5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
T he next few days flew by with Jules falling into a peaceful rhythm, cooking, cleaning, and helping Grandma Rosa, although the list of things needing repairs around the house grew longer each day. Jules needed to call a contractor. The sink had made it painfully clear she was in over her head.
On Friday morning, Winnie rang Jules, “Be ready by four tonight! I’ll pick you up after school to pregame the game!”
Jules couldn’t decide if she was excited or nervous but decided to go with it. She needed a drink, anyway.
Once back at Winnie’s house, the three of them sat on the wood deck that faced a well-manicured garden of white roses and yellow daffodils. Emily and Winnie had bought the charming two-bedroom cottage a few years ago and fixed it up to look like it belonged in a children’s fairytale book. They’d painted the outside a soft robins-egg blue and added a charming wooden fence that ran around the front yard lined with plush green bushes and a mix of colorful wildflowers. The front door was painted a bright yellow and tucked back into a tight alcove trimmed with an arch of earth-colored stones.
Out back, they sipped martinis in chilled glasses that seemed too posh and sophisticated for a football tailgate. The weather was perfect, not too hot for an early September day. A slight breeze wafted in pleasant garden aromas while the sun shone bright above without a cloud to be seen.
As they relaxed, Winnie recalled how, just yesterday, two students were caught with their pants down in the janitorial elevator in the school, a rite of passage at Riverbend High. Jules and Miles had even managed it without getting caught their senior year, although she kept that to herself and just smiled as she took a refreshing sip of her martini.
Jules had to admit, spending a Friday afternoon like this fed her soul in a small way that hadn’t happened in years. She felt relaxed, her shoulders releasing as the sun warmed her face. Or maybe that was just the alcohol working its magic. Either way, Jules didn’t care. She was grateful to be here.
Serving another round of drinks, Emily approached the subject of Miles.
“I heard you ran into your high school sweetheart earlier this week. How was that?” she asked.
Trying to control her voice at the mention of him, Jules answered, “It was fine.” Then added, “I just wish someone had warned me he might be lurking around.” Jules looked at Winnie with a sarcastic smile. The drinks loosened her up, and she went on to tell them about his visit to the house the other day.
“Actually, I ran into him again, at the hardware store,” she admitted. Winnie let out a loud shriek, clapping her hands in front of her.
“And you weren’t going to tell me? Why am I just hearing about this now?” she demanded.
“Because it wasn’t a big deal. I needed help with the kitchen sink, and he was there. You know his penchant for being a do-gooder,” Jules explained.
“You mean he came to the house? Why are you burying the lede?” Winnie’s eyes widened with every word.
Fanning disinterest, Jules told them a quick version of the story, leaving out the parts where she couldn’t stop looking at his body and the thick tension that made it hard to breathe. Jules still wasn’t sure if she’d imagined the last part.
“I should warn you that you’ll probably see him again tonight,” Emily quipped. “He’ll be on the field with the student band, though. So, you’ll be a safe distance from him.”
For a moment, Jules felt blindsided before realizing the obvious. Of course he’d be there. He was the new band director, after all. Now nervous, the relaxation she felt earlier vanished, replaced by anxious bubbles in her chest that made her body tingle. Was she excited to see him again? No, she had to get a hold of herself. And like Emily said, he’d be busy so he wouldn’t even notice her there, anyway.
They finished their drinks and walked to the school, which was just down the street. Even from two blocks away, they could hear music playing from the loudspeaker at the stadium and the low rumble of hundreds of people gathering. Friday night football in Riverbend was a favorite local pastime. Everyone came out to watch the game, young and old. Decades ago, a local wealthy family had donated enough money to build a stadium large enough to hold the whole town and then some.
Entering through the massive brick admissions gate, the green manicured field came into view. It looked the same except for the new stadium lights towering overhead, tall and gleaming. Pep rally activities were in full swing as the cheerleaders led chants on the sidelines with the students lining the front rows of the home team bleachers. The announcer was listing the game stats of the previous years, reminding everyone that the Riverbend Bears almost went undefeated last year until the state championship game, which they vow to avenge this season.
The stands were a sea of the school’s colors, blue and green. Some students weren’t even wearing shirts and instead had letters painted on their stomachs or chests to spell out “Go Riverbend.” It was a sight to be seen, and one that Jules knew well. Not much had changed in the twelve years since she was a student. She could even smell the familiar aroma of their famous porkchop sandwiches wafting in from the concession stand.
