Chapter 4
4
Wednesday, July 2nd
E ntering High Five for happy hour, I set the gift bag on the wood bar, the cuddly brown teddy bear’s ear peeking out from the top.
This gesture can be read a lot of ways, but I haven’t stopped thinking about Claire since she drove off yesterday.
What a first impression , but I learned so much.
She’s a gorgeous, strong, caring mom who handles chaos better than half the Marines I know.
I keep replaying every moment we shared, searching for any hint of interest on her part.
Even if she’s not interested, part of me thinks she could’ve read our interaction as me being an insensitive asshole.
But I couldn’t let her leave before she was evaluated.
I hope she understands that.
Another part of me hopes she doesn’t think I’m just another guy with a savior complex.
What if I’ve already blown it?
Aaron, the manager, gives me a nod, approaching in a T-shirt and shorts.
“Jake. What can I get you?”
“A beer. Something light in a bottle.” I try to look casual as I search the crowded bar, but Claire’s nowhere in sight.
The only indications of yesterday’s fire are a closed sign in front of the women’s bathroom and a newly printed all-gender bathroom sign covering the men’s.
Aaron pops the top off my beer and slides it across the bar.
“Is Claire here?” I ask, my eyes still drifting around the place.
Nicholas and Aaron did a great job refinishing all the wood in here a few months ago.
Aaron raises an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to the gift bag.
“She’s not working today. We gave her the week off.” He looks back to me, then at the bag again.
“What’s in the bag?”
“A little something for her and her daughter.” I shrug, but I can feel my neck heating up, and tug at the collar of my polo.
This was probably a bad idea.
Aaron lets out a short laugh.
“Dude, you’re not the first guy to fall for Claire Moore.” He pauses, shaking his head.
“She’s happily single after her nasty divorce last year.”
The word “single” makes me too excited, even though I’d assumed it.
The way she carried herself yesterday makes more sense—strong but guarded, like she’s used to relying on herself.
“I’ve never seen her around.” I sip my beer, trying to cool down from the nerves I was just feeling.
“She moved here in January from Chicago. Lake Geneva is a clean slate for her and her daughter.” Aaron studies me for a moment, squinting like he’s trying to read my thoughts.
“So, what are your intentions with her?” he asks, clearly enjoying himself.
I lift the bottle for another sip before answering.
“To get her number. To take her out.”
Aaron bites his lip.
“She could use a night out … you know what ... I’m feeling nice today. Let me text her that you’re looking for her.”
I watch as Aaron pulls out his phone, and my heart rate picks up.
He types the message, reading it aloud as he goes.
“Jake, the firefighter from yesterday, is looking for you. He has a gift for you and Gabby in hand. What should I do?”
As Aaron sends the text, I try to act casual, but my foot taps against the stool leg.
Claire’s been through a rough patch—marriage, divorce, raising a kid on her own—and here I am, thirty-four, no kids, and never married.
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about settling down, finding someone.
It just hasn’t happened yet, and I’d like it to.
I feel like I’ve gone out on a first date with everyone interesting in a twenty-mile radius of here.
Well, everyone except Claire it seems.
“Let’s see what she has to say.” Aaron steps away, toward other patrons.
I take another sip of my beer, nearly in a sweat waiting to see how she responds.