Page 21 of This Feeling

“And you’ll miss my home cooking, as well.”

With a wink, I shut the back door and said, “Good thing I know where you live.”

I started to walk around to the driver’s side of my truck when my father called out. “Wait! Declan, you never told us where you’re living now.”

Part of me was hoping they didn’t realize I hadn’t shared that information. It was wishful thinking on my part. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them to know. I just knew my mother. She’d be at my door tomorrow with some casserole she’d made for me. Sean said she did it for months after he’d moved out.

“Brystol Duggan offered me the apartment above Memory Lane Toys. She said her former manager lived there for a couple of years, but she got tired of the weather and moved south somewhere. So, it was available to rent.”

“Oh, how sweet of her. She’s such a nice young lady,” Mom said with a wide smile.

“Mom,” I warned.

“What?” she replied, her hands on her hips. “I simply said she’s a nice young lady.”

When I looked at my father, he shrugged.

“Right. I love you both.”

“Love you, Declan! Make sure to eat!”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I started the truck and headed toward the beginning of the next chapter of my life.

The moment I stepped into the elevator of the Moose Village Hotel, the one and only historical hotel in Moose Village, two women smiled at me. They both looked to be in their early twenties, way too young for me, and dressed for a night of fun that I wasn’t interested in. Those days were long gone.

I nodded my head. “Ladies.”

They were both blondes, hot as hell, and most likely looking for a good time. I, on the other hand, was simply meeting a few friends I hadn’t seen in years for drinks up at the rooftop bar, The Muddled Moose.

Yes, everything practically had the word Moose in it in this town. It was kind of a thing here.

“You here visiting?” the shorter blonde asked.

Clearing my throat, I replied, “Um, no. I’ve recently moved back to Moose Village.”

“From where?” the other one asked, but not before swiping her tongue over her bottom lip and eye-fucking the hell out of me.

“North Carolina. I was in the Marines.”

They both let out high-pitched squeals that nearly had me covering my ears.

“A Marine, huh? Care for some company?”

Politely smiling, I replied, “I appreciate the offer, but I’m here to meet some friends and have a few drinks. That’s it.”

They both pouted in unison. It was rather impressive.

“Bummer.”

The elevator doors opened, and I motioned for them to exit first. They were carded and then let in. I hung back a few moments, then walked up to the hostess stand.

“You can head on in,” the woman said with a smile.

I wasn’t going to show how disappointed I was that she hadn’t asked to seemyID.

Getting old sucks.

Returning her smile with my own, I started toward the terrace. The Muddled Moose had an indoor bar as well as an outside one. I knew Kian would be outside, along with James and his brother Gavin.

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