“Come on, let’s go grab seats before all the good ones are gone,” Winnie said, grabbing Jules and Emily’s wrists as she weaved through the throngs of people.
It took longer than necessary to get to the bleachers since eager students and parents stopped Winnie every few feet to chat. She was clearly a favorite at the school, given her popularity among the crowd.
Emily gave Jules a shy smile, adding, “It’s always like this,” before taking Winnie’s hand, gazing at her in admiration. Jule’s chest tightened with love for them, happy her best friend had found such a good partner.
Once seated, they had a full view of the field. It looked both smaller and larger than she remembered, and the electric buzz of excitement pulsed through her veins. It was hard not to get caught up in the moment. Feeling a burst of school pride, she started chanting along with the rest of the crowd and cheerleaders. She didn’t care if it was the two martinis she had earlier. She was going to enjoy the night, win or lose.
Just as Jules got comfortable in her metal seat, a set of doors on the opposite side of the field opened and the band burst through in a ribbon of blue, blasting the school’s fight song. Everyone stood and cheered as they marched onto the field in a large V shape, each member outfitted in a navy wool uniform that looked uncomfortable for this warm evening. On her feet and clapping along to the beat, Jules watched, eyes catching on Miles, who stood at the top of the formation, moving his arms to direct the music. His jaw was set tight, focusing on the music and the band. A spike of energy ran through her body, impressed with the sense of ease and confidence he displayed.
In an instant, she was back in high school, marching alongside him on the same field. She remembered how the rush of the moment made her feel alive, how the music vibrated through their bodies, connecting them in a way that made it feel as though they were each a minor part of a larger, living thing. Thinking about it here made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her skin broke out in tiny goosebumps. She’d forgotten how much she loved Friday night football games.
At most high schools, being in the band meant you were unpopular or nerdy, but not at Riverbend High. It meant bragging rights. To even get an invitation to try out for the band was a compliment, let alone make the cut. Riverbend’s marching band competed state-wide, winning the state championship almost every year and always ranking in the top ten nationally. Between its strong football program and award-winning marching band, it’s no wonder the entire town turned out for every home game.
And now Miles led the band. She’d always thought he’d do great things; he received a full-ride scholarship to Oberlin College for its renowned music program. A gifted musician and scary smart to boot, Miles scored almost perfect on his SATs. But then prom night happened senior year, and his scholarship disappeared.
Since then, Jules often wondered if he still played music. He had no social media to speak of and no family left in Riverbend to share any news. But it turned out he didn’t give up his love for music, although she doubted Riverbend was his first choice to build a career. Years ago, he’d dreamt of playing in a large city philharmonic. Nevertheless, it suited him. He looked in control and at home on the field.
With the game starting and Jules buzzing from head to toe with nostalgia and school pride, the three of them blended into the frenzied crowd, cheering along at every catch and touchdown. When halftime came, the show the marching band put on blew her socks off. They played “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” while marching around the field, forming the shape of fireworks and even a cat eye that blinked. It was well worth the eight dollar admission charge.
After the game finished with Riverbend winning by over twenty points, Winnie, Emily, and Jules headed for the exits.
“I forgot how much fun these football games are!” Jules shouted over the noise of the crowd as they shuffled forward towards the exit.
“Best thing to do in Riverbend on a Friday night,” Winnie yelled back in between greeting another onslaught of students and parents.
“But not the only thing to do in Riverbend!” Emily added. “Let’s head to the Kernel to grab some food.”
“You don’t mean The Golden Kernel, do you?” Jules asked, wrinkling up her nose. The Golden Kernel was a dive bar that had been around for decades in Riverbend. She’d only been there once, when she’d been home for Christmas break during college. Out of desperation and sheer boredom, Winnie and Jules found themselves dressed up and heading to the only bar in town. They regretted their decision as soon as they stepped into the dimly lit repurposed barn, hit by the stench of hay mixed with puke, shame, and stale beer. The three old men sitting at the bar whipped their heads around as the door closed with a thud behind them, like a scene from a horror movie. Jules grabbed Winnie’s hand and dragged her back out the door. They did not belong there.
“Yeah! It has new owners and looks completely different. It’s such a nice place now,” Winnie explained. “Their food is great.”
“They serve food ?” Jules wondered aloud as Emily grabbed her arm to pull her through the crowd.
