Page 10 of Every Heartbeat After

“Well aren’t you sweet.” She knocks off the gathered ash on the tip of her cigarette, then takes a long pull. When she speaks again, smoke frames her exhaled words. “No one’s ever offered something like that. Half the time I’m not sure guests really even see me, you know? They just grab their keys and go.”

Boy, do I know how that feels. “What would you like?”

She shrugs. “Surprise me.”

I pop my sunglasses over my eyes. It’s early yet, but the sun is already beating down. It’ll be another scorcher of a day, though the breeze takes the edge off enough to breathe. “I can do surprises.”

“You going to see that cutie cop who dropped you off yesterday?” Her smirk is a little too knowing for my taste. I feel exposed, like she can see right past my skin to a heart that beats a little harder at even the allusion to Kit. “I tell you, sometimes I’m tempted to report a nonexistent crime just to get a look at him.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, letting the sting recenter my thoughts. “Oh, I don’t really know him. He was just doing my uncle a favor.”

“Who’s your uncle?”

I stand a little straighter, grateful for the change in topic. “Gary Barbeau. Used to own Nomads?”

What starts as a laugh morphs into a raspy cough. As if it’s personally offended her, she drops the remainder of the cigarette and squashes it beneath a well-worn tennis shoe. “I’m familiar. Even if he hadn’t run the only decent bar in town for years, everyone in Loveless knows everybody else.”

“Sounds familiar,” I mutter. My hometown, Fly Hollow, is no better. I still get piteous expressions everywhere I go, even more than a decade later. It’s as though people take one look at me and all they can see is the headline about my parents’ car accident. Which is why I try so hard not to be the grieving orphan they expect. I keep thinking if I can make myself bright enough, the rest will be hidden by my shadow.

“You have fun, all right? And don’t worry about getting me anything. It’s enough that you even thought to ask.”

“Have a good day…Marcy,” I say, reading her faded name tag. “And it’s no bother. I’m really just buttering you up in the hopes of getting extra towels.”

She laughs, what must be years of smoking turning the sound to a strained sort of music. “Consider it done.”

It’s only a few blocks from the motel to the first row of metal barricades marking the border of the festival. Traffic has been diverted to allow for pedestrians to roam the streets safely. Food trucks and vendor tents line each side of the main road through town. Businesses have their doors propped open despite the rising temperatures. Water bowls have been set up for the dogs being walked around by their owners. I scan the faces of the deputies manning the perimeter almost without realizing it, until disappointment at not recognizing them sinks like a stone through my chest.

I spot Gary on the same bench where we ate dinner last night, just like he promised. Zoey’s next to him, and a Black man with short hair and mirrored sunglasses sits at her other side, arm slung around her shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

She leans back and kisses his cheek, earning a smile that takes over his entire expression. It’s only a snapshot of a life, but it’s a happy one.

“Aren’t you a vision!” Zoey unravels herself from her partner’s arm and stands, stepping toward me with a raised brow. “I’m a hugger. Are you a hugger?”

“I’m an everything-er.” I open my arms and squeeze her when she fills them. A few strands of curly hair get caught on the breeze and fan across my face, tickling my nose. “So Zoey, and this is…?”

Her partner rises to his feet and offers his hand. “Aaron, her fiancé.”

She beams at that, and I borrow a bit of her sunshine for my own grin. “So nice to meet you both.”

“Chase and Eden were going to come, but with the heat they don’t think it’s a good idea for the babies to be out,” Gary explains. “But that’s the crew. Zoey bought the bar from me, allowing me to retire. Eden is her best friend and my second adoptive daughter.” He winks. I remember the photo he sent from Eden’s wedding, where he had the honor of walking her down the aisle. Seems like it’s his forte, taking care of people who need a father figure most. “If you’re up for a coffee, you can meet Rose. She and her husband own the cafe next door to the bar.”

I raise both brows, crumpling my forehead. “Marcy wasn’t kidding about everyone knowing each other here.”

“Your uncle just loves to take people under his wing. Father to the fatherless, this one,” Zoey says with an affected tone.

Gary chokes on his own spit, glancing at me nervously as he tries to clear the blockage. I’m not sure how much he’s told Zoey about my past, but concern pinches her expression in a flash. “Oh my God, Tess, I’m so sorry?—”

“It’s really okay,” I say, smile so wide it makes my cheeks ache. I learned a long time ago that if you fold your face in a grin, it disguises all the cracks you don’t want seen. “I knew what you meant.”

“You shoving your foot in your mouth again, Zo?”

A shiver runs down my spine at the sound of a familiar voice. I glance over my shoulder. Kit’s legs are long, and he manages to close the distance before I have the chance to fix my expression. I’m grateful for the sunglasses guarding my widened eyes. There’s nothing I can do to take back my popped-open lips, which his gaze lands on immediately.

He’s still in his uniform, which is a bit worse for the wear after a night spent working in it. Wrinkles galore, and a badge that’s a tad askew. Purple bruises have taken up residence beneath his eyes, which are more brown than green this morning, much to my chagrin.

I have a weakness for brown eyes.

“Shouldn’t you be asleep right now?” Zoey’s tone is taut. When I glance back at her, she’s shooting daggers at Kit that I don’t quite understand. Aaron elbows her, a laugh bubbling over his lips.

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