Page 9 of Break My Heart
‘Smokestack Porter,’ the bartender says, dropping off Hank’s beer.
‘You keeping this one around?’ he asks her. ‘It’s my favorite. I’d hate to see it go.’
She shrugs. ‘I’m not sure yet. That’s kind of why I had the special going this week. I want to see what people around here like.’
‘I vote for keeping this one,’ he says, taking a drink. ‘It’s the best porter I’ve tasted, and I’ve had a lot.’
‘Thanks.’ She smiles. It’s the first time I’ve seen her smile. Her smile reminds me of someone, but I can’t think of who, probably because I’m too distracted by her beautiful lips.
‘How often do you plan to switch them out?’ Hank asks.
‘I haven’t decided. I’ll definitely change them for the seasons, but I might also rotate a new one in every month, just to test it out and see if people like it.’
‘Hey, have you met Sawyer?’ Hank asks, pointing at me.
‘Just now, when I served him his beer.’ She smiles at me and extends her hand. ‘Hi, I’m Gina, the owner.’
Wait—what? That’s Gina? No fucking way. That can’t be her. Last time I saw her she was short and scrawny with dark blonde hair. Then again, she was seven. It’s possible she’s changed a lot since then.
‘Gina Slater?’ I say, staring at her.
‘That’s me.’ She points to my glass, which is almost empty. ‘You want to try something else?’
‘Um, not right now,’ I say, too stunned to think about beer when my mind is still trying to wrap around the fact that this girl is Gina.
‘Sawyer owns the brewery downtown,’ Hank says.
Shit! I didn’t want her to know that. I didn’t want her even knowing I’m here, but it’s too late. The secret’s out.
Gina’s smile drops and she eyes me with suspicion, her hand going to her hip. ‘Are you here to spy on me?’
‘What? No. I just came in to get a beer.’
‘Uh huh,’ she says, like she doesn’t believe me. ‘You know, I really don’t care. I’m confident enough in my brewing skills to not be threatened by the competition. So go ahead.’ She waves her hand in the air. ‘Check the place out.’ She walks away.
‘Wait!’ I yell.
She pretends she didn’t hear me and continues to the end of the bar.
‘You know her?’ Hank asks.
‘Yeah. I knew her when we were kids. We went to camp together.’
‘I don’t think she remembers you.’
‘I don’t know how she couldn’t. All we did was fight that summer. She made my life hell. I begged my parents to let me leave, but they wouldn’t.’
‘I’m sure you’ve both changed a lot since you were kids. She probably doesn’t recognize you.’
‘She should recognize the name. There aren’t that many Sawyers around, and there was only one at that camp.’
‘Ask her if she remembers you.’
‘I was going to, but she ran off.’
Hank checks his phone. ‘My wife just got here. We’re gonna get a table. You want to join us?’
‘No, thanks. I’m heading out.’