Emily opened the Uber app on her phone and ordered a ride for them. Tonight was full of surprises. She could never have imagined a time when Riverbend would have Uber. Growing up, there had only been one taxicab, driven by a guy named Earl who charged a flat rate of ten dollars to go anywhere within city limits.
Once in the spotless and family friendly minivan that picked them up, Jules called her grandma to check in. Rosa had been expecting a longtime friend to stop by with dinner, so Jules was off caretaking duty for the evening. Her grandma sounded happy but tired and told her to have a great night. Jules felt less guilty knowing she wasn’t alone for dinner and already getting ready for bed.
During their short ride, she learned more about the bar. Apparently, a young couple from Chicago bought it two years ago, remodeling it into a sort of gastropub that drew in sizeable crowds on the weekends. Most people loved it, but there was still a group of long-time locals who were not thrilled it was now owned by “city folk” instead of someone from Riverbend, a tale as old as time.
Sliding out of the minivan, Jules looked up at a fancy sign on top of the newly painted barn that flashed, “The Golden Kernel” in yellow glowing light with the phrase, “Riverbend’s Hometown Gastropub” painted beneath. A promising start.
There was already a short line of customers dressed in Riverbend’s blue and green colors standing near the front entrance hostess stand. A short young woman who wore her hair in two tight buns on either sides of her head and a smart all black jumper and bright white sneakers informed them that there was a thirty-minute wait for a table, but they could check out the bar area for open seats.
The gastropub didn’t even look like the same place she and Winnie had visited years ago. To start, it smelled like food. Good food. Inside, the wooden beams had been stained a dark walnut color with black iron fittings at the joints. The renovated bar was a long piece of live edge wood with a dozen rustic-looking backless stools lined up along it. Hanging above the bar was a huge elk head and a couple of deer heads, along with a handful of vintage-looking beer signs. A series of intimate leather booths and four-top tables full of lively customers filled the rest of the space. A small stage stood in the corner near the bar, which was empty except for a tall chair and microphone stand. Jules wondered if they had regular shows or mic nights.
Zipping past Jules and Emily, Winnie grabbed the last three open stools at the bar and motioned for them to join her. As they all sat down, Winnie struck up a conversation with the bartender, who looked like the furthest thing from a Riverbend native. His head was shaved on both sides except for the middle, where three large red spikes stood straight up, gelled into submission. In his earlobes hung gauges the size of silver dollars and tattoos ran up and down his arms, leaving little to no skin showing. Although he looked intimidating at first glance, his wide smile suggested otherwise.
“Jax, this is Jules. She lives in D.C. but is back in town helping her grandma for a while,” said Winnie as Jax reached across the bar to shake Jules’ hand.
“Nice to finally meet you. Winnie mentioned you a few times. Welcome to the Golden Kernel,” replied Jax.
“I hope you’ve only heard good things,” Jules teased.
“I might have shared a few of our young dalliances.” Winnie winked at Jules. “Jax and his wife, Roxy, own the Golden Kernel. They’re responsible for breathing life back into it. Where's your better half?”
“I’m afraid it’s just me manning the bar tonight. Roxy’s at home relaxing. Her back was acting up today.”
Jax explained Roxy was very pregnant with their first child, and it was wreaking havoc on her back.
“What’s your preferred poison, ladies?” Jax asked, grabbing a shaker and tossing a bar rag over his shoulder.
The evening was just what Jules needed, a fun night out with friends. She couldn’t believe a hip gastropub existed in Riverbend. And Winnie was right; the food was great. They ordered a bunch of plates to share and devoured every bite. Her favorite, the crispy brussels sprouts, had some sort of sauce on the bottom that was both sweet and salty, topped with toasted sunflower seeds. It reminded her of a dish she might get at a fancy restaurant in D.C. Impressive and unexpected , Jules thought.
During a lull, Jules complimented Jax on the food.
“It’s usually Roxy back there, running the kitchen. They’re all her recipes. She went to culinary school back when we were living in Chicago. That’s why we bought this place, so she could open her own restaurant. Much cheaper to do here than in the city,” Jax shouted above the music, which had gotten louder since they’d arrived.
Jules felt a twinge of jealously rear its head. That had been her dream once upon a time, too. Turns out, Riverbend could have been an option if she just hadn’t been so scared of failure. Her chosen path had been the responsible option: college. And now she had a reliable job that kept her busy and paid well, she reassured herself, squashing the thoughts. She was fine. More than fine.
