Page 15 of Pour Timing

“Kylie! Hi!” I watch her wave her arms as she walks away from me and toward Kylie.

“Sothat’sthe her she meant. I should have known.”

“Who’s her?” Liam asks.

“Just a friend from school, son.”

Liam watches as my mom wraps Kylie in a hug. “Ooh, she’s pretty,” he says, and my dad chuckles again.

I give my dad a look that says ‘knock it off’ but quickly mask the expression when Mom and Kylie walk back over.

“Hi, Mr. Byrne. How are you?” Kylie and Dad give each other a quick hug.

“I’m great, Ky. Good to see you.”

“Hi! I’m Liam!” my son says excitedly.

Nerves run through me, but I smile and step out from behind the bar, joining them. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Liam, this is my friend Kylie. Kylie, this is my son.”

It’s Kylie and I shouldn't be nervous, but I’m cautious with everyone Liam meets. But when she drops down to his height and puts out her hand, I relax. He grabs it and shakes it once. “Nice to meet you. You’re very handsome; you look just like your grandpa.” Her eyes flit to me, a smirk curving her lips, and my son stands a little bit taller.

“Thank you. You’re very pretty just like my dad said.”

“Oh he did, huh?” She stands again, eyeing me with a smile.

“You said that, not me!” I exclaim. That little snitch turned the tables on me.

“Oh? You don’t think I'm pretty, Matt?”

I ignore my mom’s giggle and say, “Alright, I can see I can’t win here. You two are already working against me.” I rough Liam up a little then look at Kylie. “So what’s going on? Is your fiancé here? We can go over more of your wedding plans.”

Her face instantly takes on a weird glimmer but before I can make sense of it, my mom cuts in.

“I asked her down here to finalize everything for the event.”

I roll my eyes. “Ma, we’ve been working on it. I've got it under control.”

Kylie cuts in. “Actually, my sister has everything under control.” My lips twitch at her back talk.

I cock my head the slightest bit. “Hey, did you get your car inspected yet?”

“For your information, I just came from the garage.”

“Good to know there’s one more safe vehicle back on the road.” I’ve missed this banter with someone. No… I’ve missed it withher.

When silence falls but I continue to hold her focus, my mom cuts in. “Come on, let’s sit and go over some things. Liam, you come with us. Phil, you get back to corking. And Matt, can you bring us that new blush? It’s very good.” She twirls her empty glass that was left on the bar, and they turn and walk away from me. I watch my mom and Kylie fall into step with each other on the way to a table on the back deck. Kylie waits for my mom to sit before she pulls out the chair for Liam and then takes her spot on the other side. My mom says something and both Liam and Kylie laugh. And for a split second, this is exactly what I thought my future would have been. I push that thought away and step back behind the bar, checking on the guests.

“How are we doing over here?” I ask the couple.

“This blush is superb. I don’t know if you remember us, but I'm Fred and this is my wife, Sally. We were good friends of your Uncle Paul’s and am so sorry for your loss. But we’re very happy you are here to continue running this place, Matt. He’d want that and the town needs it.”

I nod to his wife and shake hands with the man. “It’s good to see you again. I apologize, I remember faces but not names too well.”

The woman speaks up. “Seems you’re fitting right back into the swing of things. I’m glad to see you and Kylie together again, you were high school sweethearts, right?”

“Sally! Don’t be so nosey.”

I let out a laugh and she smiles, a small blush forming on her cheeks. “You’re fine. I'm used to people asking lots of questions. My ma is the queen of questions.” Avoiding answering her, I grab another bottle of blush, hooking the stems of two glasses between my fingers along with a soda for Liam. “I'll be right back.”

---