Page 3 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

He looks rueful as he states, “She broke up with me. Apparently, I don’t give her long term boyfriend vibes.”

I snort at this. “You don’t say.”

He gives me a dirty look.

Now I note a smudge of soot on his cheek. “Busy day at work?”

Danny takes a seat at the counter, looking annoyed. “Barty managed to set her kitchen on fire. Again. Third time this month.” He picks ups the menu, and stares idly at it.

I already know as he does this, that it’s going to be the same thing he orders every time.

He sighs. “Apparently a firefighter can’t tell an old lady that it’s time to move in with her daughter. I got a two week ban from her bakery. How is that fair?”

I fling my arm around his neck. “How about I take you out for a drink later and you can tell me all about it?”

His familiar rough hand settles on my waist and he smirks. “You buying?”

It’s years of affection, friendship and love that has me reaching forward and pressing a light kiss to his lips. “Sure, you miser.”

He squeezes my waist and releases me.

I take his order and eye Lucia as she prances about, making conversation with the diners and taking orders. There’s a hint of pain in my heart as I look around at the full house I have. All those months of planning an expansion have been wasted. All those hours of making feasibility reports, conducting research, all that effort for naught, just because someone has more money than me.

It shouldn’t eat at me so much but the hurt is a steady dull throb in my chest. All I want to do is curl up and sob in bitter disappointment.

Danny, however, sees this and he stays back to help me close up. Finally, he helps me with my coat while sighing. “Guess you had a bad one as well, today.”

I button up my coat, focusing my eyes on the round buttons, not wanting to meet his eyes. If I meet his gaze, I know I’ll burst into tears. He gives me the space to compose myself and I’m grateful for that. I let him out and then lock up after myself.

Thrill and Shrill is the weirdest bar name I have ever heard but it’s been around for as long as I can remember. The seating is kind of relaxed with a low thrumming music in the background, muted, conversations. Usually, bars are loud but this one has always been my favorite go to, when I need a few drinks in me and want to be left alone. It’s not too loud, not too quiet. I don’t know what Elliot’s grandfather had in mind when he set this up but it’s been success for three generations, a family business now.

I sit at the bar with Danny, on my fourth beer now, not quite tipsy but my tongue is a little looser. “No good, rich city boy,” I exclaim, loudly.

A red faced Danny nods in agreement, completely drunk. It’s his second beer and since he’s a lightweight, compared to me, he’s completely gone. “Cl- Clara, you know what you should do?” He staggers to his feet, still holding his beer. “Let’s go piss on his building.”

The idea has merit but I have no plans to get lectured by Greg, the town Sheriff. I stand up, holding up my friend by the arm, a giggle bubbling in my throat at the idea. “You know Greg will throw us in a cell and burn our ears off. Come on. I’ll take you home.”

Danny leans on me, heavily, suddenly looking indignant, and demanding. “What’s wrong with me?” He waves a finger in my face, pulling away from me. “I can be a good boyfriend. Right?”

“Oh, absolutely,” I tell him, cheerfully.

“Then why did Sharon break up with me?” His words are perilously close to a whine.

I sigh, my head feeling light. “I’ll have to ask her tomorrow.”

Danny cups my face in his hands. “We should give it another shot.”

I scoff. “All right, Romeo. I need t

o get you home.” I take away his beer and call out, “Elliot!”

Elliot, the owner and the bartender looks over from where he’s wiping some glasses, and he sighs. “I don’t even know why he tries. He should just stick to the non-alcoholic stuff.” He puts down the cloth and walks over. “I’ll call a cab. You want to go with him?”

I shake my head. “Just send him home.”

I watch as Danny is bundled into a cab with instructions given to the driver before returning inside and reclaiming my seat.

Only now, there is someone else sitting in what was Danny’s seat.

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