by Jami Wagner
“Hey, Abby,” Liam says back and the tone in his voice is a dead giveaway that he is uncomfortable. “Um, Logan, I can just give Sara’s dad a call and go stay with them for the weekend. It’s really not a big deal.”
“No,” I say firmly and then pin Abby with another heated glare. I can’t have him calling Sara’s dad and telling him the reason he couldn’t stay with me was because there was another woman on the couch. That would not go over very well. I have to figure out what is going on, and I have to get her out of here pronto.
“Okay! I got groceries and I got movies, this is going to be one—oh, hey, man.” Conner pauses when he’s fully through the apartment door and gives me an unsure smile. He sets the bags down and rubs the back of his neck. “So hey”—he points to the hallway—“I need to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah, I think you do,” I say. “Liam, make yourself at home. This won’t take long.” Abby immediately offers him the remote.
“Here, you can pick out something for us to watch.”
I don’t look back to see if he accepted her offer or not because I’m too fumed and ready to punch someone by the time I make it outside with Conner.
“What the fuck is going on? Why is she here?” I demand once the door closes behind me.
“She needed a place to stay, and I know I just moved in, but I felt bad for her. Her boyfriend cheated on her.” The look in his eyes shows real concern. Poor guy. She probably played him like a fool just to get into my apartment. For me or for him, I have no idea, but I’m not letting her stay to find out.
“You do realize this is the same girl who helps multiple guys cheat every week, right? She is also the same girl who slept with Tyler when he cheated on your sister!” My voice grows louder.
“That was a long time ago, Kelsey is over it and besides Abby seems happy right now.”
“Yeah, because she is sitting on my couch! I know she is up to something and I swear it’s something bad. She wants to split Sara and I up, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let this relationship go down in flames all because of her. There’s no way Sara will say yes to marriage if I let Abby stay here for any amount of time.” My arms are in the air and I’m pacing. When Conner doesn’t say anything, I stop to look at him.
His eyes are wide and he’s making a stuttering sound. “Did … what … did you really just say that you’re going to propose? To Sara? Is this for real or are you just going that crazy right now?”
Fuck.
I said it out loud?
“I —” My eyes dart around like I’m going to find the rest of my sentence on a sign nearby. When I don’t come up with anything, Conner claps his hands together once.
“Dude! Congrats! Why haven’t you told anyone, and what the fuck is up with everyone keeping the idea of marriage a secret? Don’t you people know that we’re all family and friends and we support each other? I mean, fuck, my sister didn’t even invite me to her own wedding.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, it would seem to be the trend these days. You started it when you went off and had a kid without telling anyone.”
“Hey, that wasn’t my fault. His mother neglected to tell me she even had a kid. I was just as much in the dark as the rest of you.” A small smile appears on his face, but it quickly turns down.
“She still won’t let you see him?” I ask.
“She will, but she doesn’t think I live in a safe environment for a kid.”
“Seriously? The police station is like two blocks away.”
“I told her that, but she just won’t have it. Not unless she’s here with him anyway. I even asked if living with Kelsey would make a difference, but she refuses to answer me. I’m running out of ideas here.” He looks defeated and lost. I wish I could help him. Or that I had advice for him. I just don’t think I have a place to say anything, considering my father never fought this hard to get to know me. Hell, as far as I know, my father never even tried to find me or might not even know about me.
Abby’s laugh sounds through the apartment window.
“Having a girl like Abby around isn’t going to help your situation,” I say, much calmer this time. “Or mine for that fact.”
“I know, and I’ll make sure she knows this is temporary. She can sleep in my room while Liam is here, but can we please just give her a few days to sort some things out? She says she can cook. Like really cook.” His eyes widen and he looks excited. A few home-cooked meals might be nice. And I guess she is still technically my friend and I can’t just kick her out. I sigh. Conner really isn’t leaving me with any other choice.
“She has one week.” I hold up a finger and then turn for the door. “And you are going to make sure she knows it,” I shout over my shoulder.
I had better call Sara before Liam does. Fuck. How do I get myself into situations like this? I have got to start telling everyone no. Everyone but Sara, that is.
Chapter Fourteen
Sara
“I have to tell you something and I’m not sure how to say it.” Liam stands across me with his chin resting against his chest.
It’s Friday again and he had suggested going back up to Wind Valley this weekend, too. I’ve opted to go in his spot and told him to take the weekend off, but by the way he’s acting right now, I suspect that plan might have to change.
“What’s wrong?”
“I, uh, let me think for a second on how I want to phrase this.”
“Okay … ” This is starting to sound like it might be something juicy. Maybe he’s seeing someone, or maybe Andi met a new girl. Or maybe—
“When I was in Wyoming last weekend, there was a girl in Logan’s apartment.”
I freeze. Liam’s eyes dart around the bar for a minute before they come back to mine. It was probably Kelsey there with Ethan.
“And?” I ask before returning to placing the artwork where it will eventually need to go on the bar’s walls. I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to react in a situation like this, but the fact I just starting sweating isn’t a good sign.
