Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“Jesus, finally.” Brody slaps his hand down on the table. “I thought I was going to be a grandfather by the time you made your move.”
I give him a look.
“So…you did right? You asked her out?”
“Well, I made a move.”
Brody leans forward, looking at me like I've never told him anything more exciting in both our lives. “What kind of move was it? After-work drinks? Did you run into her in the grocery store? Oh, shit, the snow—did her car get stuck?”
“Her car didn't get stuck in two inches of snow. And it was after work, technically. But we didn't have drinks.”
He gestures with his hands for me to continue when I pause, not knowing what exactly to tell. “What did you do?”
She didn’t say not to tell anyone, but it’s obvious she wants this to be a quiet thing. I struggle to know where the line is. I just look at him. I've known Brody for so long now that most times we don't have to say everything out loud. He narrows his eyes, and then they get big, and I nod.
He whistles quietly, although I catch a few glances from the two men at the bar. He leans back in his seat again, a grin plastered on his face. “So you're seeing each other?”
“Not exactly.” I give him a vague outline of how it went down and how my text conversation with Renee went yesterday. “So now we have plans to go to the drive-in movie theater.”
Brody laughs. “Of course you would take her to the drive-in movie theater.”
“It was her idea,” I bark back with a smile. “I get the feeling she just wants to keep it quiet, you know?”
Brody’s eyes narrow but he nods his head like he understands. “Like how quiet?”
“Like I don’t think she wants me telling anyone, including you.”
He reaches for his beer and takes a swig. It’s a fresh batch and I’m damn proud of it. He grins into the glass while tasting it before squaring his shoulders and nodding more confidently.
“Small towns talk, and she wants to make sure there’s something there before going official…I get that,” he says easily, and I agree with him.
“That’s probably all it is. Just her wanting to test the waters before everyone else makes a big deal out of it,” I tell him even though I don’t quite believe what I’m saying. Something feels off, but I shake it off. With Renee, I have a tendency to overthink things and right now, I’m grateful for whatever I can get with her. “Time will tell, and I just want to let whatever’s going to happen, happen, you know?”
He lifts his beer and says, “Cheers to that.”
Our glasses clink easily enough and finally I can focus on the damn spreadsheets.
One Day Later
* * *
Two days has never felt so long. I find myself staring at the clock knowing I’m finally going to see her, and I’ll get a better read on what’s going on between us today. I can’t help the smile that comes to my face when she walks in for her shift. I caved in yesterday and sent her a couple messages, just asking about the time she wants to go to the movies and what one she wants to see, but she only gave me one-word answers. She's playing hard to get.
My little tease.
The first thing I see is her smile. It widens when her eyes reach mine and that beautiful blush hits her cheeks. Everything inside me warms and the anxiousness leaves in an instant. She’s in her typical work attire. Black jeans and her Iron Brewery maroon sweatshirt.
Mary Sue walks in right after her and I’m careful not to show too much as I’m worried she’ll be able to read it on my face just like Brody did. I do my best not to stare and instead offer Renee a “good morning,” to which she laughs and rolls her eyes. “It’s afternoon but good morning to you too.”
We both laugh as she walks past me to get to the back room and everything feels right. Her smile does that to me.
It's Thursday and a little bit slow, so when Mary Sue leaves it's just Renee and I working. I stand behind the bar and pour drinks while she waits tables. All the while my heart races, waiting for a moment when there’s no one left but just us two. When all of the food is out and Renee's done a lap of the bar to make sure everything's in shape, she comes back behind the bar with me and catches her breath.
The tension between us crackles in a good way. Like we know a secret no one else does. My smile widens when she peeks up at me through her lashes and those beautiful eyes hold a flirtation I’m now used to.