Page 6 of vKissed By the Bartender

“I love to sing. But this got so much bigger than me so fast!” I add hesitantly.

“It's putting your light out darlin’,” he says, and I haven’t heard it put any better than that. “I can't make any decisions for you. All I can say is, do what feels right. For you, not for anyone else.”

“Somehow, that’s easier said than done,” I say, and he frowns for a moment.

“When I got out of bartending school, I got an offer to go to New York at a huge rave-type bar. It was a lot of money and a lot of work, but it wasn't home. It only lasted six months before I came back home, tail between my legs. I've been here ever since,” he says, gesturing to the bar.

“There's nothing like home. But Candice, there's nothing like living your dream either,” he adds tenderly.

Suddenly, thunder cracks and I jump into his arms, tears running down my face. Not a soul has ever spoken to me the way he did, and I love it. At least now, I feel like I might have someone to mull over my life-changing decisions with.

Joseph is someone who won’t judge me for who I was, but rather for who I am at this moment right now, a woman, confused, sitting on the lap of a man who once meant a great deal to me.

Only time will tell what happens next.

Chapter 4

joseph

The morning came with calm from the storm that lasted all night. The ground is wet, but a rainbow float in the sky, making the storm seem like a beautiful thing.

It truly had been a beautiful thing; it gave me the best eight hours of my life.

I think about the wonderful night Candice, and I had. We did nothing but talk, and we had a lot of catching up to do… we still do. Now that she is back in my life, I’m not sure if I can let her go again.

Not that I have much of a choice in the matter, considering she had bigger decisions to make. But deep down, as I open her car door to let her inside, I hope I can be a part of that process.

“I hope I get to see you again soon,” she whispers.

“The universe has a funny way of making things happen,” I snicker. “Besides, you know where to find me, and as far as I know, there is only one bar in town.”

“Here’s to hoping the universe knows what it’s doing,” she says.

She then leans up and kisses me on the cheek and my heart goes out of rhythm momentarily.

In seconds she is in her car with the door closed, and in the blink of an eye, she vanishes around the corner.

I’m happy to have the day off. But even though I haven’t slept in well over twenty-four hours, I have far too many things to do to head home now.

I spend the day running errands for the bar and myself, paying bills, and restocking the bar. The owners are great at mostly everything business-wise, but ever since I became their full-time bartender, they put me in charge of things regarding the bar.

Along with Kyndrah, they tend to take care of the restaurant. It’s a great system, but with little to no sleep, I’m just about spent.

I think of going home and making dinner for myself, but I’m too tired to cook and decide to eat out.

I go to a restaurant called Bear Paw. It’s one of our only local eating joints that isn’t mom-and-pop. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy mom-and-pop every now and again, but sometimes a man needs some steak and potatoes.

I never liked eating alone, but since my family and friends all lived elsewhere, I was forced to go alone.

The entrance to Bear Paw is decorated beautifully with ornate brown and gold accents. It looks like an upscaled hunter’s cabin complete with a stuffed bear or two.

“I need a table for one please,” I say to the hostess as she looks over the ledger to find me a seat.

The place is busy for the most part, almost all the tables are taken. Even the waiting area is almost full. I see a few lone chairs at the bar, but I don’t want to sit at a bar after working in one every day.

Then, my eyes fall on a table in the middle of the restaurant. Candice is sitting there alone; her notebook and pen sitting in front of her.

I smile, but then notice the man who is hovering over her. At first, I think that he’s a waiter. But he isn’t dressed in the customary Bear Paw uniform.

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