Page 39 of Cedar Edge
“Thea I’m sorry, I’m going to be a bit longer.” Logan comes to a full stop, looking up from his phone and realizing that I’m not alone. “Well hello Athena, looks like you found my girl.”
“I’ll have you know Logan I was just about to invite her for a drink, one that it sounds like she could use if you are going to be busy for a while.”
“Actually… I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I stammer out glancing up at her as I move to unloop my arm from hers.
Athena’s face changes, it’s only a flash. It’s the look of someone who is lonely and it’s the same look I’ve had most mylife. She offers me a smile that doesn’t feel as genuine anymore and the eyes that once sparkled look a bit dull. It’s a mask she has slipped on, one that looks fine if you don’t know where the cracks are.
“Actually,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Maybe I could use a drink.”
Athena squeals and the mask slips away to show her genuine face again.
Logan narrows his eyes, glancing between us. “You needed to shop, remember?”
Athena groans and pushes me at Logan. “And we can still shop after we drink.” She says with a sing-song voice. “Kiss her goodbye pretty boy, you’ll get her back when you're done with work. Scouts honor.”
I giggle a bit at the words and Logan’s eyes light up at the sound. He glances back at Athena and down to me before he suddenly relents and nods. “You sure you’re okay going?” Doing my best to convince him, and maybe myself a bit, I nod enthusiastically. “Athena is good people Tink, but please don’t go anywhere other than the bar. I’ll meet you after I’m done and if you still want to shop I’ll walk you both back.”
He leans down, pressing a swift and claiming kiss that leaves my head spinning. When he pulls back from me I swear a whimper escapes. But Athena is dragging me backwards into her once more. “Nope! That kiss was hot enough to melt my damn panties off. If we don’t leave now I’m gonna have to find Big Blue.”
Logan rolls his eyes muttering something about not wanting to know a damn thing about Big Blue before he’s blowing me a kiss and I’m getting dragged off with perhaps my very first female friend.
Cedar Edge has a few restaurants scattered throughout the town and two bars. One for tourists. And one for locals. Athena steers us towards Shelia’s, the locals only bar. I hesitate for a moment wondering if I still belong here but Athena drags me forward and doesn’t allow me to ponder the choice as we step into the cool interior.
Immediately I’m assaulted with the smell of bar food and beer. The low sounds of the country music playing over the speakers does its best to compete with the afternoon lunch crowd conversation. Which I can’t help but notice goes damn near silent the second the door shuts behind us.
My new friend keeps dragging me forward as I keep my eyes glued to the dirty bar floor. I can feel the eyes on us and it’s making my skin crawl. Already I can feel the questions forming in their mouths. I’m seconds away from telling Athena this was a fucking awful idea when she pushes me onto a barstool and drops herself on the one next to me.
“Afternoon Shelia! We are going to need a couple drinks here!” Her voice is far too excited for a place like this.
Two glasses of water slide in front of us, “The usual?” Shelia’s voice sounds the exact same.
“Yes! But let’s get spicy and add some tequila shots!”
“NO!” My voice comes out far louder than intended as I grab onto Athena’s arm. She jerks her head towards me in shock and confusion. Panic crawls up and down my spine before I can reign in it. “I’m sorry, uh. Sorry. I just don’t like that.”
Athena studies me and I can see the question in her gaze but she thankfully keeps it to herself. “No tequila.” She says softly before turning to Shelia who is now staring at me ridiculouslyhard. “Shelia, let’s scratch the shots and my usual. We are gonna need something stronger, it’s a ghost in the graveyard kind of day.”
I don’t bother asking what that is. As long as it’s not tequila I don’t care. My eyes land on Shelia now who hasn't stopped looking at me. Her blonde hair is shorter now with more gray than before I left Cedar Edge. She’s also added more ink to her body. But outside of that she has the same no nonsense exterior. My body tenses as I wait for the inevitable but instead of questioning me she gives me her version of a smile and a curt nod before going to make our drinks.
I take a long sip of my water as the bar resumes to its normal level of chatter. Shelia returns with both drinks, sliding them towards each of us. “What exactly is this?”
Shelia rolls her eyes. “This would be Athena's creation. Rootbeer with whipped vodka.”
“Hey! Don’t forget the creamer!” Athena sounds genuinely distraught as she looks at the dark drinks.
“I told you last time I’m not letting you put the creamer in there, you get a fucking stomach ache everytime.” Shelia doesn’t wait for the response before she’s moving off to the next patron.
Athena grumbles and glares after the bartender. “One time. I complained one time.” She turns to me and holds her drink up. “Whatever, this will work for now. Let’s toast! To new friends! And new beginnings.”
Friend. I raise my glass and clink against hers with a genuine smile on my face. I take the first sip tentatively. “Oh my god this is amazing!” I cry with shock before eagerly drinking more down.
Athena giggles. “I know right! Now imagine it with cream!”
“Not happening!” Shelia yells from across the bar. We both burst into laughter.
The sound shocks me and my face must show it because Athena bumps my shoulder before saying, “It feels good to be safe doesn't it?” The laughter dies out and she simply shrugs at the obvious question playing across my face. “It takes a survivor to know one.”
A thousand things play through my mind, but the largest most aggressive one is the idea that I could be considered a survivor. Nothing about the word feels correct and yet… I want it. I want that word to be true, I want her to be right and add me to the category of people like her. Because everything about her screams confidence that, even before Royce broke me, I lacked.
