Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
CASSIE
I didn’t plan on coming to the bar. I told myself I’d stay in, maybe read, maybe journal. Do something productive.
But journaling at the coffee shop was a fool’s errand, so here I am.
Perched at a high-top table, fingers wrapped around a sweating glass of rosé, staring up at three flat-screens broadcasting Logan’s game from different angles. The place is buzzing with locals—some watching, some just here for the Friday night beer specials.
I guess it’s as good an afternoon as any to explore the local bar scene.
“You're not from around here, huh?” the bartender asks as she wipes down the counter. Her name tag reads Val. She strikes me as tough and tan. She has smoky eyeliner and a dry voice that sounds like it’s seen a lot.
“Is it that obvious?” I smile.
She shrugs. “You're either new in town or you know someone on the team. My money’s on the latter. You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
Val arches an eyebrow. “The I’m-not-admitting-I-have-a-crush-but-oh-God-he-just-hit-a-double look.”
I choke on a laugh just as Logan rounds second. “That’s a little specific.”
“I’ve been working in baseball bars for ten years, sweetie. Trust me—I know the signs.” She pours a whiskey for someone down the bar. “No one watches the minor league games with this much attention unless they’ve got a stake in it. He yours?”
“No. God. Definitely not.”
I clear my throat. “…Well, um, we’re roommates.”
Val gives me the kind of look that says sure, Jan, and wipes the bar again, smirking. “Roommates. Classic.”
“No, seriously, ever heard of the home stay program?”
“No.”
“Well, minor league players sometimes live with a local family, since they don’t make a ton of money, travel with the team, and are only in town seasonally. And, you know, no one likes to live alone.”
I glance back at the screen. Logan’s dusting off his pants, tapping his cleats. The camera zooms on his face. Focused. Sharp. Annoyingly hot.
My stomach tightens.
“Hey,” a familiar voice says behind me. I turn to see Jackson in jeans and a weathered Riverbend U hat, sliding onto the stool next to mine.
“Oh! Hey. Didn’t know you were coming.”
“I was just stopping in since you texted me. Val here makes a killer Manhattan.” He grins at her.
“That’s only ‘cause you tip like an overpaid D1 coach,” she quips, sliding him a glass. “So you two know each other?”
Jackson grins. “Cassie here’s my sister. Just moved here and bought her own place.”
“The mortgage is half the rent of what I was paying in Dallas,” I offer.
“She’s also drinking like someone who’s got a story,” Val says, topping off my rosé without asking.
I make a face. “Everyone in this town this observant?”
“Small towns. Gossip is a sport.” Jackson clinks his glass with mine. “You liking it here so far?”
“I mean…the scenery is decent.” I nod toward the screen. “Logan’s doing great.”
Jackson watches the screen for a moment, then gives me a side glance. “Yeah. He’s been different lately.”
“Different how?”
“Focused. Driven. Like he’s got something to prove. Or someone he’s trying not to think about. I think he might have…well, it’s none of your business, I suppose.”
“Oh? What’s none of my business?”
“Well, he had a little romance when he was in Davenport. Before I picked him up.”
“Oh. Weird. Good for him.” My cheeks flush. I sip fast.
Val watches us, amused. “You two want a bottle or should I just leave the rosé here?”
“No bottle, thanks,” I smile.
Jackson’s eyes stay on the screen as Logan takes the field again. “Good form,” he murmurs. “Quick hands.”
I swirl the last of my wine, feigning casual. “So…you’ve known Logan a long time?”
“Since he was in high school,” Jackson says. “Used to help run camps in the summers. He was cocky even then—but damn, the kid could hit like hell.”
I nod, trying to sound neutral. “Is he…like that with everyone?”
Jackson gives me a sidelong glance. “Like what?”
“You know. Charming. Guarded. Kind of…frustratingly good at saying the right thing but never actually saying anything real?”
Jackson chuckles. “Yeah. That’s him. Always been a bit of a vault. And a charmer at the same time.”
There’s a pause before he adds, softer, “He’s had to be.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Jackson exhales through his nose, debating something. “He’s just…been through more than most people realize. Family stuff. Some career setbacks. Every time something knocks him down, he gets back up, but it costs him. Makes it harder for him to trust people.”
I absorb that in silence. The sounds of the bar buzz around us, but suddenly I’m hyper-aware of the flutter in my chest. Of how much I want to know more.
Before I can stop myself, I ask, “Do you think he’s happy?”
Jackson looks at me for a long moment. Like he’s trying to figure out what kind of answer I want.
“I think,” he says finally, “Logan’s trying real hard to pretend he doesn’t need that kind of thing. Why?”
“Oh…no reason.”
Jackson squints. “There’s nothing…going on between you two, is there?”
“Oh no…definitely not. You kidding? That would be ridiculous.”
Nope. That shower was…nothing this morning. Very platonic.
“Okay, good. Because he might be charming, but I don’t need anyone messing with your heart anymore after it was already throttled by ‘he who we shall never speak of again.’”
“Oh…yeah. No.”
And that, more than anything, makes my heart ache. It feels good to have a big brother in my corner.
I watch as Logan makes a diving play on screen, the crowd in the stadium roaring.
He looks invincible.
“So honey,” Val asks me. “What are you gonna do in town?”
I shrug. “Not sure, honestly. I left my corporate job recently. I have a little bit of savings right now. I’ll have to figure something out, though.”
“Well, what do you wanna do?”
I sip my drink, and my eyes drift to my notebook, where I’ve been brainstorming ideas.
“I honestly…don’t know. I’m open to the universe.”
“Well, if you ever want to come chat…I’m your gal. Friendly local bartender at your service.”
Jackson nods. “Val’s the best. Ivy and I come here whenever we get a night off from the kids.”
“Much appreciated.”
That night, I head to bed, close my door, and make sure I’m fast asleep before Logan gets home.
This isn’t the time to get distracted. I’ve been too lenient with letting Logan get in my head.
That stops now. No more…friendly showers. No more flirting. For real this time. Boundaries.