Page 19 of Keepsake
I wasn’t used to chivalrous men, and I didn’t really need the help. And there had been times in my life when I would have been offended by the implication that I couldn’t exit a truck without assistance from someone with a Y chromosome. But that’s not where my head was tonight. So I grasped his warm, callused hand in my own. And, after I jumped down onto the gravel, I released him reluctantly.
When I was clear of it, he closed the door for me. I had no idea why Zach had never had a sexual relationship. But it sure wasn’t for lack of manners.
Music and laughter escaped the building when Kyle opened the door.Damn it. Maybe I should have pretended exhaustion and stayed home. “Is this place crowded?” My chest felt a little tight at the idea of walking into a loud, packed room.
“It’s usually not bad,” Zach said, his voice low and soft. “I don’t like crowds, either.”
We went inside and I saw that he was right. The place was pretty large, so there was plenty of room to breathe.
Griffin pointed at one of the old wooden booths that lined a wall on the right. It barely fit all five of us, but that didn’t matter much because Kyle and Kieran got busy right away hitting on women at the bar. Zach and I stayed at the table while Griffin fetched us beers from the bar. He slid them onto the table in frosted mugs, and I felt a little ripple of familiarity run through my chest. Friday nights in college. Beers at a bar. The only pressing concerns were which class assignment to work on next, and whether or not we’d freeze to death at the football game tomorrow.
Those were the days.
Griffin held up his mug and I lifted mine to meet his in a toast. “Glad to have you up here, Wild Child,” he said.
“Glad to be here,” I answered truthfully, going for my first sip of cold beer.
See? I could do this. I could go out to a bar on a Friday like normal people. It was progress.
The owner of the bar came over to shake hands with Griffin. He was introduced to me as Alec. He had a firm handshake, and two sleeves of tattoos that probably drove the girls wild.
“Where’s your better half?” he asked Griffin.
“With your sister. I’m pretty sure they’re plotting something.”
Alec grinned. “I’ll bet I can guess what it is. Care to take a tour of the outbuildings with me?”
“Sure.” Griff slid out of the booth. “Back in a bit, guys.”
He and Alec walked off, and then I turned to Zach. “What’s up with that?”
Zach shrugged. “If I had to guess, Griff might be looking for a spot to put a few more fermentation tanks. Alec had to buy this whole property, but he’s only using the main buildings so far. And Griff is trying to grow his business, but he’s running out of space in his cider house.”
“That’s exciting,” I said.
“Yeah,” Zach agreed, but he frowned, which wasn’t a very Zach-like reaction. But I thought all of Griff’s ventures were neat. Griff had always had the kind of focus that I lacked. He was a driven football player and budding chemist when I met him. Now he was a driven business owner and dedicated boyfriend.
And what was I, exactly?
My gaze swept the bar. Since I’d returned from Guatemala my tolerance for crowds and noise was practically zero. It wasn’t as if I expected to be kidnapped out of the booth. Logically I knew I was safe here. But my subconscious had learned some new tricks this year. It learned fear. And I didn’t know how to make it forget that lesson.
When I turned back to Zach, I found him watching me. His blue eyes regarded me with such quiet intensity that I was a hundred percent certain he could read my fear like a book.
“So tell me about your job,” I said to distract the both of us. “Where did you learn to fix farm machinery?”
“Grew up with it,” he said. “My, uh, stepfather was in charge of the garage on the compound where we lived. When I was twelve I realized it was one of the better jobs there. Learned everything I could.” One of his fingers traced the condensation on his beer glass. He looked lost in a memory.
“How long have you been in Vermont?”
Those blue eyes flew up to mine. “Four years. My easiest path toward finding a higher-paying job is probably by getting a real mechanic’s license, but for now I just work on the Shipleys’ and the Abrahams’ vehicles.”
I relaxed while we talked about work. Our little corner of the Gin Mill began to feel cozy instead of crowded. Drinkers were two deep at the bar, but it was quieter at the tables. And in the back, two pool tables and two dart boards were in play, with plenty of elbow room.
The place had an industrial vibe that I admired. The bricks and old beams overhead gave everything a rosy hue, and votive candles shed a homey light on each table. It was very Vermont—like experiencing life with the volume turned down a couple of notches. And right now, that was exactly what I needed.
Zach’s gaze followed mine around the room, and then he gave me a quick little smile. “You play pool?”
“Sure. But not well.”
