Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,9
calling Connor “Twig.” He’s got more muscle mass than most of you combined. I think fatherhood has softened y’all up.” I think I love Ashton a little more for that statement and peer over my shoulder and wink at her. If I’m not mistaken, her cheeks pinken and I chuckle to myself before turning back to Taylor.
He motions for me to take a seat at the bar. Following his direction, I settle in to rehash everything that happened last night. When I try to skirt around some of the details, Ashton stops me with a few “that’s not what I heard” comments. Dang, these guys gossip more than my sister and her friends ever did.
Taylor laughs a few times but mostly, he sits next to me, arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. Most people would be intimidated by his expression, but I know Taylor Cain, and this is simply his resting dick face.
“I know I fucked up. You were right. Mingling with customers only leads to drama. It won’t happen again.”
“Connor, I don’t care if you date or party with customers on your own time. What I care about is bringing drama and bullshit into my bar. Maybe next time, confirm the woman doesn’t have a boyfriend?”
“Or a husband,” Ashton shouts from the far end of the bar.
Taylor laughs and rises from his chair. “Or that. Hell, even a wife. Just keep the drama out of here, okay?”
“I’m really sorry.”
“I know you are.”
Walking up to where we stand, Ashton places her tiny hand on my arm, pulling my attention her way. “There was a time I needed to get out of Lexington, find a place that could be my own. I think you may need that too, Connor. I’ll text you the information and maybe the next night you have off, you can check it out.”
“Thanks, Ash.”
Nodding, she pats my arm before turning on her heel and making her way down the hall and toward the office. I take a sip of my now cold coffee and wait for Taylor to say something else, but he doesn’t. Instead, he extends his hand for a shake before pulling me into a hug.
“Don’t beat yourself up over this. I was pissed last night but that was just a knee-jerk reaction to being out of control. Or at least that’s what Red says. She’s smarter than the rest of us so I tend to believe her.”
His willingness to let this go tugs at something inside of me. Taylor and I are only a few years apart in age but he’s lightyears ahead of me in every way. I admire him, look up to both him and Grant as the type of man I strive to be. I’ve been waiting for a sign, a reason to do more with my life than just get by, just exist. Maybe this actual punch in the face is exactly what I needed.
Pulling into the parking lot of Doris’s Tavern, I’m not sure what I expected, but a nondescript building with a dirt parking lot wasn’t it. The week since Ashton sent me the information, I’ve contemplated whether coming here was my best idea. Maybe I need to do something with my life other than hang out in bars. What else am I going to do? Small towns are great for a slower pace of life but as a single man, it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to a social scene.
Something I’ve not experienced in the last few years hits me deep to my core as I approach the building. Fear.
No, not fear.
Simple nerves.
My heart is beating a little faster and my palms are a little damp at the realization I’m walking into a building in a town where nobody knows my name. Nobody knows me as the punk kid I was growing up or the guy who was in the military and walked away from that life without a second thought.
No, here I’m just some guy grabbing a beer.
I step through the door and am greeted by the sounds of modern country music, laughter, and the smell of beer and fried food. It’s comforting and as I look around, everyone seems to be having a good time. The dance floor is packed, couples two-stepping and spinning in time with each other.
A couple vacates two seats at the bar, and I move in to take one of the spots. The bartender nods his head my direction acknowledging me while