Page 79 of Gather the Storm

Gray disappeared from view and I took a bite of my salad, trying not to think about why a night at home on the sofa, listening to Wolf strum his guitar while Jace and Otis played video games, sounded more appealing than drinks with coworkers and the handsome son of my employer.

Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure I was ready for the answer.

Chapter 40

Daisy

The Mill was a nice-ish bar almost halfway between the north and south sides of town. It did a good job straddling the two sides of Blackwell Falls: the dark paneling that had been there forever was offset by an upscale bar with a sleek ebony top, and white fairy lights reflected off the old tin ceiling, making it look glamorous instead of dated.

We got there just after six and claimed a table at the back of the room and Gray proceeded to open a tab and declare drinks were on him. We all made a show of protesting but I think Natalie and Kyle were as relieved as I was. They weren’t much older and were probably just as broke.

I ordered a huckleberry twist, a specialty in the area thanks to the wild huckleberries that grew in the woods surrounding Blackwell Falls, and ended up in a deep conversation with Kyle about environmental law and the challenges of responsible building in communities like Blackwell Falls. People in towns like ours needed jobs, but the natural setting meant we were ripe for environmental disaster, and I could tell Kyle was passionate about his field and excited to be working on the project atCantwell. Plus, he was engaged and needed the money for his upcoming wedding.

Eventually he wandered off to talk to Gray and I leaned back in the booth and realized I was buzzed.

I looked at my drink. Was it my second? Or third?

I wasn’t sure, but I was feeling good. Relaxed for the first time since I’d invited Jace, Wolf, and Otis to live with me at the house.

The song in the jukebox changed and I recognized the opening refrain of “Pictures of You” by the Cure, a classic that had been one of my mom’s favorites.

And apparently I wasn’t the only one who liked it because a second later, Natalie came over and excitedly grabbed my hand.

“We have to dance to this, Daisy! We have to!”

“Um, I don’t know if— ”

But if I was buzzed, Natalie was well on her way to being hammered. Her blonde hair was disheveled, her eyes bright.

She pulled me to my feet and bobbed her way onto the dance floor with me in tow.

I moved slowly at first, but it didn’t take me long to warm up, especially after Gray brought us fresh drinks. I liked the Mill, was at home here, and I waved to people I knew as I danced with Natalie, drinking down my huckleberry twist so it didn’t slosh while we danced.

The crowd had changed in the time we’d been here (two hours? three? four? I didn’t know, my phone was in my bag). The polite after-work customers had either left or shifted into the rowdier I-don’t-care-if-I’m-hungover-tomorrow crowd.

At some point I saw Diana head out, followed by Erica, then Kyle, who waved goodbye as he slipped on his jacket.

Then it was just me, Natalie, and Gray, drinking and dancing.

Emphasis on the worddrinking.

By the time I headed for the bathroom, I’d lost count of how many huckleberry twists I’d downed. I was hot and thirsty. Gray had kept putting drinks in my hand, and I’d kept drinking them, but now I felt like I needed about a gallon of water.

I grabbed my bag and checked my phone as I weaved my way toward the ladies’ room.

I had texts from the Beasts in our group chat. A lot of them.

Wolf: When are you coming home, sunshine?

Otis: You should always let someone know where you are, doll.

Jace: Not that I fucking care, but where the fuck are you?

And on and on it went.

The text from Jace made me giggle as I peed, bass thumping from the bar, the murmur of the crowd distant and almost comforting.

Not that I care? Yeah right, then why are you texting me, asshole?

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