcomed them with opened arms. Jemma, Steven’s sister was one of the newest members and Lily May. Though, Lauren suspected Lily May cared more about the socializing part than she really did about the books. Either way, their little group was the highlight of Lauren’s month.
“What did everyone think of the book?” Lauren asked as she settled into her chair with a small plate on her lap, book in one hand and wine glass in the other.
“Loved it!” Lily May exclaimed.
“I thought the girl was annoying,” Jemma said, plopping a chip with a healthy scoop of spinach artichoke dip in her mouth.
“I could see that,” Lauren added. “But I feel like she was just misguided. She really didn’t know any better.”
“Still annoying,” Jemma said. “Being misguided is one thing; being a complete moron who constantly puts yourself in horrible situations is another.”
“I have to go with Jemma on this one,” Ashlynn said. “The girl made one bad decision after the next. I started yelling at my book at one point.”
“Is that what that was?” Olivia asked before reaching for her glass. “I was wondering if I should go check on you. You know, in case you were being murdered.” She took a sip of wine. “But my nails were still wet.”
“Gee, thanks.” Ashlynn laughed. “Good to know your nails are more important than me being murdered.”
Olivia shrugged. “The yelling stopped, so I figured all was good.”
“Or I could’ve just been dead.” Ashlynn’s voice rose with amused disbelief.
“But you’re not,” Jemma said.
“But I could’ve been,” Ashlynn argued.
“I… I think a lot of it had to do with her childhood. Her backstory was p…pretty tumultuous,” Ginny said. “That could mess anyone up.”
“That’s what I thought,” Lily May said.
Lauren went to defend the girl, then stopped herself before Lauren let the mixed bag of emotions raging inside her get the best of her. A lot of the girl in the book’s backstory was her own. Parents who never should have had her, and not only because they weren’t ready, and no amount of time would ever had made them ready, but because they were too selfish to put their own wants and needs aside for their own child.
Lauren related to the girl in the book on that level, but unlike the girl, Lauren wasn’t misguided. Thank God Grandma and Grandpa had stepped in to raise her when the courts took her away from her drug addicted parents. She could only imagine where she would have wound up if they hadn’t. Still, she’d like to think that she would have somehow managed to stay a good person and surround herself with good people.
Lauren mulled over her thoughts for a moment more, trying to keep her own emotions out of it. “I don’t think she can completely blame her upbringing. Plenty of people came from a place li
ke that and turned out fine. I think her problem is she continuously surrounded herself by bad people, and that’s why I think she was misguided.”
“Which is why she was so annoying,” Jemma said. “When her aunt came to help her and she completely blew her off.” Jemma rolled her eyes. “I wanted to reach through the book and strangle her. How many people had to reach out to her?”
“She was her own worst enemy,” Olivia said.
“Put yourself in her shoes,” Lily May said. “She was betrayed by the people who were supposed to love her most. Wouldn’t that give you trust issues? Keep you from opening up to someone?”
When Dylan broke up with her, he told her it was because she was emotionally unavailable. That she preferred to keep her nose in a book than have an actual conversation because she was scared it would get too deep.
She thought he was being dramatic, but maybe he wasn’t…
No. That was ridiculous. She had put her book down the other night to speak with Gavin. She told him about her pants-wetting incident for heaven’s sake. Dylan was just an idiot.
“Like how Lauren was getting all friendly with Gavin the other night?” Lily May said, and Lauren’s head snapped up to all eyes focused on her.
“Huh?” Heat spread up her neck through her cheeks and into her ears. “I was not getting friendly with Gavin.”
“Y…you were definitely talking a l…lot,” Ginny said, her stutter coming out.
“He’s a bartender. It’s his job to talk to people.”
Lily May shook her head. “It was more than that. Trust me.”
“Wasn’t Gavin trying to hook up with Rae?” Jemma asked.
“Why don’t we get back to the book,” Lauren suggested.
“No.” Jemma smirked. “I think this conversation is much more interesting.”
“Of course you do,” Lauren muttered.
Lily May waved her hand at Jemma. “Gavin and Rae met through that dating app, but everyone who has eyes knew that Rae was destined to be with Tommy. Once Gavin saw them together, he knew pretty quickly that it wouldn’t be more. They didn’t even go on a date. Unless you count her stopping by the bar with Tommy.”
“If he looks anything like his brother, then Lauren you should go for it,” Olivia said.
Lily May smirked. “He does have good genes and he’s totally single.”
“I’m not going for anything. I just got out of a relationship, and I’m not ready to date yet. And even if I was, there is no way someone like Gavin would be interested in me.”
“Why not?” Lily May asked. “You two would be adorable together.”
“Because. He’s outgoing and owns a bar. I don’t even like leaving the house.” Though, she could imagine, lying in bed together, legs in a tangle as she read and he played with her hair.
Lily May tapped a short pink nail against her book. “Semantics.”
Lauren threw her hands out, almost spilling her wine, which would have been a travesty. She wheeled herself back in. “Why are we talking about this?”
“Because it’s so better entertainment than this book.” Jemma held up the book, then let it flop back onto her lap.
“I’m beginning to wonder why you’re even in book club,” Lauren joked.
“The free food,” Jemma said without skipping a beat.
