Page 31 of Small Town Sash

"Got things to do," Braden lied, escaping the noise and the forced camaraderie.

"Like spending time with Dash?" someone called out after him, causing everyone to break out in a fit of laughter.

"Dash would be more company than you louts," he muttered under his breath, pulling his jacket tighter against the cool night air.

The laughter echoed behind him, following Braden as he made his way down the still streets toward the restored Victorian. The B&B was quiet, a stark contrast to the bar's rowdy crowd. As he stepped in, the familiar creak of the floorboards greeted him like an old friend.

"Didn't expect you back so soon," Danny's voice came from the lounge area. He and Hunter sat with mugs of coffee, a chessboard between them.

"Bar's not really my scene tonight," Braden admitted, sinking into an armchair opposite them.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Other things on your mind?"

"That obvious, huh?"

"Like a sore thumb," Danny added, taking a sip from his mug.

"Can't stop thinking about Hadley Wilder, can you?" Hunter guessed, moving his knight.

"Is it that transparent?" Braden sighed, leaning forward, elbows on his knees.

"Only like a glass house," Danny joked, but his eyes were sympathetic.

"Small town problems," Braden said, running a hand through his hair. "Feels like every move we make is under a microscope."

"Comes with the territory," Hunter said, capturing Danny's bishop. "We're just used to it because we grew up here. But hey, you like this girl, right? So what's the real issue?"

"Optics," Braden replied, frustration seeping into his voice. "She's worried about how it looks, us being together. And I get it, I do, but..."

"Sometimes, what others think isn't as important as going after what you want," Danny interjected, studying the chessboard.

"Easier said than done around here, though," Hunter added.

"Exactly." Braden exhaled deeply. "And now, she's pulling away because of it."

"Sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place," Danny observed, leaning back in his chair.

"Yep," Braden confirmed, a rueful half-smile on his face. "And all I want is to help her feel better."

"Look," Hunter began, locking eyes with Braden. "You can't control what people say or think. But you can control how you handle it. Be there for her, even if it's from a distance."

Braden nodded slowly, absorbing the words. "Guess I'll just have to be patient."

"Patience," Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. "Never was my strong suit."

"Nor mine," Braden agreed, feeling a hint of camaraderie in their shared shortcomings. "But for Hadley, I think I can try."

"Chess isn't like life, you know," Danny said, setting the king down with finality. "When you lose, you can set up the pieces and start again."

"Life's got more moving parts," Hunter's gaze flickered to Braden. "More consequences."

"Sounds grim when you put it that way," Braden replied, attempting a light tone. He traced the grain of the wood on the chessboard with his finger.

"Could be worse," Hunter teased. "You could be playing blindfolded."

"Feels like I am," Braden admitted, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"Advice?" Danny asked, arching an eyebrow as he gathered the scattered chess pieces.

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