“Well, it kind of sort of looked like she was moving in.”
Again, I freeze and turn to look at him.
“What do you mean?”
I bet Conner has a new girlfriend.
“I mean move in, like bags packed and her lying in what I think were pajamas on the couch”
Huh.
“Did you get her name?” I ask. “He lives with Conner, so I bet it was someone he knows.”
Liam doesn’t answer right away, and I swear his face get more pale as I stare at him.
“Liam, what’s wrong?”
“It was Abby.”
I step back as if someone slapped me.
“Abby, like the Abby we work with?”
He nods.
I flip around to face the wall and mutter a quick “fuck” under my breath. I’ve always known she was a little off in the man department, but she can’t seriously be dumb enough to first go after my cousin while he was with Kelsey and now with Logan. If she isn’t careful, she isn’t going to have many friends left.
After taking a few focus breaths, I turn around, again.
“Oh, that’s no big deal,” I say. The words sound fake even to me.
“Yeah, that was real convincing.” He laughs. “But hey, if it helps, he didn’t seem too thrilled about it, and from what I gathered he didn’t even know about it.”
My jaw drops.
“Start with that next time!” I yell and smile at the same time. Now that sounds like the Logan I know. I knew there wasn’t anything to worry about.
“I wasn’t trying to upset you, but it was last week. Don’t you think it’s a little weird that he hasn’t mentioned it yet?”
“Abby isn’t someone we like to talk about.”
“Okay. One other thing I noticed while I was there.”
“What’s that?” Nothing could be worse than what he just said.
“Logan went out both nights I was there.
He didn’t drink, but he still went out.”
“Okay,” I say, confused on his sudden interest in Logan’s behavior. And it’s not a very good one either.
“You haven’t been out once since you’ve been here. Or at least if you have, I haven’t noticed.”
“I’m not really a big party kind of person.” My going-away party last year was the last time I drank, and I’m happy with that.
“You don’t have to party to go out.”
“No, I know, but most going out involves drinking.”
“You don’t like drinkers?” Now he’s dazed.
“I don’t like who a person becomes once they’ve been drinking.”
“But you own a bar?”
“Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I don’t want people to have fun. I’m one of a kind when it comes to my drinking theory. I also like owning a place where I can watch over my customers and make the calls. If I think they’ve had enough, I can cut them off and call them a cab. I’m a very dedicated bar owner. I take care of my customers.”
“Do you have a deal with a cab company or something?”
“No.”
“You should.”
I stare at Liam as he goes back to unpacking more boxes with décor in them. He really does come up with some great ideas. The Silver Tap is going to be in good hands when I leave. Leave. The idea gets me choked up, but it’s not a surprise. I’ve just grown to enjoy the people here the same way I enjoy the people in Wind Valley. Staying here for the weekend here won’t hurt anyone.
Logan
“Abby, is this for real?” I shout into the hallway. I have got to stop sharing a bathroom with her. I was trying to be polite, but she and Conner are just going to have to suck it up.
“What? I can’t dry that stuff in the dryer. It’ll shred it up.” She huffs, her hands on her hips in the doorway.
“There’s nothing to shred!” I yell. “Get it out, get it out right, now.”
“Jesus, Logan. You’re such a dick. I have no idea what Sara sees in you,” she says, yanking her panties off the shower rod and stomping out the bathroom.
“You’re sharing 100 percent with Conner from now on!”
“Whatever!”
I open my mouth to argue more because I’ve been in a dick mood ever since Sara called to cancel her trip home and yelling is helping. Abby lucks out on an argument when my phone pings from my dresser. I step into my room and find an unknown number on the screen. Sara’s been having problems with her phone, so I assume it’s her.
“Hey,” I say, hoping she’s calling with good news. Finally, something to cheer me up.
No one replies from the other end of the line.
“Hello?”
Still nothing.
“Is someone there?” I ask, growing annoyed. Light breathing is all I hear. The idea that my sister is actually calling me hits me hard. I swallow, taking a seat on the edge of my bed.
“Alexis?” I ask, saying her name out loud after years of keeping her name to myself. “If it’s you, you can—”
The line goes dead before I can finish.
I lie back onto my bed and take a breath. Do I still want the whole family reconnection or am I ready to give up? If she can’t even talk to me on the phone, assuming that was her, what makes me think she’s actually coming to Wind Valley?
Before I can change my mind, I make a choice. My sister knows where I live and how to get hold of me. If she wants to see me, she’ll find a way; I’m not going out of my way anymore trying to make it happen.
I toss the phone onto my bed before heading for the bathroom. Either I just made the best choice I could make or a dumb one.
“Logan, Ethan and I are going out for some beers and to play a few rounds of darts tonight, you in?’ Conner says, poking his head into the bathroom while I brush my teeth. I nod and spit.
“Yes.” A drink is exactly what I need.
I head back to my room to change and call Sara. The phone rings and goes to voicemail. First she cancels without much of an explanation and now she isn’t answering her phone.
I really need that drink.
