Page 52 of Huckleberry Hill
“I’m meeting Gracie for a drink,” I explained.
He shook his head. “I mean what are you doing home?”
“Came for a visit,” I lied. “How are you doing? How’s business?”
“Mom finally convinced Dad to enter semi-retirement, and they promoted me.”
“To what? You’ve been bar manager since we graduated high school,” I teased.
“Just a title.” He winked. “Drinks are on me tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I protested.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “Did Salem come home with you, too?”
I shook my head. “Just me.”
“Is your fiancé joining you later?” His eyes went to my left hand, letting the question linger.
“No,” I stated. “I don’t have a fiancé anymore.”
“Glad I’m covering your drinks tonight then. Maybe some shots later, yeah?”
“Sure,” I said with a smile. “Thanks.”
“I got a new cider on tap. You want to try it?”
“Sounds perfect. Thanks, Wade.”
I took the stool at the end of the bar. Wade poured my cider and put the pint in front of me.
“So how long are you in town for?” he asked.
“To be determined,” I said.
“We should grab dinner one night. Catch up.”
My phone vibrated in my jacket pocket. “Oh, sorry. Hold that thought.”
I pulled out my cell and read the text. With a sigh I texted back and set my phone down on the bar.
“Problem?” Wade asked.
“Gracie had to cancel. Bella came down with the flu.”
“That sucks,” he said.
“Yeah.” I looked at my pint. It was no fun to drink alone. “I think I’ll head out.”
“What? You just got here.”
“I know, but I don’t want to just sit here and be a barfly.”
“Stay for one drink. I already poured it. It’ll just go to waste. And you haven’t even tasted it yet.”
I picked up the pint and took a sip. “Oh, wow. That’s really good. What is it?”
“Thimbleberry cider. Dad’s creation.”
