Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
I’m pretending to look it over when I hear the sound of the door opening. It could be any of the locals, but my stomach still does this tilt-a-whirl thing. Maybe telling Aaron about my plans wasn’t such a good idea. I should’ve aimed to see less of him, not more.
“Well, look who it is,” June says in that singsong voice she uses to tease me. I don’t even turn to look, knowing with certainty it’s him.
“Hey there!” June waves him over. “You should join us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Barstools are free,” I mutter, irritated by how my stomach dips when our eyes meet.
“Don’t be such a grouch,” June scolds, elbowing me like Mom used to do.
“I don’t think he can help himself,” Aaron replies as he claims the stool on the other side of me.
My brother laughs. “You got him pegged already, and you’re only passing through.”
Aaron smirks. “He’s not that hard to read, even if he thinks he is.”
I narrow my eyes at him as he orders a beer. He likes getting a rise out of me, and I walked right into it again.
“You’re from San Jose, right?” Johnny asks, setting the glass in front of him.
“Yep.” Aaron throws me a sidelong glance, and I feel a bit embarrassed that my family knows so much about him. But then I remember that they chatted when he was last here, and Johnny has a good memory for details. It makes him a good bartender.
“You grow up there?”
“I did.” Aaron lifts his beer and takes a quick sip. “Went to college in San Francisco, then returned to my hometown.”
“Nice. What did you study?”
“Business.”
I keep my mouth shut even though he left out the architecture part and the other stuff about construction and interior design. Christ, the fact that I listened so intently to those details is concerning.
“Ever consider living in a small coastal town like this?”
“Not really, but I can see the appeal. I had the misconception they were all filled with close-minded people, but it seems you’ve staked your claim.” He motions toward the wall. “Even have a rainbow flag.”
“There’s close-minded people in cities too,” I counter.
“That’s right, and those who don’t support us can fuck right off,” Johnny says, rapping his knuckles on the bar top. “At least that’s been our family motto.”
I can see Aaron’s wheels spinning, wondering all sorts of things about my family and how we were raised. It makes my chest ache with longing for my parents’ advice about any number of things, even if I’d pretended to hate their interference.
“Hear, hear!” Aaron lifts his beer, then slugs it back.
June grins at Johnny, who turns to Aaron. “So, what else can I get you?”
“Hmmm…” Aaron quickly glances at the menu. “I liked my burger last time.”
“I’ll put your order in,” Johnny replies, then looks at the glass I drained. “Along with another beer.”
It grows quiet as Johnny fills my glass, then heads off to help another customer.
“On that note…” June stands and straightens her shirt. “I’m headed home.”
“You sure you don’t want to hang out a little longer?” I ask, but she’s already hoisting her bag on her shoulder.
“I’m beat. Plus, Cain will be home soon.”
Cain is an adult but still lives with June, which is fine by her. She hasn’t enjoyed being alone after my brother-in-law’s death. Cain always being a wild child also figures in. She likes keeping an eye on him, though she has a hard time watching him ride the waves—something about being a mom and scared of another accident. Or the town curse. Totally understandable. If only Cain agreed. But his philosophy is different since his father’s death. Live life to the fullest and all that.
Once June says her goodbyes, we sit in comfortable silence, sipping our beers.
“So about your photography… Where do you develop your film?”
“I have a studio behind my house.”
His eyes fill with awe like I’m sharing something amazing. “Yeah?”
“Uh-huh. Just a little shed I fixed up in my spare time.”
“Do you have a red room?”
“You mean a darkroom?” I chuckle, and he nods. “Yeah, that too.”
“Any chance I can see it?”
I set my glass down. “Why do you want to?”
He shrugs and looks away. “Something to do.”
“Oh, well, if you need something to do, I can always direct you to—”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” His knee brushes against mine.
I look down at our legs, willing myself to keep it cool. “Cut to the chase and say exactly what you mean.”
“I want to see your photography because I’m interested in your art,” he replies. He’s one of the only people I’ve heard refer to it that way. “Plus, it might be more private to hook up at your place than at the inn.”
My dick twitches. “That’s true. Let me think on it.”
Our food is delivered, and as we dig in, we shoot the shit for a while with Johnny and other townsfolk sitting at the bar. Mindy, the owner of Slice of Life, convinces Aaron that he needs to try her banana cream pie before leaving town. When Beth comes through the door, Johnny shoots me a look, but I ignore her like I always do. Aunt Dina accuses me of holding a grudge, but I’m not the only one. Walter, who sells souvenirs at his stand in town, once accused her of cursing the town, and every time she enters Johnny’s bar, Walter leaves as if on principle. I watch now as he stands, downs his beer, and heads for the door, grumbling to himself.