Just as they were ordering another round of beers, a speaker crackled from the stage. Jules didn’t give it much thought until she heard the opening chorus of a song and the hairs on her arms stood up. It couldn’t be…
Sure enough, Miles was on the stage, strumming a guitar, singing into the microphone and staring directly at her. Heat shot up her entire body. She wasn’t even sure what song he was playing, just that he was here and looking at her. His eyes smoldered, appearing darker than she’d remembered. Was he mad? Or was it just the dim lighting? Jules couldn’t tell. His face looked so intense with his chin lowered, lips almost touching the microphone as his deep, soulful voice lingered in the air. He still had talent oozing from every pore.
The heat in her belly swelled with every breath, eyes still locked. In those few moments that seemed to last hours, the bar faded away to just the two of them. Jules wished she could read his mind, but his expression didn’t change, only growing more intense as they continued to stare at each other. What is happening?
Taking a swig of her beer to distract herself, Jules forced herself to break his gaze and looked over to Emily, who squeezed her hand.
“Everything ok? Want to step outside for some fresh air?” she asked, noticing the moment between them.
“Good idea,” Jules mumbled and followed her to the door.
Once outside on the wrap-around porch, Jules threw her head back to take a deep breath of the humid evening air.
“I’m sorry. We should have warned you. Although, I didn’t think he’d be here tonight because of the game and all. He rarely plays on Friday nights,” Emily said, shaking her head as she assessed Jules’ mental state.
“So, he’s a regular here?”
Emily told her that Miles knew Jax from the time they’d spent together in Chicago a few years back. Miles helped him and Roxy fix up the old barn and now played for a few hours almost every Saturday night and sometimes during the week. He’d become somewhat of a small-town celebrity, apparently.
After a few moments breathing in the thick air, Jules felt more like herself, in control and level-headed. This would not derail the fun night she’d been having with her friends. Both her, and Miles were adults and could deal with seeing each other, even if it did throw her off-kilter.
She just wished he’d stop giving her those long, heavy glances. They stirred something deep in her stomach, and she wasn’t ready to deal with the emotions it brought back. For all she knew, the looks meant he was still angry with her for leaving town without a word after he ripped their plans apart, reminding her she only had herself and her grandparents to count on.
Miles still stood on the stage singing and strumming his guitar when they walked back to their seats. Jules angled her back to the stage so she wouldn’t get distracted by his glances and fell into a friendly argument about who had started the infamous water balloon palooza junior year.
Winnie always argued that she’d started it, but Jules knew the truth. Jules was the one who’d suggested it one night out of sheer boredom. It remained the one and only thing Jules had ever done that involved the police. It was stupid, yet so much fun.
School had just let out for the summer, and they had split a six-pack of Mike’s Hard Lemonades when Jules half-heartedly suggested that they take the huge sling Winnie’s brother had for launching kickballs and use it to launch water balloons onto the roofs of the houses in Winnie’s fancy neighborhood. Not surprisingly, Winnie was in.
Recruiting Winnie’s brother, they snuck through the dark neighborhood, darting across backyards holding a bag full of water balloons and the sling. One by one, lights popped on in each of the houses as angry yells came from the windows.
Thankfully, no one caught them in the act and no damage had been done, just loud thuds as each of the balloons smashed onto the roofs. They saw a write-up about it the next day in the county paper as a few people had called the police. Although they could have been in big trouble, it was one of Jules’ favorite memories from growing up in Riverbend.
“Did I overhear you talking about water balloon palooza?” came a voice from the back of her chair. Jax reached across the bar and handed Miles a tall glass of ice water.
“Oh, you know about this, too?” Emily asked mocking surprise, eyebrows lifted.
“Worst kept secret in all of Riverbend. If Jules’ granddad wasn’t police commissioner back then, who knows where these two would have ended up,” said Miles, sipping his water to hide a smile.
“No one knew it was us!” shouted Winnie, whipping around in her seat to face him.
“Your brother made sure half the town did.”
“That little snitch! He’s going to pay for that later.”
All of them laughed, knowing that Winnie would do no such thing. She loved her brother and had been his fiercest protector growing up. Even now, although he’s a twenty-six-year-old man with a wife and kid of his own, she’d go to battle for him.
“It’s last call, folks. Let me know if I can get you anything before you head out,” Jax announced.
Emily looked to Winnie, asking if she was ready to leave. “You want to share an Uber, Jules?”