Lily May tilted her head up. “I’m just saying you and Gavin would be adorable together.” She gasped. “We could double date. Oh my god, how much fun would that be?”
This was getting out of hand, and Lauren needed to put a stop to it before Lily May took it upon herself to play matchmaker, and embarrass Lauren to the point she never left the house again.
“Gavin is a nice a guy, really nice, but even if he was willing, I’m not ready to jump into anything, so can we please get back to the book.”
“Do we have to?” Jemma asked.
Lauren picked up a bowl of chips. “Here have a chip.”
Jemma took the bowl and slouched into her chair. “Okay, book it is.”
The conversation shifted back to the girl in the book and why she was the way she was, but Lauren couldn’t focus on the story anymore. Her mind was too occupied with thoughts of Gavin Mills and that ridiculously handsome face.
It had been five days since Lauren sat at his bar, yet he still couldn’t get her off his mind. It was more than the ease of their conversation too. It was the friendly glint in her light brown eyes, the sweet smile that touched her lips when she talked about something that made her happy, and the genuineness of her overall character. After a couple months of failed attempts in the dating world, he’d finally met someone who he wanted to get to know more and who wasn’t already secretly attached to someone else. At least he hoped not…
This was the very reason why Gavin found himself heading to the opposite side of the city and walking into one of his brother’s apartment buildings.
“Gavin!” Lily May exclaimed, hopping off of the doorman’s desk, her tan heels clicking loudly against the tiled floor. Her blonde hair swung with the motion. “What are you doing here?” she asked, hands landing where her cream shirt tucked into the waistband of her light pink skirt.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”
Lily May’s perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. “I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.”
“Seriously where do you come up with this stuff? Is there like a southerners handbook that the rest of us folk, don’t know about?”
“Hush your mouth and come on up. I need your tallness.”
Before he could ask, what she was referring to, she grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the elevator. “Bye, Barney! We’ll talk later,” she called over her shoulder to the doorman.
“Do you always hang out with your doorman?” Gavin asked.
“Of course,” she said matter-of-factly. “He was my first friend when I moved here.”
Only Lily May would make friends with a middle-aged man who was paid to monitor the people coming in and out of her building. Gavin was grateful Ashton found a girl whose softness helped smooth out his rough edges.
They went up in the elevator, and she waved him into her apartment before shutting the door. “I need that casserole dish that’s all the way on the top shelf and in the back. I was going to grab a chair and do it myself, but since you’re here, I figure you might as well be useful.”
Lily May was tall especially in her heels, but Gavin had quite a few inches on her. He reached into the cabinet with ease and retrieved the casserole dish she needed.
“Thank you!”
“What are you making?”
“I thought I’d surprise your brother and make chicken parmesan. It’s our favorite, and though he always orders out, I figured I’d try and cook it for him. I got a recipe from your dad and just hope I can pull it off.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great. So listen, I was wondering if you would happen to have Lauren’s number.”
The mozzarella and parmesan cheese Lily May just pulled out of the fridge dropped from her hands and landed loudly on the counter. “I knew it!” she exclaimed.
“Knew what?”
“You two totally hit it off the other night just like I suspected you would. Lauren was playing all coy about it, but I knew it!”
“Wait, you spoke to Lauren about me? What did she say?” He felt like he was in middle school, but he was feeling desperate at the moment and didn’t quite care.
“Nothing much, but that’s probably because I asked her in the middle of book club. She did however get all rosy cheeked when I said your name.”
“Did she?” A satisfied smile spread across Gavin’s face as he rested against the counter.
Lily May nodded.
“Then why didn’t you say anything to me?” he asked. Lily May had been so quick to set him up with every girl she met, so why in the world wouldn’t she have come to him with this information sooner?
“You told me not to set you up with anyone anymore
, and I was going to ignore you, but Ashton told me to respect your wishes.”
Of all the times Ashton could have laid down, this was one of them? His timing really sucked.
“So then I can have her number?”
Lily May tapped a pink nail against her chin. “I don’t know. Maybe I should ask her first. I wouldn’t like if someone was going around handing out my number to some random.”
“I’m not some random. I’m your boyfriend’s brother.”
“I know that, but to Lauren you’re practically a stranger.”
She’d opened up to him and told him about her, including how she wet the bed at a fifth-grade sleepover. That had to count for something. “We talked for two hours the other night. We’re definitely not strangers.”
“Let me just check with her to be on the safe side.”
Gavin motioned to her phone, then crossed his arms over his chest.
“You want me to do it right this second?”
“The sooner the better.”
“She’s at work. They were having a movie night at the library.”
“She works at a library?” It made total sense for a bookworm such as herself.
Lily May let out an exaggerated sigh. “You two were talking for almost two hours the other night, and you didn’t ask her what she did for a living?”
“Well, no. I didn’t think it was important.”
Lily May walked over to the fridge and pretended to bang her head against the freezer. “A person spends most of the hours of their day at work; of course it is important. Do you know how much you can learn about a person just by knowing what they do for a living?”
“No, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”
“You can learn everything about a person. I plan parties for a living because I’m creative, love people, and I know how to have a good time. Your brother is an entrepreneur because he is driven and determined to prove his worth. You are a bartender because you love people and you care more about social interaction than you do about margins.”
“So you have a point.”