Chapter Fifteen
Sara
“When was the last time you went out anyway?” Liam asks me from behind the bar. I thought we got off this damn subject since this morning. He sets the tray of new glassware on the counter and waits for my answer. I shrug and look away.
“I don’t see why that would matter on the type of music we play.” I say, since that was the conversation topic.
“It matters because I think you have been way too focused on getting this place up and running. You’re missing out on the part where you should still have a life. Logan’s doing it, why can’t you and … I mean, why are you in such a hurry?”
I pin him with a glare. He knows damn well why I want this place to open as soon as it can. He holds his hands up in surrender style and takes a step back.
“Okay, okay so I know the answer to that, but come on, Sara. Last weekend didn’t seem to be out of the ordinary for him. Do you think Logan is sitting at home every night watching reruns on the tube? No, he’s probably out with his buddies.”
I grunt and then laugh. Logan is a social guy, but going out isn’t his thing.
“Seeing as how his best friend is married with a kid, I doubt Logan is doing a whole lot of going out. The other weekend was probably an exception to not make you sit at home with him,” I argue.
“I’m not so sure. He works in a bar, and I bet he has more than just one friend. I’ve met him, remember—he’s a people person. Besides, didn’t your friend’s brother move back? He’s single, right? I bet he likes to go out.”
Would Logan really start going out now that Conner’s back? They grew up together and have always been friends. Logan was one of the few who actually kept in touch with Conner when no one else knew where he was. What if Conner wants to hit on girls? What if he needs a wing man? Nah, Logan isn’t like that—he wouldn’t do that to me.
“I trust him.”
“Well, hey, my roommate and good buddy of mine—who also happens to be in a band—he and his band members like to practice in our apartment. Usually when they’re finished around ten or so, they invite a bunch of people over and we make it into a thing.”
“You have parties at your place every weekend?” I ask him. That sounds crazy.
“Not every weekend, just, you know, three out of four a month maybe.” He crosses his arms and grins at me. “Just come. I swear you will have fun and there will be other girls there. Some you’ll even notice you have a lot in common with. You’ve been here for what, a month and a half now—have you even made any friends?”
“Yes, I have,” I say quickly.
“Besides me.” His eyebrows rise as he waits for my answer. I let out a sigh that halfway sounds like a groan.
“Fine, okay, so I haven’t been going out since I’ve been here. There isn’t anything wrong with that.”
“No, but if you aren’t going to take my word for it, then what about getting out there to learn the types of things this town is into? If you want this place to be successful, you should look at all your options.”
I hate that he’s right. I just wish there was another way I could go about it.
Defeated, I nod in his direction.
“Okay, when is this party of yours starting?” I ask. I should probably make myself somewhat decent before I go into the public. Liam looks at his watch and claps his hands together.
“Well, it’s almost seven so now is a great time to stop working and start a party.” He reaches for his back pocket and pulls out his phone. I push back my chair and stand to grab my coat while he quickly types something out and puts his phone back in his pocket. Hopefully, my agreeing to go out tonight will make up for the fact I have kept him here later than usual all week.
“Ready?” Liam asks. His eyes beam with excitement. He does the male version of a skip around the bar and doesn’t stop until he is i
n front of me. He extends his arm.
“Shall we?”
I smile at the happiness on his face. Logan always knows when I am upset or starting to stress out and will do anything to cheer me up. I can’t help but think that Liam and Logan are more alike each day. Wrapping my fingers in the crook of his arms, I nod.
“Yes we shall, but I need to stop by my place to freshen up,” I say as we head for the door. “Should I meet you there?”
“Nonsense, it’s getting dark out. I’ll walk you to your place and wait for you. Then we can head over to my place. There’s no way I would let a girl who looks like you wander anyplace alone downtown. Nice neighborhood or not, I don’t trust a lot of people,” he says.
I lock the door and relax. I might not know Liam very well, but he is becoming someone I truly enjoy being around. Maybe in another world we knew each other as more than coworkers. I ponder that thought, and right as we turn the corner to my apartment, it hits me. I’m about to be alone in my apartment with a guy. A guy who isn’t Logan.
Logan
I hit send for the second time since we got to the BA. It isn’t like Sara to ignore my calls, but I know better than anyone that if it goes straight to voicemail after a couple rings, someone hit the decline button. And it’s been doing that all day.
“Dude, what are you doing?” Conner asks as he pulls the darts out of the dartboard. He stops next to the round high-top table where I am sitting and takes a swig of his beer. Ethan left us an hour ago, and I’ve apparently been poor company since that moment.
“You’re acting like a total chick right now.”
“I’m not acting like a girl,” I say, placing my phone on the table and pushing it away from me.
“Refreshing the screen on your phone every two minutes is 100 percent girl behavior.” Conner faces the dartboard once again and positions his foot as far on the yellow tape on the floor as he can without going over. His body straightens as he holds the dart in front of his face to focus on the bull’s-eye ahead of him. The hand with the dart twitches like he is going to let go, but he doesn’t. Letting his arm drop, he turns back to me.