“No, that’s ok, I’ll get my own,” Jules answered, knowing Winnie only asked to make sure Jules was alright riding by herself since they lived on opposite ends of town.
Miles jerked his head in Jules’ direction and said, “I can take you. It’s on my way.”
Jules hesitated. It might not be a good idea, given the way he was looking at her earlier and the fact that she couldn’t seem to focus or even breathe when they were alone together.
Could she trust herself not to do or say things she’d regret? The rational part of her brain screamed she should take an Uber home. Nothing good could come of spending more time with Miles. But she couldn’t ignore the pull she felt towards him. Maybe she’d go just to prove to herself that she could be normal around him, that they could be friendly. Plus, it always made her uncomfortable to ride in an Uber or taxi alone after a few drinks. She’d listened to too many true crime podcasts.
Before overthinking it, she accepted his ride.
Everyone settled their tabs as Miles packed up his guitar and gear on the stage. Only a few other customers lingered, all getting ready to head home. Quicker than expected, Emily and Winnie’s Uber arrived, leaving Jules to wait for Miles with Jax at the bar.
“He’s mentioned you a few times, you know,” said Jax in a low voice, wiping the bar down. “I get the feeling you broke his heart.”
Jules sighed, the corners of her mouth turning down. “I could say the same thing.”
Before she could elaborate or probe further, Miles walked up to her side at the bar, motioning towards the door. She said goodbye to Jax and followed Miles to his white pickup truck hopping up into the front passenger seat. It didn’t seem like a vehicle he’d drive. She always pictured him in a vintage coup or car with more personality. It hit her how much she didn’t know him anymore. He had changed, and so had she.
In high school, neither of them had their own vehicles, but Miles borrowed his cousin Ricky’s beat-up Chevy Malibu for their date nights. They spent a lot of weekend evenings in that car, parked next to a pond they used to skate on in wintertime when it froze over. Set back from the road down a long gravel path in the woods, it became their hidden lover’s lane for the rest of their time together.
“You did a great job on the field tonight,” Jules said to break the tension as they drove down the dark country road leading into town. “You looked so comfortable.”
“Thanks. It surprised me at first, but I love it. Never thought I’d end up teaching a high school band, let alone back here, but I’m content with it.” Miles kept his eyes on the road, but Jules could see a muscle in his jaw clench as he spoke. “How’s the sink holding up? Any more issues?”
“Running like new, thanks to you. Unfortunately, I have a long list of other house projects. Seems like nothing has been fixed since Grandpa Lou died.”
It occurred to her he might recommend someone since he was fixing up his own house and helped with the Golden Kernel. “You don’t happen to know a handyman around town who could help, do you?”
“I do, but why don’t I just come take a look? Can’t be that complicated. Plus, it’d save your grandma some money,” he offered, taking a quick glance in her direction.
Jules couldn’t read him. One minute he glowered at her and the next he offered to help her fix things around the house. Was he playing a game? She didn’t want to read too much into it, so she took it at face value.
“Umm, sure. If you don’t mind, that’d be great." Out of the corners of her eyes she could see a shy smile spread across his face. “Can you come by tomorrow afternoon? I’ll make us all dinner as payment,” she added without thinking.
“Sure thing. I can be there around four.”
Great. Now she’d have to explain things to her grandma, who would be over the moon with the news of Miles visiting and staying for a meal. Jules swallowed a groan.
Miles parked in front of the old brick house and walked Jules to the front door. At least he still had his manners .
Thanking him for the ride, Jules stepped towards the front door, accidentally brushing his upper arm with hers. The electric sensation was undeniable, stopping her in her tracks. Miles must have noticed too, because he shot her a look that pierced the inky night. Not letting it linger, Jules recovered and mumbled a thank you before walking into the house. Resting her head on the cool wood of the door, she took a deep, shaky breath to calm herself. She couldn’t deny the unresolved feelings that hovered between them. But was she reading it all wrong? She couldn’t be sure Miles felt it, too.
Lying in bed that evening, Jules played the night over in her head. Even if she still had a connection with Miles after all these years, she couldn’t do anything about it. He lived here, and she lived a thousand miles away. Bottom line: it was impractical; it wouldn’t make sense. Jules was no longer outright angry at him; they were so young when it all happened. It was time to move past it.
She told herself that she’d just act normal and avoid any physical contact when he came over tomorrow. They could be friends; he’d be a great friend, right?
Deep down, Jules knew she was in trouble. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow.