Page 51 of Something Cryptid This Way Comes
I nod, not bothering to correct him on our outfits. While he’s getting our drinks, I turn to Trevor. “You should’ve just worn your regular flannel, jeans, and boots, and gone as a lumberjack. You already have that vibe.”
Trevor glances at his flannel shirt and shrugs before sliding his hand over the back of my neck. “You could’ve gone as a biker. In your leather jacket, dark jeans, and those boots, you look like you belong on a motorcycle.”
“Here you go.” Conall sets two shot glasses in front of us. He glances into the crowd and his eyes flare and then narrow. “I can’t believe Pierce is here. Tonight of all nights.”
Face like thunder, he stomps to the other end of the bar.
I pick up my drink and raise my brows at Trevor. “What’s that about?”
“Do you remember the night you met Conall, and I said he flirts with everyone, but he’s only interested in one person? That person is Pierce.” Trevor points out a dark-haired mancurrently eyeing up Conall and takes a sip of the cocktail. “Hmm. It’s good. Try it.”
The bourbon’s sweetness complements the maple syrup. I set the glass down. “Does Pierce feel the same way?”
He gives a scowling Conall a sympathetic wince. “Ithinkhe does. Whatever they have going on is too complicated for me.”
Sitting here, secure in the knowledge that we both aren’t ready for me to go back to Philly, I think about how I felt in my apartment the day he called and asked me to come up to Maplewood. How what I feel for him isn’t just a lot like love. Itislove. After the things we’ve shared, said, and done since I’ve been back, it’s not so farfetched to think he might love me too.
I drain my shot, then lay my hand on top of his. “I don’t want complicated. My parents always described their relationship that way. ‘It’s complicated’ was the reason they gave Charlie and me for their divorce, and for every time they put us in the middle during the years they shared custody.”
“I remember you being upset back then and me wanting to fix it.” He finishes his shot then slides his hand out from under mine far enough for him to link our fingers together. “I don’t want complicated either.”
The crash of shattering glass jars us apart. I whip around on the barstool. Two people soaked in spilled drinks stare at broken bottles on the floor, then each other. One of the servers ushers them away, promising to get them towels and fresh shirts from the collection of Striped Maple merch available near the front of the pub.
A tall woman wearing a Striped Maple uniform tee and elaborate zombie makeup hurries to the mess with a broom and large dustbin. More staff join her to take care of the remnants of alcohol.
Trevor pulls his vibrating phone fromhis pocket and taps to open the text. “Ever and Dmitri are here. They snagged a table on the other side of the room. Let’s go.”
We squeeze by the cleanup and spot the pair seated at a table large enough to seat six. As we head toward them, Jake and Alaric come from the opposite direction.
Jake’s wearing a rugby uniform. Trevor points to it. “That is Jake’s actual uniform from his rec league team.”
And Alaric, who has a love of puns and fun tees, is wearing a shirt with the image of a jack o’lantern and the wordsI feel hollow inside.He’s also sporting the bat antenna headband from the Fun and Fright Fest.
We arrive at the table the same time, and exchange hugs and compliments on costumes, before sitting down and getting caught up on recaps of everyone’s nights.
Zach comes over and pulls up a chair, spinning it around to straddle it backwards, then settles in place beside me. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m sticking around for a while.” My gaze meets Trevor’s and his eyes soften as the corners of those gorgeous lips tip upward.
“You and Trevor should come hiking with us. Rory, Adrian, and I try to get out a few times a month.” Zach gestures to his husbands who are talking to a group of penguins by the dartboard.
Ever’s eyes round and his mouth drops open. “You’re staying?” His gaze darts to Trevor, then back to me, and back to Trevor again. “He’s staying?”
Under the table, Trevor slips his hand into mine. “Looks that way.”
“Dude, you have got to catch me up.” Elbows on the table, Ever leans in. “Apparently, I’ve missed a lot.”
I twist in my seat so I can see Trevor head on. “Have you been talking about me?”
“Always,” Zach says as he stands. “We want nachos for thetable, and what drinks?”
While everyone gives their drink order to Zach, I bring my mouth to Trevor’s ear. The apples of his cheeks are rosy from Zach’s “always” comment. “So, you talk about me.”
Trevor pushes me with his shoulder as he simultaneously tugs my hand to rest on his lap. “You’re my best friend. Of course, I talk about you.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not being completely honest?” I kiss his pink cheek as he chuckles.
Before I can tease him more, there’s a loud whistle. I turn my head to find Conall standing on the bar waving his arms like he’s directing traffic. “Penguins, out of the way.”
